December 2025 Ministry Update

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas! The world tends to look at Christmas as traditions, tinsel, and elves, but Christmas is more than something nice tacked onto the end of the year. As I've shared with the inmates, Christmas is an absolute necessity! Through the miracle of the incarnation God met our greatest need, a Savior to save us from our sins. Without Immanuel, born of a virgin and laid in a humble manger in Bethlehem, we would be lost, still dead in our sins. Through the miracles of Christmas, God's amazing grace has been shown. His Son came to give us life.

Teaching in the Jail

This month I focused on different aspects related to the birth of Christ. We know that God sent His Son in the "fullness of time" (Galatians 4:4-5). Everything had to come together at the right moment of history to fulfill the prophecies of old concerning the Messiah and pave the way for His ministry. John the Baptist was the forerunner, the temple which was destroyed in AD 70 was still standing (Malach 3:1), and a Roman census compelled Joseph to travel to his ancestral home, Bethlehem, ensuring the fulfillment of Micah’s prophecy concerning the Messiah’s birthplace. After Jesus sent forth His disciples, Roman roads, Pax Romana, and the Greek language made the rapid spread of the Gospel possible. Even minor details of the Christmas story fit into God's plan. For example, the shepherds were "watching over their flocks by night." The winter rains "latter rains" greened the hillsides and meadows around Bethlehem offering the best grazing. Lambing season was typically December-January indicating that is exactly when the shepherds would have been out with them. It is not coincidence that many of these sheep raised near Bethlehem were used as temple sacrifices. Also, it is no coincidence that Bethlehem means "house of bread" when it was the Birthplace of the Bread of Life. The magi were undoubtedly inspired by Hebrew Scripture through the influence and tradition of Daniel which enables them to connect the appearance of the star with the birth of the Messiah King.

Bibles 

Recently, I was able to give four Chinese women Bibles in Mandarin Chinese and an Italian man a Bible in Italian. Seeing their joy when I put God's Word in their hands was thrilling. I never get tired of that! It is no coincidence that I already had Bibles in these languages in my office and it is no coincidence that these individuals came to our jail. I believe in God's sovereign plan and I believe in divine appointments. Please pray that they would read the Word and receive the Spirit's conviction unto repentance and salvation.

Christmas Bags & Blessings

Every Christmas, I get to play Santa Chaplain and distribute bags filled with candy, cookies, chips, mini notebooks, socks, and Bible tracts to the inmates in the jail. I want to thank the various churches and individuals that donated. Thank you also to the kids that decorated the bags. This upcoming Monday we will pack the bags and Tuesday I plan to distribute. A team from NE Independent Baptist made chocolates for all the officers and jail staff which was a tremendous blessing for them. Another friend is making biscotti. Thank you for helping me bless the other forgotten people - the officers and staff that work behind bars.

Prayer requests

1. Please pray for inmates to have receptive hearts and minds to God's truth and turn to Christ this Christmas season, especially as they receive their gifts and read the tracts.

2. Many friends of mine and Angela’s are going through a very difficult time with health challenges, medical issues, and family struggles. Please pray for God’s mercy, healing, and peace to surround them.

3. Please pray for New Creation Jail Ministry, including myself and the Board of Directors, that God would grant us His guidance, wisdom, and discernment as we serve.

4. Pray for correctional officers to come to Christ, and also for unsaved family members—that hearts would be softened and lives transformed by the gospel.

God is working powerfully through your prayers and partnership in this ministry!

Serving the King,

Chaplain Ethan Maynard