On Sunday, October 26, approximately 380 volunteers discovered that by diligently working together, in 190 minutes they could assemble 8,200 care packages for people in prison. [Photography by Eben Espenosa]
The packing event was held in Johnson Gym on the campus of Andrews University and was organized by Pioneer Memorial Church and Andrews University in partnership with the ministry of Christmas Behind Bars and its president Lemual Vega. This organization was established to reach the incarcerated—to let them know that they are not forgotten by God or the Christian community.
Among the volunteers were members from area Adventist Churches—including local Pathfinder clubs, and employees and students from Andrews University. One of the event coordinators, Pastor Esther Knott said, “I’m especially grateful for those who were involved in the pre-event set-up: the Custodial Department at Andrews University, student chaplains, students from Andrews Academy and fourth-graders from Mrs. Collene Kelly’s class at Ruth Murdoch Elementary School.” The parent of a 4th-grader who had helped with the set up on Friday, sent the following note to the teacher: “Dear Mrs. Kelly, I wanted to let you know that Levi participated today [Sunday] in the Christmas Behind Bars event, from 10:00 to 12:30. We were very happy to be part of the community that worked joyfully and diligently to pack 8,200 packages…”
The packages included food for the body and food for the soul. Comfort food included: instant oatmeal, chocolate covered nuts, a variety of cookies and chips, ramen noodles, marshmallows, Knorr’s soup, pretzels, cinnamon twists, toothpaste, and of course a candy cane. Food for the soul included an invitation to take Bible studies, and the opportunity for the children of inmates to connect with our local Berrien Springs ministry Your Story Hour for Bible studies and character-building stories. Many care packages included a book written by one of the event coordinators—Pastor Dennis Page. Drop of Grace is the story of Pastor Page and his journey from a 20-year “career” as a drug user and dealer to prison where he received a drop of grace.
Rebecca Fania is the new coordinator for missions in Campus Ministries. This year was her first experience with Christmas Behind Bars. She commented that “It was great to see the campus and community working together. It was fast-paced and fun for a great cause.” One of the little kids she was working with exclaimed, “I didn’t know that service could be fun.” Rebecca concludes that “We are instilling a heart of service from now!”
Andrews University President John Wesley Taylor V, shared, “This is our fourth year partnering with Christmas Behind Bars, and we are so grateful for the chance to be involved. Opportunities like this help our campus and church family step outside our routines and show Christ’s love in real, practical ways. Serving others is at the heart of Adventist education, and we’re honored to live that out together.”
On November 13, about 30 people from our community will have the privilege of joining others in delivering some of these care packages to the prisoners in the Westville Correctional Facility in Westville, Indiana. Lemuel Vega, the president of Christmas Behind Bars said that the visiting group should, “…plan on singing when that option is available, pass out the gift packages, shake hands with the prisoners letting them know there’s hope for their life through Christ. It’s the love that He has for us and the love that we have for Him that compels us to come and visit because we care.”
Shane Anderson, lead pastor at Pioneer Memorial Church states: “Jesus said that at the end of time, one of the greatest tests of our Christianity would be whether or not we paid attention to those who are in prison. Events like Christmas Behind Bars are an excellent opportunity to put Christ’s words into action. I’m so impressed with the hundreds of people that came out to help with this project today – students, faculty, members of our Berrien County community and beyond – and I know that our work today will be a blessing to those that receive these packages, just as it was for those who assembled the packages.”
Churches assisting were: Pioneer Memorial Church, Berrien Springs Village Church, Calvin Center, Eau Claire, Michiana Fil-Am, Paw Paw, Polish Adventist, Stevensville
Other organizations were: Lake Union Conference, Adventist Frontier Mission, Andrews Academy, Ruth Murdoch Elementary School, Seminary Chaplaincy Club, and Pathfinders from Pioneer and Village churches.
