Christmas Greeting

"Bless you in the name of Jesus, whose birth we celebrate!" You've journeyed with us these decades of ministry, and together we've seen so many lives changed by Jesus! This Christmas we are celebrating the fruitfulness of our Vietnamese Christian friends. So many more new followers of Jesus now have lives of purpose and eternal hope. Jim & Kimberly in Chattanooga, TN  |  Tyler in Columbia, SC  |  Cameron in Austin, TX Prayer for this Christmas in V___ Lord God, we believe you are the only hope for this world you created. We believe Emmanuel is with us & Jesus saves. We pray for the church events all around this globe this coming week. We ask you to reveal your powerful presence and transforming glory. Even to those outside of church gatherings, we pray that you would reveal yourself. Draw them to repentance and new life in your light. Help those still in darkness see, hear and respond to your offer of meaningful and hopeful life! As we gather in our homes, or reach out across the miles, draw us nearer to our families and friends. Give us wisdom in how to love one another. Grow our capacity and vision to care for the broken-hearted or marginalized. Encourage our hearts to be confident that in all things, you are with us, and you alone save. ~ Amen. With gratitude for your partnership, Jim & Kimberly Creasman Jesus is the Word of God to us. When God spoke by sending his son, he told us: EMMANUEL - "God is with us" JESUS - "God is salvation" Thank you for joining us in bringing the light and love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who haven't heard..   "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (The Bible, New Testament. Ephesians chapter 2, verse 10)

The Christmas Letter to 35 prisoners on a waiting list

They had signed up for someone to write to them...

I just got off the phone with the birthmother of my younger son. It was an open adoption when he was born in 1996, and we've stayed in touch. She's now in a half-way house and will be released back to where her family lives in mid-January. She seems in a good head space, and I was so happy to catch up.

I told her about discovering Stephen's Table. This is the group you met awhile back, and signed up to have someone write with you (which may not have happened yet). She affirmed that getting mail makes a difference. She affirmed that there are a lot of people who don't get any visitors or mail. 

 

Even before I got this "thumbs up" from her, I've really enjoyed writing with three guys this year. Last month I met with the Chattanooga Endeavors staff to learn more about their work. I heard that they are short on volunteers to write to those people who've requested it. In the new year, I want to help them find some more volunteers. But for this month, I wanted to stand in the gap and to send you something.

 

Since November, I've been thinking a lot about you, and others who are spending the holidays in prison. The Christmas songs tell about this being "the most wonderful time of the year," but it can also be a really tough time for many. With all the traditions and hype, it compounds sadness for those of us who are having a tough time. 

 

There have been a few years for me feeling blue during this season. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus and I'm a Christian ~ I have every reason to feel festive December! However, whether it was living overseas & away from extended family (for 17 years), or a rebellious season for one of my children (since 2009), or the death of a parent (2015, 2016, and 2019), there have been some sad holiday seasons for me. 

 

I've never been in prison, though. So, I can't really know what it is like for you. I wanted to write to you and tell you that you are not forgotten, and that someone is thinking about you! I'm sure I'm not the only one. I don't know you personally, but here are some things I know about you:

 

·       You are part of the human race, and valuablebecause you are uniquely and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)

·       You are skilled. (You can read this, can't you? So many in the world today still can't read!)

·       You have the capacity to learn and take on more skills.

·       You are able to problem solve. 

·       You are creative. Yes. Everyone is creative...even if you've not realized it yet.

·       You have the capacity to choose to think positively when negative thoughts enter your mind. And then,

·       You can influence others for good.

 

So, there you have it. A short list of some of the powerful, valuable things about you!

Note 8/29/20 ~ This letter  got a bunch of responses. I wasn't expecting it, but now 13 are writing to me. 

Some of their letters are so touching, or sad, or earnest. 

I was hoping to spend my time recruiting more volunteers this year, 

but Covid has made that difficult! 

But it also has given me more extra time.