We’re only a few days from celebrating Christ’s birth—one of the most joyous days of the year. Yet we know that, for those we serve, Christmas can be the most difficult holiday to be separated from family. Missing out on the festivities and the creation of memories can leave people in prison feeling cut off and depressed.
That’s why we’ve made it a tradition to bring special, Christmas-themed Hope Events to prisons across America each December. These events provide a spark of hope during this time of cold days and long nights. This month alone, we are hosting 73 Christmas Hope Events in 24 states nationwide. Here are just a few highlights:
We hosted our very first Hope Event in Nevada, where we joined Circuit Riders to encourage many of the incarcerated women there.
Residents of Pocatello Correctional Center for Women in Idaho also had the chance to hear the hope of the Gospel, many for the very first time, through the story of Richard Andrews’ transformation.
The goodness of the Gospel was also proclaimed in southernmost Florida, where our partners at VOUS Church chose to spend some of their holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus with the men at Everglades Correctional Center.
That’s just a sampling of the amazing events your generosity made possible this season. From coast to coast, a thrill of hope made its way into many prisoners’ hearts. Those who experienced these festive celebrations were able to make their own Christmas memories and were reminded that the birth of Jesus, “God with us,” transcends even the deepest loneliness. Praise the Lord for His goodness toward us!
Right now, we are also wrapping up an amazing Angel Tree Christmas season. Thanks to you and partner churches and volunteers across the country, more than 250,000 children of an incarcerated parent received a gift and the Gospel. We also brought love and hope to those caring for these children by providing a Bible and the message of God’s love for their whole family.
As we say, it starts with a gift, but it doesn’t end there. The relationships being built this month will extend in 2023, as many churches welcome families into their fellowship and continue to serve them throughout the year.
Your prayers and support make all of this possible. You are having an eternal impact by bringing the gift of Jesus to people in prison and their families. As my Prison Fellowship colleagues and I celebrate with our own families this Christmas, know that we are praising God for His work and your faithfulness to helping us bring the Light of the World into the darkest situations. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours!
In Immanuel's name,
JAMES J. ACKERMAN President and Chief Executive Officer
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Prison Fellowship P.O. Box 1550, Merrifield, VA, 22116-1550 US
