Drugs. Alcohol. Incarceration. The cycle of crime swirled around little Jo'Deja and Amani, but they were innocently unaware, shielded from the upheaval of their parents' choices in the home of their grandmother.
"I didn't do anything around them," their mom, Darlene, explains. "But I was living a double life."
A CHANCE TO THRIVE
Three years ago, at the end of her rope, Darlene rediscovered the faith of her childhood, and things began to change.
"I have always been a religious person," she explains. "I always knew that God had a purpose for me and was not going to give up on me. Prayer, the Christian witness of the girls' incarcerated stepdad, and the help of my church got me off the drugs and helped me become more of a mom to my children."
With a sober, Christ-centered mom back in the picture, the two girls began to thrive. But making positive choices away from the easy money of the drug culture had led their little family into some dire financial circumstances.
HOPE FOR THE FATHERLESS
"Last Christmas I was so upset," Darlene shares. "After paying rent and bills in our home with only a monthly income of less than $750, I only had $20 left over. I didn't know how I was ever going to get the girls Christmas gifts. All we had was a tree."
But then, the girl's stepfather Dwayne called from prison and told Darlene that he had signed Amani and Jo'Deja up for Angel Tree®, a program of Prison Fellowship®. "I was hoping for one gift apiece," Darlene recalls, "but the Angel Tree volunteers arrived with huge black bags just full of stuff. Our empty tree was full of presents!"
There were nice clothes and purses, perfumes, and even an art set. The girls were amazed at their stepdad's ability to provide—and it opened the door for a deepened relationship. Amani has formed a special bond with her step dad Dwayne, whom she and Darlene have been able to visit about four times during his three-year incarceration with the help of car pools.
"Each time he calls, Amani wants to wrestle for the phone for the chance to speak to him," Darlene says, smiling. "She wants all his visitation time as well!"
SOMEONE CARES
Dwayne continued reconnecting throughout the year by writing and illustrating a book for the girls through the Storybook Dads program. He even spent two hours doing arts and crafts with them on a Family Fun Day, and is growing in his relationship with the Lord through prison ministry opportunities. And this past Christmas, through the generosity of Prison Fellowship volunteers and supporters, the girls experienced the joy of an Angel Tree Christmas again!
"I hope you realize how happy you are making these children," Darlene states. "You are giving smiles to children that may not have anything. Your prayers and support show them that someone cares—and that they can do the same thing when they grow up."
THE FORGOTTEN VICTIMS OF CRIME
Right now, an estimated 2.7 million children have a mom or dad in prison. For many of them, their lives are filled with abandonment, loneliness, and shame from having an incarcerated parent. Some even follow their parents' destructive path to prison.
But it doesn't have to be that way.
Angel Tree gives incarcerated parents a way to provide a Christmas gift and a personal message, delivered by caring, local volunteers, as a tangible representation of their love. The church, which embodies the hope and grace of the Gospel message to prisoners' families, may continue to minister to the prisoner's family throughout the year.
Will you remember these forgotten victims of crime?
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