JUNE 2025
VERSE OF THE MONTH
“So produce fruit that is consistent with repentance, demonstrating new behavior that PROVES a change of heart, and a conscious decision to turn away from wrongdoing”.
Matthew 3:8 (AMP)
The proof is in the pudding is an expression that originates from an older saying that clarifies its meaning: “The proof of the pudding is in the eating.”
CFP received a letter in May from an inmate who has been in our program since December 2021. We are sharing a letter he wrote to our staff. As our volunteer read his letter, she realized that we have encouraged him over the years, but he has done the same for our team.
To my family from miles away, Cards For Prisoners!
I thank you for all the wonderful cards and the love you send to me! It brings me so much joy that I have friends and family from CFP miles away that never met me in person and care for someone like me! That means the world to me and others who are also in prison like me! I thank God every day for my pen pal and for having a person like her in my life at a difficult time like this. She is like family to me after so many years of being pen pals with the same person, you start to get a family bond. A bond that you don’t even have with some of your lifetime friends and family. I might not know all of the names of all the volunteers of this program, but I still put all of your families in my prayers every night. I thank God for all of you and the wonderful work you do. Just sending a card every month to let us know we are not forgotten and are loved. From people who don’t judge us for our past!Thank you, Cards For Prisoners, for being there for all of us who are in prison who don’t have family to love them like you do!Thank you for making a difference in our world around us here in prison!
Now that’s some good ‘pudding’!
Paula Creswell
Executive Director
Tangible Hope Ministries
Tangible Hope Ministries wants to thank Grandville United Methodist Church for partnering with us. They are a church that promises open hearts, open minds, and open doors.GUMC’s Sunday services in the winter are at the church, which is located at 3140 Wilson Ave SW in Grandville at 10:30 a.m. Services in the summer (beginning June 15) take place outside at Wedgewood Park in Grandville at 9:00 a.m. Click the link below for more information.
Your congregation can join us and become a Tangible Hope Church – walking alongside the often neglected and forgotten in our society.
Email paulac@cardsforprisoners.org for information on how your church can become involved.
Grandville United Methodist Church
pen pals on the outside
“I’ve been touched by my 2-year relationship in this program. My prisoner has grown and changed so much!!!”
-Vicki, Pen Pal with CFP
pen pals on the inside
“Whoever founded Cards For Prisoners created a beautiful, amazing outreach. Know that prisoners throughout the MDOC depend on and appreciate Cards For Prisoners. This program inspires hope for the hopeless. There are a lot of prisoners who don’t receive cards from anyone, be it family or friends.”
~James Saginaw Correctional Facility inmate
BECOME A PEN PAL
WHY CAN’T I SEND STAMPS,MONEY OR BOOKS/BIBLE TO MY PEN PAL?
We often get asked if it’s ok to send stamps to an inmate or put some money on their account to purchase books, a Bible or paper and envelopes. Since this is a very common (and thoughtful) question, we want to give some insight on why we have this rule.
Prison environments can be challenging, and some inmates may exploit the kindness of pen pals for financial gain. They may fabricate stories or create emotional dependencies to elicit money. It can be difficult to discern genuine need from manipulation.
Books/Magazines and other items are only allowed in the prison by very specific vendors with many rules. The chances of what is sent or even getting delivered is very unlikely. In most cases, the prison mailrooms do not return these items unless the inmate pays for the return.
Prisons do not allow us to send postage or any mailing material. If you send any of these items to an inmate they won’t receive them and they are not returned to us.
Becoming emotionally invested in a pen pal relationship can make you vulnerable to manipulation and disappointment. Ultimately, we are CARDS For Prisoners. There are other organizations that may have the mission or program of sending other items, however our purpose is to be an encouragement through cards and letters.
JOIN US IN PRISON MINISTRY!
Tangible Hope Ministries has planned our next steps in working with both teen AND adult inmates! We will give you all the details in our July newsletter! You can join us in this ministry through your donation! 100% of all donations go directly into our programs!(Checks may be mailed to Cards For Prisoners at PO Box 413, Grandville, MI 49468)
Tangible Hope Ministries exists to bring encouragement to incarcerated individuals and their loved ones through heartfelt notes and cards. We share God’s love with those currently incarcerated, and offer support once they are released as they rebuild their lives. Our mission includes engaging the local church to walk alongside those impacted by the criminal justice system, fostering community, and “Tangible Hope.”
Cards For Prisoners | P.O. Box 413 | Grandville, MI 49468 US