This year, the EPA Prison Ministry & Restorative Justice Team again asked congregants and community members in Pennsylvania and New Jersey to write brief encouraging messages on Christmas cards to be given to those who are incarcerated. These cards are an important way in which we can share God’s love with those who are in prison and let them know that they are being thought of and cared for by people on the outside.
A total of 7,280 of these cards were collected and distributed to 8 facilities in Eastern PA. In addition, we were able to send a portion of these cards to a facility in Texas, whose chaplain had heard about this ministry through the national United Methodist News and requested cards.
In “Part 2” of this campaign, unused cards were solicited to be provided to those who are incarcerated so that they could send cards to their family and loved ones. It is so important to assist in maintaining such supportive relationships, and 4,236 unused cards were collected and distributed to people in 2 correctional facilities.
In addition to churches and congregants in Eastern PA, we were very pleased to see significant participation by individuals and churches in Greater NJ, as well as a large number of cards from youth attending the IGNITE gathering this fall. We also received cards contributed from Virginia and Minnesota.
THANK YOU to all of those who participated in this ministry to remind those who are incarcerated of God’s love for them.