POINTERS for PRAYER and THANKSGIVING
November 2017
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DAILY PRAYER POINTERS
November 2017
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DAILY PRAYER POINTERS
1 Pray for those prisons where there are vacancies in the chaplaincy team, especially that the ministry of those in post may not be adversely affected by the additional work load..
2 Pray for the large number of prisoners in Britain's often overcrowded prisons who have serious mental health problems that their needs may be both better understood and then effectively addressed. 3 Give thanks for the work of Bible Society, the Gideons and others and for the benefit to prisoners from receiving their own copy of the Scriptures 4 Pray for the victims of crime and for victim awareness courses such as Sycamore Tree being run in some prisons to help prisoners address their offending behaviour. 5 SUNDAY Pray for Trustee Mike Ducker accompanied by Eric Young as they arrive in Ethiopia today that their short visit will be fruitful to the glory of God. Pray for good health and safety in travel. 6 Pray for the Twinkle of Hope project supporting young children who are in prison with their prisoner mothers in Ethiopia and for Mike and Eric as they explore the extent of the need and get updated on which prisons currently benefit from this project 7 Pray for the Refuge child sponsorship project in Ethiopia supporting children in the community who have a parent in prison and for Mike and Eric as they visit some of them. 8 Pray for the women and children in Addis Alem prison as they move into their new accommodation and for wisdom in deciding which construction project to support next. 9 Pray for Ethiopian Prison Chaplain Co-ordinators ministering in prisons throughout the country as they share the gospel, provide Bible study opportunities, lead worship, involve local churches and also act as eyes and ears in identifying and helping to prioritise needs. 10 Pray for the JFA-PFE staff in the office in Addis Ababa that as Mike and Eric visit them they may enjoy a time of fellowship and be able to explore together some of the finer details of the work and needs - both practical and spiritual - which we have been privileged to share with them for almost 20 years. 11 Mike and Eric's short visit to Ethiopia ends today. Pray for them as they return to the UK and that when the trustees meet next month information gained during the visit can be applied to enhance our decision making and ongoing partnership with JFA-PFE. 12 SUNDAY Today is a time when we remember all those who have given their lives in the cause of freedom. Pray that their sacrifice may not have been in vain and that those currently in positions of leadership may make every effort to find peaceful, non life threatening ways of conflict resolution. 13 Pray for prisoners released on licence that as their lives are monitored by Probation Officers etc that they will be helped to learn responsible decision making. This can be hard when moving from an institutional environment where all decisions are taken by others. |
14 Pray for prisoners being released after serving long sentences that they will be able to cope with all the changes that have taken place in society while they have been in custody.
15 Pray for prisoners about to be released who have nowhere to live, no money, no job prospects and who feel they have no hope. 16 Pray for Community Chaplains, Resettlement co-ordinators and mentoring schemes aiming to help ex-offenders live more ordered lives. These have a vital role in reducing re-offending. 17 Pray and give thanks for churches ready to welcome ex-offenders on release from prison with all their different needs and associated risks. 18 Pray and give thanks for the work of Kingdom Outreach in Blackburn and that their proposals to build ten accommodation places will proceed smoothly. 19 SUNDAY Pray for those who have come to faith during their time in prison and who are looking forward to being part of a “real church” on release. 20 Pray for chaplains as they share news with and provide pastoral care for prisoners who have been bereaved. 21 Give thanks for those prisons where chaplains are running bereavement courses. Pray that these may be helpful to those who are trying to cope with loss. 22 Pray for children affected by the imprisonment of a parent especially when this means long term separation due to a long sentence. Visiting is great but at the end of the visit it can be very difficult for a child to understand why dad or mum can't come home with them. 23 Pray for women in mother and baby units in UK prisons facing separation from their child when it is not deemed to need its mum. 24 Pray for prisoners and their families many of whom are struggling to stay together in difficult and trying circumstances. 25 Pray for the families of prisoners who have to travel long distances to visit them. Some have to give up a day’s work in order to make the visit and this can be very hard to organise. 26 SUNDAY Prisoners may attend chapel services for a variety of reasons - not always associated with worship. Pray they may hear and respond to the good news that Jesus has made it possible for them to be forgiven and know a new freedom – even while in prison. 27 Pray for the families of prisoners who have died in custody – whether by suicide, through violence, illness, accident or old age. 28 Pray for Governing Governors of prisons as they struggle with the effects of budget cuts while still trying to keep their establishments safe and also deliver programmes that could help to reduce offending behaviour. 29 Pray for former police, judges, prison officers etc. who are now serving prison sentences and can be very vulnerable. 30 Pray for young offenders that they will learn another way while they are still young. |
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SECOND 2017 ETHIOPIA VISIT
As regular supporters will know, due to circumstances beyond our control it was not possible to visit our friends and partners in Justice for All PF Ethiopia (JFA-PFE) last year. This year we are making up for it with two visits.
In June Bob Spratt and Julian Leggat were able to go and spend some time visiting a number of prisons and meeting lots of chaplains at their Conference. Bob was also given the honour of cutting the cake as part of JFA-PFE's 25th anniversary celebrations. Click here to see brief report.
This month one of our trustees Mike Ducker plans, along with Eric Young, to spend some time visiting prisons with a main focus on the child care projects REFUGE and Twinkle of Hope. They will also have the opportunity of getting right up to date with all the other projects which should help in deciding priorities.
Please pray for them for good health and safety in travelling and look out for Mike's report after they get back.
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TRUSTEES' MEETING
The next meeting of the Trustees is scheduled for 1 December. Please pray for them as they spend time reviewing the work and prayerfully looking forward to the coming year.
SECOND 2017 ETHIOPIA VISIT
As regular supporters will know, due to circumstances beyond our control it was not possible to visit our friends and partners in Justice for All PF Ethiopia (JFA-PFE) last year. This year we are making up for it with two visits.
In June Bob Spratt and Julian Leggat were able to go and spend some time visiting a number of prisons and meeting lots of chaplains at their Conference. Bob was also given the honour of cutting the cake as part of JFA-PFE's 25th anniversary celebrations. Click here to see brief report.
This month one of our trustees Mike Ducker plans, along with Eric Young, to spend some time visiting prisons with a main focus on the child care projects REFUGE and Twinkle of Hope. They will also have the opportunity of getting right up to date with all the other projects which should help in deciding priorities.
Please pray for them for good health and safety in travelling and look out for Mike's report after they get back.
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TRUSTEES' MEETING
The next meeting of the Trustees is scheduled for 1 December. Please pray for them as they spend time reviewing the work and prayerfully looking forward to the coming year.