What a glorious day God gave our volunteers for our 17th Annual Blessing Bag Outreach! We are so grateful for the 31 D4C volunteers and the 23 men from Hughes who all worked together to make 3000 bags and deliver them to every man in the unit. Quite a huge undertaking, but working in an organized assembly line, with each one of us focused on making sure the bags were done properly, made quick work of this very large outreach! Our volunteers had so much fun working alongside the men in white who were chosen to help us. Fun and festive music had people singing and enjoying watching those that love to dance, showing us their best moves!! It’s hard to describe just how much this day warms your heart and fills you with such a joyous camaraderie as you work together with others for one purpose…blessing people and bringing a smile to their face! God’s love was shown and felt by all!!
We want to thank all of those volunteers that did an outstanding job on the bags this year! They were all beautiful and thoughtfully decorated with holiday pictures and scriptures for the men to enjoy. As we were assembling them, the men were talking about how much these bags mean to them every year, and how they hang on to these bags as keepsakes for years…some still have the very first one they ever received! Each bag contained body wash, deodorant, candy, coffee, hot chocolate, Little Debbie holiday treats, a calendar and a card. As we delivered the bags, the men were all so grateful and thanked us over and over for this gift. A bag filled with everyday items, but a gesture that always touches their hearts in an amazing way.
The day was filled with so many meaningful conversations and fellowship with the men who worked alongside us. One man got to enjoy helping our volunteers decorate a Christmas tree for the first time, and volunteer Tilly Welborn shared that one of the men told of how he had not had contact with his son for several years, and how the last time we did this outreach, one of our volunteers had prayed for their relationship to be restored. A week after that prayer, his son wrote him a letter and now they have reconnected. He was so excited to share with our group that prayer really does work!!! After working for several hours, we were blessed to share a delicious lunch with the men. We sat at long tables family style and had a great time visiting with them. They were so grateful to enjoy lasagna, salad, rolls, tea and cake! When they went back for seconds, it was amazing to see that they treasured the fresh salad as much as they did the dessert!
We received great testimonies from volunteers who were participating in Blessing Bags for the first time.
Scott Wooddell shared with us:
“What a blessing and privilege it was to serve with D4C this weekend. To see the excitement in the men and the teamwork that was lived among everyone, from unloading the trailer and putting the items in place, to enjoying donuts and coffee together and building the blessing bags. The gratefulness from the men receiving the bags was overwhelming and put the spirit of Christmas into true perspective. It’s not about the best or most expensive gift, it’s the gift that shows you care. I was blessed way more by the men of the Hughes unit than I was to them. Throughout my day I had a young man named Mason by my side at all times serving the men and us. He had a smile on his face everywhere he went. Even calling the Hughes unit his home, has not stolen his joy. I complimented him on always having a smile, and his response was, “Without the joy of the Lord, I have nothing.” He even encouraged me and praised me as this was my first time to serve. He told me he would have never thought it was my first time there after being with me all day. He said it came natural to me to speak and pray and encourage the men there. To God be the glory. I look forward to serving again and being blessed by the men of this unit!”
Kelly Wooddell shared:
“It was such an amazing time at the Hughes unit this last weekend. I was able to have conversations with some of the men about their faith and how the Lord has changed their lives as well as hear about their families and their daily lives living in this unit. We filled the bags with some of the men and then they were passed out to every prisoner. I was able to go into one of the buildings and participate in passing out the bags. The men were so excited and truly thankful for each bag. I went to be a blessing, but walked out of that prison with my cup overflowing. God is good and I can’t wait to go back!!”
That evening, a service was held that was packed to capacity with 311 men in attendance, with about a third of them being there for the first time! It was a wonderful service that included a beautiful power point shown in honor of our founder, Bob Neyra, and filled with pictures of the many years he was there serving the men of Hughes through Blessing Bags, Hot Dog Outreaches, and Day with Dad. He loved and cared for these guys so much and he is dearly missed by all!! Emotions were high as our brother in white, Tejuan, prayed an anointed prayer over our founder Susan and her daughter, Logan. It was also a treat to hear Susan and brother Mario sing Mary Did You Know together. Volunteer Lance Simpson, brought the message about the healing of blind Bartimaeus from Mark 10:46-52. He also shared about the powerful way God worked in their personal lives when He miraculously healed his wife, Stacy. They were blessed to see many of the men come to the altar for prayer. Sunday’s chapel service was a powerful time as well and saw 111 men in attendance, many prayed for, and one man giving his life to Christ. This message focused on being a champion, and referenced David and Goliath from 1 Samuel 17.
Thank you so much for covering this very special day in prayer!! This outreach went smoothly because of prayer and all the hard work put in by our faithful volunteers. It was such a blessing to have several former offenders serving with us this time! Their willingness to come back in is an amazing testimony of God’s power working in their lives! It was wonderful to hear the men of Hughes say that these guys being there gives them hope that there really is a good life waiting for them after prison. Hope, joy, love, and the reminder that they are not forgotten is why we do this outreach and we are so very grateful that God allowed our mission to be beautifully accomplished!!!
