A short, upbeat, affirming note is a very powerful agape sign! After 5 years in prison 95% of the inmates have no contact whatsoever with outside family or friends. A note expressing Christian love is indeed a powerful message from the Lord! If you can write some letters, the following guidelines should be observed:
· They must be handwritten and original. Xerox copies and computer-printed letters are not acceptable.
· They must all be identical. Write the same message in each copy. You won’t have names, so use a general salutation such as “Dear Brother in Christ.”
· You may write a letter to all 42 candidates or to just one. The letters will be distributed equally into all the Agape bags. No inmate will be given more or less than another.
· Children are also encouraged to write. The impact of a love letter from an innocent child on these men is mind boggling! (Have them put their age on the paper.) Many of these men have children of their own whom they rarely see or receive letters from. Please have your Sunday schools and/or Christian schools included in this expression of Agape.
· The letter must be upbeat. No implication that the inmate did something wrong should be in the message. Tell them about God’s love for them, and wish them the blessings of the Lord.
· Provide blank envelopes, but do not insert the letters. The team will insert them into the envelopes and seal them after they have passed through prison security. A Ziploc-type bag is a good way to keep them all together.
· Do not put your name or address on the envelope. Also, don’t put your address on the letter. You can sign the letter with your first or full name as you prefer.
· Agape pins, paste-on logos, etc. are not allowed.
· The letters must be delivered to the team at least two weeks prior to the start of the weekend.
Here is an explanatory .pdf document that you can print and share with your friends. (The Acrobat reader is available for free download at www.adobe.com.)
Revised 5/12/2003