You may know or love someone who struggles with addiction. At Prison Fellowship, we recognize the deep and lasting impacts of addiction on those who face this challenge, on their families and friends, and on entire communities. We also know these issues and their underlying causes often lead people to involvement in the justice system.
October is National Substance Abuse Prevention Month. In light of this, I want to share Sheaveal’s story with you. You see, Sheaveal never dreamed addiction would be part of her future. As a teen, she often had to take care of her siblings because of her parents’ struggles with substance abuse. That experience made her avoid drugs and alcohol. She got an athletic scholarship and went to college. Then her boyfriend offered her crack—and her life spun out of control.
Sheaveal ended up in prison several times on drug-related charges, including after becoming a mom. Even when she returned home, her children had to live in a different home as her life continued to spiral. In December 2011, she hit rock bottom. Homeless and alone in a hotel room surrounded by drugs, she cried out to God to deliver her. She was facing another prison sentence—but this time would be different.
Grateful to be alive, Sheaveal praised God for giving her a second chance at life. She had a sense of peace. In prison, she took time to work on herself and grow closer to God. With a new identity in Him, she finally found freedom from addiction.
She remembered how, during one of her past prison terms, she saw a flyer for Prison Fellowship Angel Tree. She signed up her children every time she got the chance. Having her kids receive a Christmas gift with a note from her every year helped her feel connected to them.
“It changed my children’s lives,” Sheaveal says. “It changed my life. I looked forward every year for Angel Tree to come around.”
One of her sons, now an adult, remembers the basketball a local church volunteer delivered on Sheaveal’s behalf. He even slept with the ball because he knew it came from his mom.
When Sheaveal was released in February of 2017, her kids’ ages ranged from 13 to 21. She continued working diligently to gain their trust, calling and visiting them as much as she could. She stayed strong in her recovery with the help of a supportive community.
And now, Sheaveal is the Angel Tree coordinator for her church in Hollywood, Florida. In 2022, her team served 50 families. The following year, they served 100.
You can read Sheaveal’s full story on our blog. And if you hurry, there’s still time to register your own church for Angel Tree this year! It’s my joy to serve Angel Tree families with my church every Christmas, and believe me, you don’t want to miss out.
Thank you for joining us to see lives restored. I’m so grateful for your support! If there’s any way we can be praying for you, please let our prayer team know.
Serving Him with you,
HEATHER RICE-MINUS President and CEO
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