Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
Hebrews 13:3

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Christmas is exactly six weeks away from today. That’s right. Forty-two days until Jesus’ birthday. Forty-two days to find the perfect presents for the loved ones in our lives. Forty-two days until we gather to celebrate the day that God gave us the ultimate gift. A gift of love. A gift of joy. A gift of hope.

When I was in junior high, my youth group purchased Christmas presents from the money we raised for a local family in need. We were able to bring them to the family a week before Christmas and experience the joy on their faces in person. It was a tremendous blessing to be able to see their reaction and know that we had provided some of the items they were hoping for that holiday season. I remember the impact of them sharing their story with us and seeing the uncertainty of the future in their eyes. In the previous few years, they had experienced circumstances beyond their control and had fallen into financial hardship. Knowing we had delivered some hope during an uncertain and painful time was beyond humbling.

Hope shows where pain flows. When we are suffering, hope is that light at the end of the tunnel, promising a brighter future ahead. Without hope, it can seem nearly impossible to withstand our circumstances or believe that they are going to change, or that we can transform and rise above the pain. With hope, anything seems possible. When God gifted us hope in the form of Jesus, He ended our hopeless days and forever gave us the gift of brighter days ahead.

For more than ten Christmases, Willow has been delivering gifts called Hope Packs to Prisons and Jail Centers. In that time, over 500,000 gifts have been given to incarcerated people and those impacted by their imprisonment. These packs represent our church’s support of prisoners developing relationships with Jesus Christ and providing hope for a new, redeemed, and transformed life beyond the walls that currently contain them. To find out more about Hope Packs, click here.

Next Steps

Join us in person at your local Willow branch this Sunday, November 17, to be a part of a wonderful and meaningful opportunity to provide hope to those incarcerated. And, pray for the prisoners who will receive the Hope Packs, that they may be blessed with softened hearts and find hope in Jesus.