The Major League Baseball trade deadline just passed a couple of days ago. As Cubs fans, I am not sure we will ever emotionally recover from last year’s trade deadline exodus that saw several beloved members of the World Series team depart for greener pastures…and then even greener pastures when they all signed new contracts this past winter. One of the worst things is seeing your favorite players wearing a new uniform. That is rough but it is exciting to see your team get a good player to help out down the stretch run of the season and seeing him wearing your team’s jersey in the press conferences. However, there is also the feeling of seeing your team trade for someone you know isn’t going to help the team. Just the sight of seeing them lumber around the field wearing your team’s uniform is just the worst. Former Cub, Craig Kimbrel, if you happen to be reading this, yes, I am talking specifically about you…
This weekend some of our Illinois Saints guys are getting traded to Brother Bob’s Outreach in Wisconsin. I’m not sure what feelings trading our navy blue and gray uniforms for the royal blue jerseys will bring up but don’t worry, I’m pretty sure we are getting traded back to the Saints by the end of the weekend…
You can find out more information about Brother Bob’s here: www.brotherbobs.org
Lord willing, some of our Illinois missionary athletes will be traveling to Racine, WI to play in what is shaping up to be a 2 team, 8 game day at Racine Correctional Institution. We will also have the opportunity to share the Gospel 4 times throughout the day.
Here are some prayer requests for our team.
Traveling Mercies– Our Illinois guys are taking off Friday night and staying overnight in Racine. (just to be clear, at a hotel…not the prison…) You can pray for safe travel but you can also pray that God blesses this fellowship time. Our travel time is often like a mini men’s retreat where we enjoy each others’ company but also use the time to discuss what is going on in each of our lives and what is going on with our walk with the Lord.
Team Unity– A handful of Chicago Bears fans are going to be around a bunch of Green Bay Packers fans in a highly secure fenced-in area for about 6-8 hours…please pray that there is some sort of team unity! All kidding aside, please pray that we gel as a group and enjoy playing softball while enjoying our bond as brothers in the Lord even more. Please pray that we play well and that we earn the respect of the inmate teams.
Gospel Sharing Time– Pray that God blesses our times to talk to the inmate teams. If everything works out, we should have 4 different times to talk to the men. Pray that God draws these men to Himself! Also pray for our individual conversations that we will have with guys during the day as well.
Inmates– Most importantly, pray for the men that we will encounter as they are the purpose of this trip. Jesus says in Matthew 28:19a, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,” He also says in John 6:44, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day”.
Please pray that God works in the inmate’s hearts and that they hear the Gospel and will see a need in their lives to follow Jesus. Softball is fun, the fellowship with the Brother Bob’s team is precious, but sharing the Gospel behind the prison walls is why we are going. Please pray that our trip is fruitful for the Glory of God!
Thank you in advance for the prayer support and for all of the encouragement many of you have been over the last several years. I am looking forward to sharing the Gospel in Wisconsin and sharing the stories from this trip!
PS- I had the privilege of going on a local podcast called the “Story for Another Time” with Joe Greenwood and John Jacob. It was fun and they asked me several questions about The Saints Prison Ministry in addition to questions about the Cubs, Garth Brooks, and local bakeries!
Here is a link to the episode: https://www.spreaker.com/user/16413224/sfat-goes-to-prison?fbclid=IwAR3hiqWKuhOwKYXIbVJe_3kJfTEuz6AitPnk4r4R3CRAmg2QqhW4IpX-j5U
