POINTERS FOR PRAYER & THANKSGIVING
NOVEMBER 2011
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

ETHIOPIAN CHAPLAINS' CONFERENCE 
7-8 November 2011 led by Trustee Mike Ducker
Thank you for praying for this year's Conference when prison chaplains from all over Ethiopia
 gather for prayer and worship, fellowship and teaching.
Please continue to pray for these chaplains as they return to their locations as well as for
Mike Ducker and Ernie Lofthouse as they visit a number of prisons
 in connection with various projects and programmes.  ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

MY CHAINS ARE GONE
Please pray for the annual "My Chains Are Gone" event*
which is on Saturday 12 November in St Thomas' Church, Stricklandgate, KENDAL
Organised by Step by Step (Cumbria), this is a time of prayer, worship, fellowship and amazing testimony.
 There are two sessions with refreshments in between.
First Session - 2pm to 4pm
Time to eat! - 4pm to 5pm
Main event - 5pm to 7pm

This year the speakers expected include
Billy McFetridge
a former prisoner from Northern Ireland who became a Christian in prison
and is now in Christian ministry with Immanuel Community Ministries based in Doncaster
and South African born
Deena Web
who serves the Lord in the rehab work of Betel in Birmingham

For more information contact Marc Kelly of Step by Step on 07578 052 353
*This event supports a very special Christmas initiative for people who may be homeless or vulnerable in some other way.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

PRISONS WEEK
20-26 November 2011
Encouraging prayer for, and raising awareness of, the needs of prisoners
and their families, victims of offenders, prisons staff and all those who care.
This year’s Bible text is from Matthew 25 verses 35-40 and the theme is
“Do you see me or are you just looking”
To access the Prisons Week daily prayers you just need to 
click where shown in the Daily Prayer Pointers each day during Prisons Week.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

DAILY PRAYER POINTERS

1          For Alan Pierce-Jones and the chaplaincy team at HMP Kennet as he settles in to his new role.
2          Pastor Daniel who heads up the work of our partners Justice for All - Prison Fellowship Ethiopia (JFA-PFE) that he may have wisdom and courage and all that he needs in furthering the work to which he feels so strongly called by the Lord.
3          The holistic Christian ministry in Ethiopian prisons and especially for efforts to address spiritual needs of prisoners.
4          This year’s Conference for Ethiopian Prison Chaplains led by Trustee Mike Ducker.
5          For team members as they share with church groups etc. something of the opportunities and challenges of prisons ministry.
6          Sunday. For those prisoners in UK prisons who work closely with the chaplaincy as chapel orderlies and sometimes as part of the worship team.
7          Prison officers and other staff who have day to day interaction with prisoners that they may be alert to risks and able to prevent serious incidents.          
8          “Listeners” – these are prisoners in UK prisons who have been trained by the Samaritans to support fellow prisoners in crisis.
9          Prisoners who have mental illnesses that they would be supported appropriately and able to cope with the prison regime.
10         The victims of crime that they may receive support and help in coping with the trauma of their experience.
11         Those convicted of racially motivated crimes will be able to come to know people from different backgrounds.
12         For prisons in the UK that are struggling to meet the targets assigned by the Government, that in the midst of pressure they will remember they are dealing with people.
13         Sunday.  Remembrance Sunday in the UK. Pray for all affected by war including families bereaved in current conflicts and former soldiers who – possibly on account of the trauma of being involved in scenes of death and destruction – are having difficulty coping from day to day.
14         For Patrick Cope, Regional Chaplain in the North East of England as he seeks to support and advise chaplaincy teams around that area.
15         Prisoners who have no support from family or friends on the outside.

16         For members of the justice sector including staff working in prison reception as they work with prisoners – especially those who may be in prison for the first time.
17         For children affected by the imprisonment of a parent especially when this means long term separation due to a long sentence.
18         For an increase in Prisoners’ Family Days. These can help to strengthen family ties and bonding as well as stimulate a realisation of parental responsibility.
19         That prisoners who hold extremist religious or racists views may learn more moderate and rational ways and particularly that they may not be able to radicalise others.
20         Sunday.  Prisons Week (PW) begins today. Click here for the PW prayer and more about this special week.
21         For recently promoted staff that they may be able to fulfil their new responsibilities competently. Click for PW Monday prayer.
22         For prisoners who work closely with the chaplaincy as chapel orderlies and sometimes as part of the worship team. Click for PW Tuesday prayer.
23         For prisoners who have made a Christian commitment and who may be struggling to cope with cynicism, criticism and efforts to get them to go back to their old ways. Click for PW Wednesday prayer.
24         For focused prison Bible study groups and for those who lead them.  Some looking at what it means to be a Christian are aimed at helping interested enquirers.  Click for PW Thursday prayer.
25         For discipleship courses that can help to strengthen the faith and give guidance on living as a Christian both in prison and after release. Click for PW Friday prayer.
26         For prisoners who feel so without hope that they may be at risk of self harming or attempting suicide.  Click for PW Saturday prayer.
27         Sunday. For those who are bullied by others, that they would be supported and that the bullies are challenged.  Click for PW conclusion - Bible quotation
28         For the funding necessary for the continuing development of the life changing ministry in Ethiopian prisons.
29         That seeds will be planted in the lives of staff who escort prisoners to Chapel, and that they will not be hardened to the Gospel.
30         Prisoners under segregation for whatever reason – some can find the isolation very difficult mentally.

...