We’re in the middle of summer’s long, hot days. I’m guessing most of you aren’t thinking about Christmas as you’re having picnics, swimming in the local pool, or getting outside for bike rides and baseball games. But here at Prison Fellowship, it’s Christmas in July, and we’re entering of one of our most important seasons: recruiting churches to participate in Angel Tree Christmas!
Parents in prison are already praying that there will be enough churches to bring their kids a gift, the Gospel, and a personal message from them this Christmas. Each year we partner with congregations across the country to serve hundreds of thousands of kids who are missing their incarcerated parent during the holidays—kids like Peyton, who was 7 months old when her dad, Kelvin, most recently went to prison. She’s now 8 years old, and her dad is still behind bars, but because he has had the opportunity to send her a Christmas gift through a local church, they have built a strong relationship across the miles. Peyton shares, “[Angel Tree’s] been good because I can still stay in contact with my dad, and the stuff that he gives me will stay in my memory."
Kelvin, who—since he was 9 years old—has spent decades of his life going in and out of the criminal justice system, is not only an Angel Tree parent. He’s also currently a participant in the Prison Fellowship Academy at the Carol Vance Unit in Texas, where he’s learning the biblical values needed to be a good a parent, even from behind bars. Kelvin shares, "[The Academy] gives me a foundation, it gives me an anchor. I have something to identify with. I am somebody, I feel special—not worthless." Kelvin hopes to get out of prison to not only be a great parent to Peyton, but also to give back to his community.
Each volunteer who provides a Christmas gift on behalf of a parent like Kelvin can help strengthen a bond, restore a family, and potentially change the entire trajectory of a child’s future. Would you consider getting your own church involved this Christmas? I can tell you firsthand that there is no greater feeling than knowing you’re impacting the life of a child.
Summer also wouldn’t be complete without summer camp! Angel Tree camping is a chance for children with incarcerated parents to get away from their daily challenges and have fun in the great outdoors, making new friends and meeting caring adult counselors. At camp, children encounter the love of Jesus and discover hope for the future. Many of the kids who attend come back year after year. Some even give back by becoming camp counselors themselves.
That was the case for Jeniah, who shared, "Honestly, I think it was the community that had me coming back. It's so welcoming, and I always felt comfortable, and I felt I was accepted here, no matter what. No matter if my dad was in jail or not. And whenever I was going through stuff, they would always talk to me, and just teach me about God and how He accepted me through everything."
We love being able to open doors to new experiences that can change a child’s life forever. Will you join us in praying that all the children who will be attending an Angel Tree camp this summer will discover joy and the love of Jesus while they make friends with peers who understand the challenges they face?
Thank you for your faithful support, which is changing lives and in ways that will have a generational impact. God bless you!
Celebrating Him,
JAMES J. ACKERMAN President and Chief Executive Officer
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