I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From whence does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Psalm 121
Gracious God, our creator and protector, we praise you and we honor you above all others. We know you have touched our lives, and we know that you are constant in your care for us. Help us to be constant in our care for others, and in our faithfulness to you. We lift up Mr. Waymon L. in Tennessee Colony who seeks your will in his life; Mr. James Goodman in Amarillo, Mr. Phillip Duke G. in Beaumont; Mr. Henry Allen Stanley in Beaver, WV and his entire family; all the ladies at Dawson State Jail, especially Chandra and Lisa; everyone at Richland Parish Detention Center in Rayville, especially today Rosena Johnson; for Brother Mitchell Charles who is expecting a miracle blessing in his life; we pray for Michael Baker for his success on th e G.E.D.; we pray for Craig Redd, for his daughters and for his ministry at Sterling Correctional Facility. Birthday Blessings to Mary Routh of Rocky Mount, NC; Esther Moreida and her family; For everyone at Plane State Jail, especially Elizabeth B.; Mr. Hubbard N. Hill in Angleton to find his path back; for Hattie Hopkins at the Mary France Center; Brandy L. in Bryan, TX; for Fredda at Gatesville, and her daughter Mandi; special prayers for Elaine Zapata for soothing her fears and healing powers. We continue to lift up our prayers for everyone who has been touched in the Katrina and Rita disasters. We give you thanks for all your good gifts, and ask your continued blessings and safekeeping for our families whether near or far. For healing and peace in the world, we pray in the name of Jesus; Amen.
***
Our prison ministry is devoted to the distribution of "A New Day in Christ" daily devotional calendars. This ministry has grown from our local church into a nationwide outreach because of people's hunger for the word of God. This year alone, we have sent out over 15,000 calendars to individuals in 48 states and 7 foreign countries. We get so many letters asking for other things. These requests usually are very sincere and humble, for items such as a large print bible, a pen pal, financial assistance for commissary items, help in contacting a loved one, and similar requests. As we read each and every letter, it sometimes breaks our hearts to know we cannot respond to each of these other requests. However, we are confident in our calling, and we are focusing our time and resources on distribution of the calendar, and that means that other ministries must be for other people.
These are the areas in which we can respond:
"Please send me a devotional calendar." We will send a devotional calendar free to anyone who requests one. We have two versions, one has a stand-up easle and a plastic spiral binding. The second is a glue-bound book version specially designed for individuals assigned to units who will not allow the spiral binding inside. Please include a complete mailing address with i.d. number if required.
"Please send my wife or husband, son or daughter, my friend or cell mate, a copy of your calendar." We will be happy to send a calendar to anyone you lift up to us. Please include full name and mailing address (even if the address is the same as yours). However, we ask that you make appropriate requests only. For example, the calendar is written for adult readers. We will send the calendar to children at your request, but they will most likely find it difficult to read. Also, we can not honor requests to include the requestor's name anywhere in the letter.
"Please send me other study material." We will send a sample of the "In Touch" magazine which is published by Charles Stanley's Institute for Christian Living. Although we are not affiliated with the organization, we support their work and appreciate their mutual support in providing free subscriptions to this quality publication to anyone who writes and requests.
"Please pray for me and/or my wife or husband, son or daughter." All prayer requests are appreciated and are offered up individually and in community. Each prayer request we receive is posted on this web site, as soon as possible, and is forwarded to members of our community who are commited to praying for this ministry and for you.
These are requests to which we are unable to respond:
"Please send me a bible." We recognize the need for everyone to own and to read the bible. Our calendar barely even begins to scratch the surface of the richness and the expansive grace of God as expressed in the entire written word. However, our ministry does not have the resources to provide bibles to inmates. It is our recommendation that you contact the International Bible Society at 1820 Jet Stream Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80921. They are the publishers of "Free on the Inside," a New International Version of the bible which is written especially for those in prison. It contains specific meditations, prisoner's testimonies and artwork. They will send the bible free of charge to anyone who requests it.
"I would like a pen pal or prayer partner." It is my sincere prayer to develop a network of caring individuals who are able to address all of the requests we get for someone who will correspond with inmates on a regular basis. However, our congregation is very small, and at this time we can not offer to match up pen pals or prayer partners. We will continue to pray that we are able to grow a network of supporters from this web circle to serve in this ministry.
"I am indigent and need financial support." This ministry does not have the physical or financial resources to deal with individual requests for financial support. At this time, our primary fundraising goals are to translate the calendar into Spanish, and to create a large print version. With these and other projects as priorities, we feel called to focus our energy on the calendar ministry.
***
Finally, friends, we pray that you become active in a group or ministry wherever you are. If you don't know your chaplain, try to meet him or her. If there are worship experiences or prayer services available, do whatever it takes to be part of those enriching experiences. Yes, God comes to us in the quiet stillness of our room, but God also exists within community, and God wants us to be in community with other believers. We thank you all for your prayers and your support. Our community is enriched in serving you.
