With so many men and women in our prisons wanting to be free from the life of crime in which they feel trapped, there are enormous opportunities for the gospel. And, of course, there are many pastoral needs, too, not only amongst those serving a prison sentence but also within their families.
Those who wish to pray daily through the month may like to follow the monthly plan below and perhaps also pray specifically for one or two prisons.
| 448 | 1st | for the men and women who will be released over the next few weeks, especially those without a family to support them, that they will get suitable accommodation and support from agencies. |
| 449 | 2nd | that Easter gospel literature will get into the hands of unbelievers and will cause some to begin to investigate Christianity. |
| 450 | 3rd | this Good Friday, pray for those who will be taking time to reflect on the crucifixion of Christ, that they will be drawn to a deeper understanding of the price paid for their sin. Pray for those who have yet to commit to Christ. |
| 451 | 4th | for all who will be sharing God’s Word this Easter weekend, that the Holy Spirit will use them to clearly explain the way of salvation, and the price that Christ paid to satisfy God’s wrath on account of our sin. |
| 452 | 5th | this Easter Day, pray for chaplains as they lead services and groups in celebration of Christ’s resurrection. Pray for all believers that they will grow in their faith and be effective witnesses to other residents and staff. Pray, too, that many who do not normally attend chapel will attend a service today. |
| 453 | 6th | for the men and women recently released and with a history of reoffending, that they will have the support they need to break that cycle. |
| 454 | 7th | for those who are not believers and don’t normally attend chapel but did so over Easter. Pray that they will begin to attend regularly and come to accept the truth of Christ’s sacrificial death and His resurrection. |
| 455 | 8th | for those in custody for the first time and frightened, that staff will show compassion and help them to feel safe. |
| 456 | 9th | that the Lord will speak, through His Word, to every man and woman who will be attending a Bible study group today. Pray that lives will be changed. |
| 457 | 10th | for Governors, for wisdom, stamina and emotional strength for all the heavy demands upon them. |
| 458 | 11th | for chaplains, other staff and volunteers who provide bereavement support; pray for the men and women they will counsel this month. |
| 459 | 12th | for new officers who have only started duties on the landings this month, that they will be alert to the risks they face and will be kept safe. |
| 460 | 13th | for chaplains, that the Lord will sustain them and encourage them as they provide pastoral and spiritual support to the residents. |
| 461 | 14th | for healthcare staff, that they will be enabled to care with skill, love and compassion, despite all the demands upon them. Give thanks to God for them. Pray especially for Christians, that they might display Christ’s love to those for whom they care. |
| 462 | 15th | give thanks for former prisoners who are now mentoring young people at risk of offending and reoffending. Pray that their work will be effective as those young people turn away from unsociable behaviours. |
| 463 | 16th | for ‘rehabs’ (and especially for the Christian ministries), that, through their programmes, many men and women will overcome their addiction and that many will also commit to follow Christ. |
| 464 | 17th | for probation staff, community chaplains and all who support men and women on release from prison. Pray that the vulnerable will get the help they need to prevent them from reoffending. |
| 465 | 18th | for men and women who are currently mentoring, and supporting, someone recently released |
| 466 | 19th | for the protection of children whose lives have been dominated by the criminal activity of one or both parents. Pray that they will be kept free from crime themselves. |
| 467 | 20th | for children taken into care as a result of one or both parents being in prison, that they will be healed from the emotional damage of losing their parents. |
| 468 | 21st | for families deeply concerned for a family member in prison who is seriously or critically ill or very frail. |
| 469 | 22nd | for those who have turned away from the faith they once held, that their time in prison will lead to a firm commitment of their lives to Jesus. |
| 470 | 23rd | for those who are suffering from mental illness, that they will receive the care and treatment they need. |
| 471 | 24th | for those who have recently lost contact with, or custody of, their children. Pray that they might receive emotional support and turn to God for comfort. |
| 472 | 25th | that many might come to faith in Christ whilst in prison. Pray that the Lord will use the teaching and preaching, the personal and group Bible studies, the gospel literature and the witness of believers, all for this purpose of drawing unbelievers to Christ. |
| 473 | 26th | for the men and women who once followed Christ, that, now in prison, they will turn back to God, experience His welcoming embrace and become firmly rooted in His love. |
| 474 | 27th | for those who have come to faith while in prison: give thanks to God and pray that they will grow in their faith with support from other Christians. |
| 475 | 28th | for the protection and safe resettlement of those released this month. |
| 476 | 29th | for families (and communities) grieving the loss of a young person through knife crime. Pray for church leaders as they provide support. |
| 477 | 30th | for those feeling the shame of a crime committed by a family member and consider themselves victims (and perhaps ostracised in their community); pray that they will find support from Christians and be enabled to forgive their family member. |