Press release from AdventHealth Hendersonville:
AdventHealth Hendersonville is committed to Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ in all aspects of whole-person care, including community partnerships with Blue Ridge Prison and Jail Ministries. This is the fourth year for AdventHealth Hendersonville to host the Used Bible Donation Drive to provide Bibles for this ministry. This year, AdventHealth team members brought in 429 Bibles and Christian books making our collection total to more than 1,800 Bibles collected and distributed throughout these years.
These donated books help chaplains minister to inmates in prisons and jails throughout Western North Carolina. According to Chaplain Mike Lombardo, AdventHealth Hendersonville Director of Pastoral Services, many inmates have said being able to read a Bible during their time in prison was their only source of peace and hope. Lombardo says this about his experience delivering the Bibles, “I delivered these Bibles to John Andrews, a leader for Blue Ridge Prison and Jail Ministry and he thanked me for the blessing of receiving these Bibles from AdventHealth each year. Blue Ridge Prison and Jail Ministries gives more than 1,000 Bibles a year to inmates. And every year they are overwhelmed by the inmates’ gratitude. Men and women serving time in jail are giving their hearts to God because of reading Bibles we have donated.”
“Our associates look forward to this opportunity each year,” said Chaplain Lombardo. “The blessing really comes when we see members of the community stopping by to donate their used Bibles to make sure the Blue Ridge Prison and Jail Ministries can continue to provide this care.” Joyce Stepp and Joan Beach from AdventHealth Hendersonville Financial Services are among the many AdventHealth team members that make a special effort during the annual Bible Donation Drive. Stepp is determined that the team in her building must be well represented in the Bible Drive each year so she encourages coworkers to participate. In addition, Beach, made it her hobby to go around to Thrift Stores to collect Bibles throughout the year and brought in more than 20 Bibles herself.
“Providing Bibles for Blue Ridge Prison and Jail Ministries aligns with AdventHealth’s dedication to care for the whole person – body, mind and spirit,” said Jimm Bunch, AdventHealth Hendersonville President and CEO. “Showing the inmates that there is always hope through Christ makes this so worthwhile.”
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