But at rock bottom we discover that we can only bring ourselves to God. Our gifts,
our money, our pride and our fine intentions sometimes just get in the way, but at
rock bottom, all we can do is rely on grace.
Those who find faith, find a reason to keep on going. They meet the Lord who tells
them not to worry about tomorrow, because today has enough worries of its own.
They start to wonder what purposes God might have for them, as they learn that God
can employ anyone in any situation for his glory, even Joseph serving an indefinite
sentence in Pharaoh’s dungeon.
HMP MANCHESTER; HMP FOREST BANK; HMP BUCKLEY HALL;
HMP & YOI STYAL; HMP YOI THORN CROSS &
GREATER MANCHESTER COMMUNITY CHAPLAINCY
PRISON PRAYER LETTER JUNE 2016
For Christ’s love compels us… 2 Corinthians 5.14
Sometimes it’s very hard for a prisoner to keep on going. Someone was reflecting
with me a while back that this time last year he was in prison and this time next year
he will still be in prison, and he felt stuck and that every day was a struggle.
St Paul writes that the love of Christ compels him, urges him on and keeps him fixed
on the glory that awaits. This does not remove his current woes; he often wrote
from prison, whilst in chains, but his awareness of God’s grace gave him reason to be
positive and to focus not on the length of each prison day, but on the wonder of
redeeming love and so God taught him contentment in any circumstance.
Thank you to all who faithfully pray for the prisoners in Greater Manchester. Please
pray that those who feel at rock bottom might discover that even deeper is the loving
mercy of God.
Revd Henry Martin, Managing Chaplain HMP Manchester
This window came from
The Chapel of the Resurrection
at HMP Manchester and is now
installed in Café Central
There are certain things we can say to someone in prison
who is feeling like this;
Don’t count the days… one of the worst things a prisoner
can do is know exactly how many days he has to serve and
cross them off one by one. This makes the time crawl at a
snail’s pace. Some guys will avoid doing this for most of
their sentence but then cannot stop themselves from
counting down the last two months. Then they admit that
the last two months felt longer than the rest of the
sentence.
Be positive… Sometimes when I see a new reception prisoner I will ask him if his time
inside is going to be a positive experience. Usually this elicits a blank stare of
incomprehension, “How can a Chaplain be so stupid? This is prison. How can this be
a positive experience?” And so I’m cautious not to ask this of everyone as they
arrive. But occasionally this is the right question to launch a new frame of mind that
will serve someone well through their time in custody. I wish it was more often, but
I do occasionally come across someone who tells someone that he is glad he came
into prison, because he has found support and help and feels that he is genuinely
moving on with his life, in a way that he wasn’t able to on the outside.
St Paul’s best advice to the dispirited and fractious Christians in Corinth is, “Be
reconciled to God”.
Deaconesses at Strangeways’ gate (Circa 1895)
Contact us at: GMCC Methodist Central Buildings Oldham Street M1 1JQ
Telephone: 0161 236 2462 Email: [email protected]
Please make cheques payable to: GM Prison Prayer
and state if you would like to Gift Aid it
Check out our Facebook Page and www.gmccsupport.org for more photos and info
The most encouraging times for chaplains are those occasions when someone’s faith
comes alive. Sometimes we have to hit rock bottom before we can ask for help and
prison can be for many people that stony, chill and desolate place. One of the guys
told me that God must be fed up with him because of
 the number of promises he has made and then broken,
 the great resolutions quickly forgotten and
 the deals about good behaviour in return for an answered prayer, where he
failed to keep his side of the bargain.
JUNE 2016
1. Please pray for the many new men at HMP Buckley Hall who have
requested to attend the Living with Loss course starting this month.
2. Please pray today for the Kitchen Training course just about to start at
GMCC that those who have signed up will turn up and that the trainer
and others involved will find fulfilment in running it.
3. C is now volunteering helping others to recover from addictions. He will
take up a paid role this month. Please pray for success for him and also
for health for his brother.
4. J is ambitious and is trying hard to find work. Please pray for God's
guidance for him.
5. M is slowly coming to believe that God might be for him. Please pray
that his belief will grow and he will commit his life to the Lord.
6. R is unhappy and is facing many unknowns in his future. Please pray
that the Holy Spirit will come alongside him and help him during this
troubled time.
7. R has approached life with greater calmness than before, but he has
little hope for the future and needs prayer that this will change.
8. J’s faith keeps him buoyant and eager to help others. Give thanks to the
Lord for this and pray for his faith to deepen and grow.
9. G cannot comprehend the twists and turns in his life that have brought
him to this point. Please pray for clarity and for him to come to an
understanding of God’s grace.
10. D struggles well in a constant battle to replace old habits with helpful
habits. Pray he will be able to turn his struggle into faith in the Living
God and receive His help and strength.
11. N is finding that his faith in Jesus can keep him positive and put his
troubles into perspective. Praise God for his faith and pray for this to
increase.
12. C is grieving for his mum who recently died. Please pray for God’s
comfort and that he will receive the Lord’s grace and mercy into his life.
13. R is settling into a new prison after many years in his previous one.
Please pray for him to hear the Gospel while his sentence continues and
that it will make a difference to his time in prison.
14. E is angry all the time and cannot find peace. We know that our God can
change attitudes and circumstances and ask that you will pray for this
for him.
JUNE 2016
15. Five men have recently been baptised at HMP Buckley Hall. Please pray
for protection and deepening of their faith.
16. D missed his chance to be baptised due to illness but still wishes to be
baptised along with 4 others. Pray that this will be put into place soon
for them.
17. R is going to be transferred to a lower category prison. Please pray that
he will continue in his faith.
18. J’s brother is dying. Pray for God’s help at this time for both of them.
19. J has expressed an interest in knowing more about the Christian faith
and has attended church several times. Please pray this will continue
and he will come to know the Lord as his Saviour and friend.
20. R has had a powerful experience of God; pray he receives help and
guidance as he takes new steps in the faith.
21. N’s is very distressed as his gran is dying and he is very distressed about
it. Please pray for him to be strengthened at this awful time in his life.
22. G is still struggling with being in custody and is worried about family
problems on the outside. Please pray for good news for him and peace.
23. F who is elderly and suffering with ill health needs prayer for comfort
and healing while in prison.
24. R is feeling very low and can’t see many reasons for living. Please pray
that the Lord will lift his spirit and give him fresh hope.
25. P is feeling very guilty about his offence. Please pray that this will help
him to resolve never to offend again and he will know God’s and others
forgiveness.
26. M is grieving the death of his mum and looking at a long time in prison.
Please pray for sympathy from others and a resolve to serve his
sentence well.
27. S is going to receive some counselling over his childhood abuse issues.
Please pray for him and his counsellor to achieve a good outcome.
28. A needs prayer as he is angry at everybody and making some very poor
choices. Ask the Lord for his attitude to change.
29. R’s mum has died. Please pray for him during this time of grieving
especially in prison that others around him will be sensitive and loving.
30. A’s recovery has stalled and he needs to make some positive decisions.
Please pray for God’s wisdom and strength for him.