MEANS JAIL MINISTRY: 𝗕𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗜𝗡𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦
MEANS Annual Prison Visit: The year 2025 has been a remarkable year as we continue our jail visits in several locations in Greater Manila and the Visayas, Philippines with our ministry partners. Starting with one prison visit in San Carlos, Negros Occidental in 2013, God has touched other groups to join MEANS in this yearly visit which resulted not only in the rippling of the numbers of jail visits but also in extending these visits to select families of jail inmates by sharing with them bags of groceries
Praying for them, helping a family of former inmate in livelihood projects and providing financial support for their children to go to school. Our help began in helping them meet small needs like giving rice to those jailed in detention center, and providing reading materials and hygiene kits or flip flops, sharing bible stories and providing snacks in one prison that is visited weekly by a pastor.
This year, in the month of December, our ministry partners, students of Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship of the Philippines (high school and college), church pastors have scheduled visits to 16 prisons in Greater Manila, Eastern Visayas, Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental(Western Visayas) to about two thousand inmates. We praise the Lord for open doors and for touching people’s hearts to share the love of Christ in these prison cells.
Year 5 Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Sagay City, Negros Occidental.
This Christmas season, the walls of BJMP Sagay City in Negros Occidental, echoed not with cold silence, but with warmth, laughter, and genuine human connection as Bless the Inmates Year 5 unfolded. Led by MEANS USA, in partnership with Sagay National High School Inter-School Christian Fellowship (ISCF) and the Peer Helpers Organization (PHO), this yearly visit once again reminded everyone that the true spirit of Christmas shines brightest when shared with those who need it most.
With hearts full and hands ready to serve, 13 student volunteers and 5 dedicated teachers entered the facility—not to give grand celebrations, but to offer something far more meaningful: presence, kindness, and dignity. Serving a total of 147 inmates, the team extended simple yet heartfelt gifts, including 150 pairs of slippers, symbolizing comfort, care, and the hope that even small acts of compassion can make a lasting difference.
In the essence of Christ-like giving, the group distributed snacks and pairs of slippers to the inmates. Though simple, each gift carried a powerful message – “You are being remembered. You matter. You are loved.” For many, a new pair of slippers meant comfort; for others, a snack meant joy; but for all, it meant someone cared enough to show up. The smiles that lit up the place weren’t from the gifts alone but from the rare feeling of being seen with compassion during a season that can often be lonely behind bars.
The students—young as they are—served with maturity and grace. Their laughter, gentle conversations, and respectful interactions created an atmosphere filled with the warmth of Christmas mornings. The teachers guided them like steady lights, showing that service is a lifelong calling, not a one-time act. Together, they became a living picture of fellowship—bridging hearts across walls and circumstances. Bless the Inmates Year 5 wasn’t just an outreach. It was a moment of hope. A reminder that Christmas is not found in decorations or festive feasts but in compassion that crosses boundaries, in kindness that expects nothing in return, and in love that mirrors Christ’s love for all.
As the event came to a close, the room felt brighter—softened by gratitude, lifted by encouragement, and strengthened by the belief that everyone deserves a chance at redemption and joy. This heartwarming Christmas outreach was made possible through the steadfast support of MEANS USA, whose generosity continues to touch lives in ways that words can barely capture. Through their partnership with SNHS ISCF and PHO, the spirit of Christmas reached a place where hope is often scarce but always needed. -Contributed by: Thea Erl Ramas | SNHS ISCF President
The story shared above by a high school student from Sagay City truly warms our hearts. It has been a great joy to us to see young people getting involved in acts of compassion and kindness to the least of us. Not only are the inmates being blessed, but also the visitors themselves are being challenged and encouraged that despite their youth they can bring blessings to those who needed to be shown that they are not forgotten. Posted 12/20/2025
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