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The Metanoia Minute

Monthly Prayer Requests and Ministry Updates
June 2020

In This Issue:

Greeting • Updates • Prayer Requests • Travel Schedule • Events • Media • About
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Dear Friend,

Last month, I referenced this "crazy and uncertain" time in which we find ourselves. Just when we thought things couldn't get any worse, what with the global pandemic, widespread economic collapse, and the unemployment of nearly 40 million Americans, we find they can get worse, with murder hornets, police brutality and peaceful protests turned to rioting.

No matter which political party you belong to or vote for, and no matter which side of any debates you come down on, at some time in the past you asked to be a prayer partner of Metanoia Prison Ministries and I am thankful for you.

Brothers and sisters, now is the time to pray. I have found myself angry in recent weeks. I have found myself tempted to sin in that anger. We have watched with horror as events unfold before our eyes. Through it all, I keep asking God, "What is it you want, Lord?" One answer I keep getting: Prayer. In all of these struggles and difficulties, we don't have a high priest who can't understand what is going on. Rather, we have a High Priest who was in every way tempted like we are, yet without sin, and because of this, we can "boldly go before the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." I don't know about you, but I feel really needy right now.

Please pray with me that the Church would come out of this time more Christ-like. Please pray that the injustice that God hates would be condemned and put down. And pray that the Church will step in to be a comfort and a balm to those who are afflicted and crying out.

June Updates and Praises

  • We have received word from one prison that, as they ease volunteers back inside, they would like to start with mentors! This shows how much mentoring means to the prison, for which we are thankful.
  • We praise God that, even though our professors haven't been able to go into Walker State Prison, the studies have continued and men are learning through this time.
  • We praise God that we have received new student requests at a pace previously not seen! We are thankful that more brothers and sisters desire to study God's Word on the inside.
  • We are thankful that, thus far through this economic crisis and uncertain time that our support partners have maintained their support of this ministry. If you are a financial investor with us, THANK YOU!

June Prayer Requests

  • Please continue praying for the prisoners. Pray especially for the Coronavirus infections to stop. Currently, the prison systems have an infection rate of 2.2%, which is much higher than it is out here, but the death rate is just about the same. 
  • Please pray for pray for wisdom as we begin to start mentoring back up in the coming weeks and months. Pray that God will help us put good practices and safety measures in place which will benefit both the prisons and the mentors.
  • Please thank God for raising up more students in the Correspondence Ministry. We pray that Metanoia will help them grow in their faith.
  • I have asked pastors and elders around the PCA to look for ways they may support the prisons and jails which surround their churches. Please pray that many of them will seek to do so.
  • Please pray for each of our staff: Shelly Marshall: Correspondence Ministry Administrator, Tim McCracken, Regional Director, San Joaquin Valley, Paul Miller, Regional Director, Texas, Tony Rogers, Regional Director, SC, Barry Smith, Regional Director, TN and MINTS Seminary Coordinator, Steven Howell, Mentor Ministry Administrator, Mark Andrews, Regional Director, NC
  • Please pray for wisdom as we look for creative ways to serve both the church and the prisoner. We are looking at the possibility of conducting virtual training sessions so that we can still train mentors during this time and have them ready when the prisons re-open,
  • Please pray about giving to Metanoia financially. Also pray that God will bring new partners in this work.
  • Please pray for each of our mentoring partners, both mentors and mentees. May all of them grow closer to the Lord.
  • Please pray for the staff of the prisons around the country. This time of modified programs, reduced staffing, etc. is difficult for them.
  • Please pray for justice in our nation.

June Travel Dates

 
  • My family will take a trip to MT to see family later in the month. 

Upcoming Events

I thought it might be good for you to be aware of various events that we are scheduling so that you can both pray for us, and attend if you find yourself in the area. Here are the events on the calendar thus far:
  • No events planned at this time.

Videos & Interviews

At the 2019 General Assembly I was asked to talk a bit about Metanoia Ministries as a part of the PCA's Voices of the PCA. You can view that video here.
 
MNA-Metanoia Prison Ministries has been blessed with some videos that were produced by Genesis One Productions, with the help of Christ Covenant Church. Andy Caldwell directed, shot and edited the videos, and I think he did a fantastic job. You can watch a video here. Please let me know what you think. Also, please visit Ligonier.org and watch another video here

If you would like to listen to an interview by Dan Frye of A Rebel's Cause Radio, you can watch or listen here:

If you are interested in listening to the radio interview with Pastor Kevin Boling of Knowing the Truth, you can hear it here.

If you are interested in listening to the podcast interview with William Hill of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary's Confessing our Hope podcast, it can be heard here

In 2017 I was interviewed by Eric Nevins, who hosts the podcast, "Halfway There". You can listen to his interview here

About the Cassons

Mark Casson is a husband, father, businessman, author and PCA Ruling Elder who also happens to have spent over 15 years serving a life sentence in California's prison system. He is the Director of Metanoia Prison Ministries and the Director of Prison Ministry for Mission to North America. Mark is a sought-after speaker who has taken the gospel of grace to high schools, college campuses, prisons and churches. He has a passion for mercy ministry to prisoners that is infectious.
His beautiful wife, Raylene has been a school teacher for more than 20 years and has taught in Bolivia, Canada, and the U.S. in both Christian and public schools. Raylene currently works as a first grade teacher in the Hamilton County School District in Chattanooga, TN.
They have two precious daughters. Eliana is 11 years old and has played in CA, NY, FL, MT, UT, OR, ID, NV, AZ, NM, TX, OK., TN, SC, HI, WI, GA, SD, WY, AL and MN. She loves her little sister, Joelle, who is 8. Their daddy calls them his beloved rapscallions.
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Mission to North America, 1700 N. Brown Road, Suite 101, Lawrenceville, GA 30043-8122
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Metanoia Prison Ministries · PO Box 11092 · Chattanooga, TN 37401-2092 · USA

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