Dear Friends and Family,
We were supposed to be visiting Robinson CC this Saturday but our plans were postponed again because of staffing issues at the prison.
I’m not going to sugarcoat it, it is very discouraging. While we as a team are frustrated and sad, I also know that there are countless other believers over the years who had plans to serve the Lord but were ultimately prevented from doing so. There is a peace we can take in that.
I want to be very careful making any sort of comparison to Job. Of course, I made these comparisons all of the time when we still had our mechanically questionable team bus but I digress...
In Job chapter 1 we see Satan ask God for permission to inflict Job and God allows it. This is one of the most fascinating passages in Scripture because we see God allow Satan to act and we never quite get a clear reason why. Of course we see Job’s faith grow stronger by the end of the book but God’s reasoning is never fully explained. He is God and His ways are not are ways and there is a peace we can take in that as well.
I don’t want to make any speculation as to why God has allowed some visits to get postponed this year. I don’t think that would be wise or would even be helpful but I can trust that He is in control and that He has a higher purpose behind it. God’s Word tells us:
Romans 8:28- And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
We serve an incredible God who is in control of our schedule!
Please pray for encouragement for our team.
Please pray that we use this time to be reminded that God is faithful- He is still going to draw inmates to Himself whether we visit or if other volunteers visit or if inmates who are believers share the Gospel with their fellow inmates.
Pray that God allows our remaining visits to still happen. Please pray that God allows enough staff to be present that prisons can let us visit.
One additional thing to pray for is that there is a Crusade going on in Southern Illinois this weekend. Please keep that team in prayer as they visit some facilities in the Southern half of the state. Please pray that they share the Gospel and please pray that none of their visits get canceled!
Thank you again for supporting and praying for the ministry. Our next visit is August 5th to Kewanee LSRC. Please pray for the prison and our team!
Thanks,
Tom Gibson
