Virginia
Virginia ministry brings hope of Christmas to inmates, correctional staff facing holiday isolation
A Virginia-based ministry plans to deliver nearly 75,000 “Hope Packs” containing devotionals, hygiene items and the Gospel message to incarcerated people, correctional staff and inmates’ families worldwide this year, expanding an effort to combat holiday isolation behind bars.
Good News Global, founded in 1961, announced the growth of its “Hope Pack & Presence” initiative, which launched in 2021 with 50,000 packs. The program aims to provide encouragement and share the love of Jesus during Christmas and year-round, reaching 170 correctional facilities in 20 U.S. states and 20 countries.
The initiative began when former inmate and chaplain Richard Van Arsdale contacted Willow Creek Community Church in suburban Chicago about its Hope Pack program, leading to an ongoing collaboration supported by churches and donors.
Nearly 300 chaplains from the organization serve in facilities year-round, fostering relationships for spiritual growth and discipleship. Personal visits accompany the packs, which vary by region but typically include a Christmas bag, greeting card, 2026 calendar and a Gospel presentation.
“Hope Packs represents our greatest direct Gospel outreach to incarcerated people and those impacted by incarceration,” said Jon Evans, president of Good News Global. “We can put the Gospel message in the hands of receptive inmates this Christmas.”
In the U.S., most packs feature “Armor,” a 200-page book with devotionals, poems, artwork and activities for those behind bars. International versions may contain Bibles, tracts or devotionals. Practical items like cookies, chips, socks, toothbrushes and toothpaste in the U.S., or staples such as rice, flour or sugar abroad are also provided.
“We’re not just handing out a bag,” Evans said. “We’re delivering hope.”
Inmates have praised the project’s impact. “The book has given me hope and peace to my heart,” wrote one inmate from Visalia, California, referencing the Armor resource. “I’ve learned from the activities and stories and feel the love of God from everyone that has helped with this book.”
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin also commended the ministry, saying, “Good News has decided to shine a light on a very simple, yet profound truth that there is hope and there is value in every single person on this planet.”
The effort addresses the plight of a lonely Christmas for more than 11 million incarcerated individuals worldwide, who often face deepened loneliness amid limited family contact.
Good News Global ministers to more than 400,000 incarcerated men, women and youth daily in over 300 facilities across the U.S. and 23 countries, partnering with corrections officials on the belief in every person’s inherent worth.
RICHMOND, Va. — Friday will be sunny and seasonably warm, with highs in the upper 70s and low 80s.
The pattern of cool nights and mild afternoons will continue through the weekend and through much of next week as upper-level flow continues to bring reinforcing mild and dry air out of eastern Canada.
Rain chances will be very limited over the next week, with only a slim chance with a frontal passage on Monday.
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PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. (WSET) — Ressie Keen, a 107-year-old Pittsylvania County woman, is safe after escaping a house fire that destroyed her more than 100-year-old home, leaving behind a yard filled with charred debris and scattered belongings.
Keen said she has no special secret to her longevity.
“I ain’t got no secret, just thanking the Lord to let me stay here to see 107,” she said.
Keen said she moved to the home decades ago and built a life there.
“I’ve moved there in 1969, our first crop was made in 1970, and I been living there ever since,” she said.
The fire broke out in Keen’s bedroom on Thursday afternoon. Keen said she and her sitter got out as the fire grew.
“I don’t know what happened, only thing I knew to do was to get out of there. So me and my sitter we got out. She tried to put it out but she couldn’t,” Keen said.
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Pittsylvania County Fire Marshal Scott Hutcherson said investigators believe the fire started with an electrical issue.
“We think we had an electric outlet failure, more or less; an adaptor on the outlet probably failed,” Hutcherson said. He said the fire spread quickly once it ignited nearby items. “It set the bed on fire and the clothes that was on top of it, the material on top of it, what’s pretty much what got the fire going. And then it easily spread to the second story.”
Keen’s son, Ronnie Keen, said the loss has been painful for the family.
“It was devastating real devastating, lot of memories lost. But I know those memories and emotions the things that were sentimental were still right here,” he said.
A family photo album was among the few items recovered. Pointing to one image, Ronnie Keen said, “That’s a picture of the house.”
He added that the album was badly damaged. “It’s so charred it’s kinda hard to open,” he said.
Keen also held onto her favorite cast-iron pan.
“I knew this wasn’t going to get burnt up,” she said.
The home was considered a total loss, but the family said the most important thing is that Ressie Keen survived. She is now living with her son.
“I’m overjoyed that she’s here with us and she’s safe,” Ronnie Keen said.
Hutcherson said to prevent this, make sure that there is a smoke alarm in your home. He says you can reach out to the Pittsylvania County Public Safety office for a free installation of a smoke alarm.
WISE COUNTY, VA (WCYB) — Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has requested the Virginia Attorney General’s Office investigate the 2025 homicide of a Wallens Ridge State Prison inmate.
The Attorney General’s Office confirmed the development to News 5 on Tuesday, May 27.
“The circumstances around the death of Aubrey McKay are of a very serious and troubling nature. Governor Spanberger has requested that the Office of the Attorney General conduct an investigation and initiate any criminal prosecutions that arise. This office will continue its thorough, complete, and timely investigation into these consequential matters,” Attorney General Jay Jones said in an emailed statement.
McKay died on June 4, 2025, while inside the Wise County correctional facility.
The Virginia Department of Corrections confirmed his death is being investigated as a homicide and said at least one officer was either reprimanded or placed on leave.
The Virginia medical examiner’s office listed McKay’s cause of death as multifactorial asphyxia. Virginia State Police also confirmed it is investigating the case.
The Smyth County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office also confirmed it will no longer be involved in the case.
A spokesperson for the Wise County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office told News 5 on May 25 that Smyth County would oversee the prosecution because of the nature of the investigation.
Smyth County Commonwealth’s Attorney Phillip Blevins later confirmed he has recused himself from the case.
In a court order provided to News 5 dated May 22, Blevins wrote that he has an association with at least one potential witness involved in the investigation. He was excused from the case.
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