Joyce Meyer Ministries Distributed Two Millionth Prison Gift Bag
by Staff
June 11, 2010
ST. LOUIS, (christiansunite.com) -- Joyce Meyer Ministries, through its Hand of Hope prison outreach ministry, reached a prominent milestone in its history with the distribution of its two millionth prison gift bag. The milestone bag was among one of hundreds given out by Joyce and Dave Meyer and the ministry's prison team to inmates at Harare Central Prison in Harare, Zimbabwe. The event coincided with the ministry's "Festival of Life" conference which was held June 4-6 in Zimbabwe.Photo: Joyce Meyer hands out the ministry's two millionth prison gift bag during a visit to Harare Central Prison in Harare, Zimbabwe.
"We're overjoyed at the opportunity to continue to bring an encouraging word of hope to men and women incarcerated in prisons around the world," said Joyce Meyer. "Disenfranchised and all too often a forgotten part of our global society, through these prison gift bags, we just want to remind them that God still loves them and healing and hope are still available to them through Jesus Christ."
During the prison visit, Joyce spoke to approximately 400 inmates gathered in the courtyard about having hope in Christ. She was joined by the award-winning recording artist Darlene Zschech who sang an acapella version of the gospel standard "Amazing Grace." Outreach goals were met as the meeting helped bring a sense of renewal, joy and hope to the inmates' lives.
Since 1998, prison teams from Hand of Hope have been visiting prisons across the United States and around the world sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and distributing these hygiene gift bags. What started with just one gift bag has grown into a worldwide outreach effort to visit and minister to prisoners around the globe.
Signifying a previous milestone, in December 2004, Joyce visited the Farmington Correctional Facility in Farmington, Missouri, where she presented Winston Redmond, an eleven-year inmate, with the one millionth hygiene gift bag.
Over the years, prison teams have visited more than 2,300 prisons in 32 countries worldwide. Not only have prisoners received these gift bags, more than 88,000 have prayed to accept Christ into their lives -- a far greater gift than anything the ministry could give.
Giving inmates the opportunity to grow in their relationship with Christ, Joyce's books fill many prison libraries and they are also able to receive a free copy of the ministry's "Enjoying Everyday Life" monthly magazine. In addition, the ministry's signature television program, also entitled "Enjoying Everyday Life," is available for viewing in many prisons around the world. The ministry's correspondence department is also reaching prisoners with letters of encouragement when they write for prayer and help.
"Many of the prisoners we meet will never again walk the streets as free individuals, but because of this ministry, they are being introduced to Jesus and they can be free on the inside," says Roy Lormis, Prison Ministry Supervisor.
About Joyce Meyer Ministries
Joyce Meyer Ministries (JMM) is an international nonprofit organization that focuses on reaching people through media with a potential audience of 3 billion people. Impacting lives around the world, through its outreach arm, Hand of Hope, JMM provides life-changing global humanitarian and missions relief. In 2009, JMM provided more than 23 million meals supporting feeding centers in 25 countries and free medical care to over 238,000 people in multiple remote areas. JMM also operates 44 children's homes globally, feeds over 55,000 children daily and provides a host of other disaster, missions and humanitarian aid. For more information, please visit www.joycemeyer.org.
