December 18, 2000
Hospitality House aids inmate families
___By Ken Camp
___Texas Baptist Communications
___HUNTSVILLE--A homemade card from an inmate hangs on the Christmas tree at the Huntsville Hospitality House. ?
___It was his "thank you" note to a ministry that made the holidays a little happier for hisfamily.
DIRECTORS Bob and Nelda Norris (right) and ministry assistant Edna Walker arrange presents under the Christmas tree at the Huntsville Hospitality House.
___The Hospitality House provides overnight lodging and a place of rest for the visiting families of inmates in Huntsville-area prisons. And each Christmas, directors Bob and Nelda Norris help to make sure that the prisoners' children have presents to open on Christmas morning.
___In 15 years, the Norrises have distributed more than 4,400 bags of Christmas gifts. Bob Norris expects the Hospitality House to receive about 450 bags of toys between the first of December and Christmas.
___"There was one lady who told us, 'We put up a tree at home, but I don't know why. There's no money for gifts,'" Nelda Norris recalled.
___Norris told the woman she didn't need money. God had already provided.?
___Norris showed her toys that Christians had donated for families like hers, and he let her choose whatever she wanted for her two sons.
___"That was 13 years ago, and she's continued to be a regular guest," Norris said. "Now we're helping with her grandchildren."
___Since opening its doors 15 years ago, the Hospitality House has registered more than 76,000 guests from 48 states and 40 nations. The Hospitality House ministry also has been instrumental in about 560 professions of faith in Christ.
___Texas Baptists provide about 18 percent of the Hospitality House annual budget through their gifts to the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas missions.
___Young children visiting the Hospitality House during the Advent season are invited to select a stuffed animal from under the Christmas tree and to have a piece of candy.
___Their mothers are taken privately to a storage room where they are free to select toys that they can take home to place under their own Christmas trees.
___Throughout the year, guests also are invited to help themselves to canned goods and staple items from the Hospitality House food pantry.
___ "Any leftovers that we have after Christmas are given to the Good Shepherd Ministries here in Huntsville or to others," Bob Norris said. "Any excess that we have--whether it's toys or food--we share with others. Nothing goes to waste."
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