The Ultimate Gift
Each year, the Christmas season offers a fresh opportunity to reflect on Christ's first coming and the good news of the Gospel. As we attend Christmas programs, light Advent candles, and join together with friends and family to exchange gifts, we are reminded of the ultimate gift: Jesus, our Immanuel, God with us.
Galatians 4:4-5 reminds us of this good news: “When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
Celebrating 50 Years of Prisoner Packets
This year, South Carolina Baptists celebrate 50 years of caring for inmates and providing hope through Christmas Prisoner Packets. Since 1976, every inmate in the state has received a Christmas gift from South Carolina Baptists, ensuring they feel known, loved, and seen.
Each year, churches, associations, and individuals across the state collect supplies, assemble packets, and work alongside volunteers to deliver a Christmas gift to every inmate in the state prison system.
Each packet contains practical items such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, writing materials, and hard candy. The packets also provide an opportunity to share the message of Christ through a Christmas card and devotional booklet written by SC Baptist and SC WMU staff.
While the practical gifts are meaningful, the heart of Prisoner Packets is sharing the Gospel. Christmas can be a difficult season for those separated from their families and communities. For some, the packet may be one of the few reminders they receive that they have not been forgotten. The devotional booklet included in each packet creates an opportunity for individuals to encounter the truth of God's Word.
Prisoner Packets provide one opportunity for South Carolina Baptists to put God’s love into action. A simple Christmas gift cannot tell the whole story of the Gospel, but it can open a door to encouragement, Scripture, and the reminder that Christ offers forgiveness and new life.
The Ongoing Impact
In a 2025 story highlighting the ministry, one woman shared the impact of receiving Prisoner Packets during her 15 years of incarceration. After her release, she returned to volunteer at the annual packing event. "I got these packets for 15 years. When we receive these bags, it's like a big Christmas party. This program is awesome because we really look forward to these bags every year," she said. Her story demonstrates the lasting impact of a ministry that extends beyond the moment a packet is received. The same woman who once waited for a gift inside prison now helps prepare those gifts for others.
Be Part of the Next 50 Years
The 50th anniversary of Prisoner Packets is an opportunity not only to celebrate what God has done but also to invite a new generation of South Carolina Baptists to participate in this ministry.
There are several ways churches and individuals can get involved:
Collect supplies. Churches can organize a collection effort and invite members to purchase the approved items for Prisoner Packets. The packing list is available on the SC Baptist and SC WMU websites. All packets must follow the South Carolina Department of Corrections guidelines.
Volunteer on collection day. Every December, volunteers are needed to receive, organize, and process packets before they are distributed. Packing day for 2026 is set for December 8th at New Spring Church in Columbia, SC.
Pray for inmates. Churches can regularly pray for incarcerated men and women, their families, correctional officers, chaplains, and those serving in prison ministries.
Explore ongoing prison ministry. Congregations can learn about opportunities to serve at correctional facilities and participate in discipleship and outreach efforts throughout the year.
For additional information, including the approved packing list, frequently asked questions, and ways to participate, visit scbaptist.org/prisonerpacks or scwmu.org/prisoner-packets.
Looking Ahead With Hope
For 50 years, South Carolina Baptists have faithfully worked together to deliver a simple Christmas gift and the hope of the Gospel to those in prison. Generations of churches, volunteers, and ministry leaders have made this work possible, and the impact reaches far beyond the number of packets distributed.
As this ministry celebrates its 50th anniversary, the invitation remains the same: remember those who are often forgotten, demonstrate the love of Christ, and share the hope of the Gospel.
The next 50 years will bring new opportunities, new volunteers, and new stories of lives touched by the love of Jesus. Whether through donating supplies, volunteering, praying, or becoming involved in ongoing prison ministry, every South Carolina Baptist can play a part.
A small gift can make a lasting difference. For someone spending Christmas in prison, it may be a reminder that they are seen, they are loved, and they are never beyond the reach of God's grace.