Gracious God, our creator and protector, we praise you and we honor you above all others. We know you have touched our lives, and we know that you are constant in your care for us. Help us to be constant in our care for others, and in our faithfulness to you. We lift up Mr. Waymon L. in Tennessee Colony who seeks your will in his life; Mr. James Goodman in Amarillo, Mr. Phillip Duke G. in Beaumont; Mr. Henry Allen Stanley in Beaver, WV and his entire family; all the ladies at Dawson State Jail, especially Chandra and Lisa; everyone at Richland Parish Detention Center in Rayville, especially today Rosena Johnson; for Brother Mitchell Charles who is expecting a miracle blessing in his life; we pray for Michael Baker for his success on th e G.E.D.; we pray for Craig Redd, for his daughters and for his ministry at Sterling Correctional Facility. Birthday Blessings to Mary Routh of Rocky Mount, NC; Esther Moreida and her family; For everyone at Plane State Jail, especially Elizabeth B.; Mr. Hubbard N. Hill in Angleton to find his path back; for Hattie Hopkins at the Mary France Center; Brandy L. in Bryan, TX; for Fredda at Gatesville, and her daughter Mandi; special prayers for Elaine Zapata for soothing her fears and healing powers. We continue to lift up our prayers for everyone who has been touched in the Katrina and Rita disasters. We give you thanks for all your good gifts, and ask your continued blessings and safekeeping for our families whether near or far. For healing and peace in the world, we pray in the name of Jesus; Amen.
***
Our prison ministry is devoted to the distribution of "A New Day in Christ" daily devotional calendars. This ministry has grown from our local church into a nationwide outreach because of people's hunger for the word of God. This year alone, we have sent out over 15,000 calendars to individuals in 48 states and 7 foreign countries. We get so many letters asking for other things. These requests usually are very sincere and humble, for items such as a large print bible, a pen pal, financial assistance for commissary items, help in contacting a loved one, and similar requests. As we read each and every letter, it sometimes breaks our hearts to know we cannot respond to each of these other requests. However, we are confident in our calling, and we are focusing our time and resources on distribution of the calendar, and that means that other ministries must be for other people.
These are the areas in which we can respond:
"Please send me a devotional calendar." We will send a devotional calendar free to anyone who requests one. We have two versions, one has a stand-up easle and a plastic spiral binding. The second is a glue-bound book version specially designed for individuals assigned to units who will not allow the spiral binding inside. Please include a complete mailing address with i.d. number if required.
"Please send my wife or husband, son or daughter, my friend or cell mate, a copy of your calendar." We will be happy to send a calendar to anyone you lift up to us. Please include full name and mailing address (even if the address is the same as yours). However, we ask that you make appropriate requests only. For example, the calendar is written for adult readers. We will send the calendar to children at your request, but they will most likely find it difficult to read. Also, we can not honor requests to include the requestor's name anywhere in the letter.
"Please send me other study material." We will send a sample of the "In Touch" magazine which is published by Charles Stanley's Institute for Christian Living. Although we are not affiliated with the organization, we support their work and appreciate their mutual support in providing free subscriptions to this quality publication to anyone who writes and requests.
"Please pray for me and/or my wife or husband, son or daughter." All prayer requests are appreciated and are offered up individually and in community. Each prayer request we receive is posted on this web site, as soon as possible, and is forwarded to members of our community who are commited to praying for this ministry and for you.
These are requests to which we are unable to respond:
"Please send me a bible." We recognize the need for everyone to own and to read the bible. Our calendar barely even begins to scratch the surface of the richness and the expansive grace of God as expressed in the entire written word. However, our ministry does not have the resources to provide bibles to inmates. It is our recommendation that you contact the International Bible Society at 1820 Jet Stream Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80921. They are the publishers of "Free on the Inside," a New International Version of the bible which is written especially for those in prison. It contains specific meditations, prisoner's testimonies and artwork. They will send the bible free of charge to anyone who requests it.
"I would like a pen pal or prayer partner." It is my sincere prayer to develop a network of caring individuals who are able to address all of the requests we get for someone who will correspond with inmates on a regular basis. However, our congregation is very small, and at this time we can not offer to match up pen pals or prayer partners. We will continue to pray that we are able to grow a network of supporters from this web circle to serve in this ministry.
"I am indigent and need financial support." This ministry does not have the physical or financial resources to deal with individual requests for financial support. At this time, our primary fundraising goals are to translate the calendar into Spanish, and to create a large print version. With these and other projects as priorities, we feel called to focus our energy on the calendar ministry.
***
Finally, friends, we pray that you become active in a group or ministry wherever you are. If you don't know your chaplain, try to meet him or her. If there are worship experiences or prayer services available, do whatever it takes to be part of those enriching experiences. Yes, God comes to us in the quiet stillness of our room, but God also exists within community, and God wants us to be in community with other believers. We thank you all for your prayers and your support. Our community is enriched in serving you.
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