Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree program brought Chris back together with his son.
We first brought you the story of the Cleveland family in 2010. Recently, Prison Fellowship caught up with the father-son Angel Tree duo to learn how they are doing today.
Christopher, the boy who was reconciled to his father through the generosity of Angel Tree donors and volunteers who gave him a basketball on behalf of his incarcerated father, is now 18, and “still hanging out with his dad,” Chris says. Young Christopher is also taking a leading role in the youth ministry at their church.
The Clevelands also continue to volunteer for Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree program each year. On December 20, their church will host 70 Angel Tree kids for a Christmas party. Chris admits that he was “a little scared” to take on such a large responsibility, but all the angels were claimed from the Angel Tree in the church lobby on the very first day!
And Christopher? He’s organizing the nativity skit that will be performed by the children of the church so that Angel Tree kids can understand the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Read more about how Angel Tree brought healing and renewal to the lives of Chris – once a “highly functioning addict” – and Christopher, and the young son he left behind when he finally went to prison of 69 charges.
Original Story: Lockdown Freedom (October 2010)