Christmas behind bars

God's love and grace cannot be contained. It is so overflowing that one cannot help but pass it on. Thus, this holiday season, volunteers extended God's love to the inmates of the La Union Provincial Jail. It was a simple Christmas Party with games, fellowship, and food. But more importantly, there was worship time celebrating Jesus' designated earthly birthday. R-jay dela Cruz, the team leader of the Jail Mission Team, shared the Word that Jesus is the real reason for the season.

A certain inmate shared that he is happy about the Truth that he has just learned. "Masaya ang Christmas ko. Sa pagpunta niyo, marami akong natutunan ("I am happy this Christmas. Everytime you come to visit I learn and realize a lot of things."), he intimates.

A certain John shares that he used to avoid this kind of event. "Pero masaya ako ngayon. Lahat ng itinuturo niyo sa akin, pumapasok sa puso ko." ("But this time, I am overjoyed. Every message that you share with us goes straight to my heart.")

Kyle Diaz, an SFCC volunteer, is happy to note that he has seen the change in the mindset of the inmates who have been constantly reminded of God's awesome love. "They are no longer sin-conscious. They are now grace-conscious. They know that there is forgiveness in Christ Jesus."

R-jay shares that sadness is not confined behind bars. The outside world is also full of sadness during Christmas. "Pwede rin palang maging masaya kahit nakakulong. Sa pisikal lang sila nakakakulong, pero malaya na ang kanilang mga puso dahil sa love ni Jesus." ("There is still happiness even behind bars. Physically, they are incarcerated, but in the spirit, they are set free because of Jesus' love.")

After all, it is written that, " nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)