Dear John,

What do horses, birthday parties, and Christmas presents have common? They’re all tools that Prison Fellowship and our partners have used to connect with those we serve and change the trajectory of people’s lives.

At a recent Hope Event in the Omaha Correctional Center, Prison Fellowship joined with Riding High Ministries to share the Good News of Jesus with men on the yard. Todd Pierce brought two of his horses, Sarah and her colt, Bonus, to a special ring constructed for the event. Todd walked the crowd through a demonstration of horsebreaking, where, Sarah, who had never been saddled or ridden, moved through the process of trust and surrender until Todd, who was bucked off more than once, was finally able to saddle and ride Sarah.

During the demonstration, Todd repeatedly asked the crowd whether the horse deserved to be punished, and he used his time to speak with the men about the parallels between his training and the work Christ does in our lives. As the participants saw the horse buck and resist but eventually succumb to Todd’s gentle leading, the men were reminded of God’s infinite patience and love for us, even when we are straying from the life He has for us.

It was a moving demonstration, and many men stayed to receive prayer and share stories of their own struggles to follow the Lord. It was a special day, and Ronnie Gilbreath, one of our regional directors, shared, “I am convinced God prepared and touched every detail of that event. There is no doubt that Todd’s message of hope was divinely inspired—the presence of the Spirit was tangible and touched every person (and animal) on that yard!” Praise be to God!

The Lord is also working in the lives of kids who have an incarcerated parent. We’re grateful for the many children who were able to attend camp this summer. Our camping partners have shared endless stories of kids enjoying their time in the great outdoors while they learn about Jesus and His love for them. One partner, My Camp, focuses specifically on children facing a multitude of adverse childhood experiences. Camp director Suzanna Jacobson, shared that they try to pack in as many positive experiences as possible, including birthday parties for every camper. “In the past three years, we’ve had 41 first-time birthday parties,” she says—meaning it was the very first time the camper was celebrated with cake, balloons, and presents.

Suzanna and her staff find special ways to give kids an opportunity to share their challenges and emotions in a safe space, which is a new experience for so many of them. Savannah, one camper, shared: “I’ve struggled with bottling up my emotions and stuff like that, but I’m getting better at it. That’s how Suzanna and me are alike. We’re happy-go-lucky and hide things that aren’t going perfect, but it’s OK—because we’ve learned to get them out.” What a gift it is to get to pour into the lives of these children!

Speaking of gifts—we’re counting down the days to Christmas, and we’re working to serve as many children as possible this year. This letter from Daniel, the father of 2-year-old Isaac reminds me that each application represents a family longing to be connected in these trying times: “I want to let you all know that I truly appreciate your assistance in helping us individuals out who are behind these walls. Your blessings are golden and will always bring joy to my heart and my gift from God, my son.” There’s still time to get your church involved. Don’t miss out on the chance to have an eternal impact on the lives of children and families!

I love that the Lord, Who created all things, will use anything, from a horse to a gift, to show His love for us. And He is using both your prayers and your support to change lives through the work He’s given us to do. Thank you for joining us in this transformational work!

Rejoicing in Him,