For some people, the day after Christmas is Boxing Day. For Buzz and Clifann Birney and friends at Live Like Jesus Today Ministries, it was time to finish packing 552 Christmas gift bags intended for inmates at the Larned State Correctional Facility.

On Saturday they will deliver one bag to each inmate. Each bag has an assortment of personal items – shampoo, soap, a toothbrush – and some goodies, along with a handmade Christmas card and a copy of the “Father’s love letter.” Every bag is the same, down to the 10 chocolate candy kisses inside, to avoid any cause for conflicts over who gets what.

Buzz Birney has ministered to the Larned inmates for 14 years, visiting every Monday and at Christmas time. COVID-19 brought a halt to the Christmas programs and this is the first year he’s been able to host one since the pandemic. Pastors from Encounter Church (Jake Newman and Jaci and Jeremy Guthrie) in Great Bend will join him as they have services for inmates in maximum and medium security. There will be a praise band and a message of hope — “It’s just a big blessing,” he said.

Although the office at Live Like Jesus Today Ministries was filled with the Christmas bags in their final preparation stages this week, some of the work occurred earlier this month. Members of My Father’s House Church in Great Bend helped make the handmade Christmas cards and packed many of the bags.