On October 26, 2025, approximately 380 volunteers discovered that by diligently working together, in 190 minutes they could, in 190 minutes, assemble 8,200 care packages for people in prison. That’s one bag every 1.4 seconds.

The packing event was held in Johnson Gym on the campus of Andrews University and was organized by Pioneer Memorial church and Andrews University in partnership with the ministry of Christmas Behind Bars and its president, Lemuel Vega. This organization was established to reach the incarcerated—to let them know that they are not forgotten by God or the Christian community.

Among the volunteers were members from local Seventh-day Adventist churches—including local Pathfinder clubs, and employees and students from Andrews University.

One of the event coordinators, Esther Knott, said, “I’m especially grateful for those who were involved in the pre-event setup: the Custodial Department at Andrews University, student chaplains, students from Andrews Academy, and fourth graders from Mrs. Collene Kelly’s class at Ruth Murdoch Elementary School.”

The parent of a fourth grader who had helped with the setup before the event, sent the following note to the teacher: “Dear Mrs. Kelly, I wanted to let you know that Levi participated today [Sunday] in the Christmas Behind Bars event, from 10:00 to 12:30. We were very happy to be part of the community that worked joyfully and diligently to pack 8,200 packages.”

The packages included food and literature. Comfort food included: instant oatmeal, chocolate-covered nuts, a variety of cookies and chips, ramen noodles, marshmallows, Knorr’s soup, pretzels, cinnamon twists, toothpaste, and of course, a candy cane.

Other resources included an invitation to engage in Bible studies, and the opportunity for the children of inmates to connect with the local Berrien Springs ministry Your Story Hour for Bible studies and character-building stories.

Many care packages included a book written by one of the event coordinators, Dennis Page. Drop of Grace is the story of Page and his journey from a 20-year “career” as a drug user and dealer to prison, where he received a drop of grace.

Rebecca Fania is the new coordinator for missions for Andrews University's Campus Ministries. This year was her first experience with Christmas Behind Bars.

She commented, “It was great to see the campus and community working together. It was fast-paced and fun for a great cause.”

A child who participated shared, “I didn’t know that service could be fun.” In response, Fania concluded, "We are instilling a heart of service from now!”

Andrews University president John Wesley Taylor V shared, “This is our fourth year partnering with Christmas Behind Bars, and we are so grateful for the chance to be involved. Opportunities like this help our campus and church family step outside our routines and show Christ’s love in real, practical ways. Serving others is at the heart of Adventist education, and we’re honored to live that out together.”

On November 13, approximately 30 people from the community joined others in delivering some of these care packages to prisoners at the Westville Correctional Facility in Westville, Indiana.

Lemuel Vega said to participants, “Plan on singing when that option is available, pass out the gift packages, and shake hands with the prisoners, letting them know there’s hope for their lives through Christ. It’s the love that He has for us and the love that we have for Him that compels us to come and visit because we care.”

Shane Anderson, lead pastor at Pioneer Memorial Church, states: “Jesus said that at the end of time one of the greatest tests of our Christianity would be whether or not we paid attention to those who are in prison. Events like Christmas Behind Bars are an excellent opportunity to put Christ’s words into action. I’m so impressed with the hundreds of people that came out to help with this project today—students, faculty, members of our Berrien County community and beyond—and I know that our work today will be a blessing to those who receive these packages, just as it was for those who assembled the packages.” 

The original article was published on the Lake Union Conference news site, Lake Union Herald.