VIDEO: Planting Seeds

In New York City, a young boy with both parents in prison received a gift from his father through Prison Fellowship's Angel Tree program.  He also received something much more valuable - an introduction to his loving heavenly Father. 

Today, the Rev. Dr. Michael Carrion is senior pastor at The Promised Land Covenant Church in the Bronx. The church has two sister congregations, both in the spiritual trenches: One is located at a drug rehab center, the other inside a prison.  Pastor Carrion has never forgotten that Angel Tree volunteer who brought him that gift, and took the time to pray with him.  "Love was extended to me by an Angel Tree volunteer," says Pastor Carrion.  "That never left me."

“I would not be here today," says Pastor Carrion, "if some PF missionary did not have the audacity and gall to walk into the barrio, Spanish Harlem, and knock on apartment 9H and say, ‘Where’s Mikey? Where’s Lati? Can I pray for you?’”

Reflecting back on that day, Pastor Carrion sees God's greater purpose in using that Angel Tree volunteer to deliver gifts to him and his sister Latischer. He also sees the larger objectives of the ministry. “Angel Tree is not about toys," he says. "Angel Tree is a mission. And the seeds that you plant there will release an anointing that breaks that back of the enemy.”

On October 20, Pastor Carrion addressed a gathering of Prison Fellowship volunteers, staff, and board members at a dinner celebrating founder Chuck Colson's 80th birthday.