Prison Fellowship

  • DONATE
    • One-Time
    • Monthly
    • Angel Tree
    • Other Ways to Give
  • GET INVOLVED
    • Subscribe
    • Angel Tree Christmas
    • Start a Fundraiser
    • Pray With Us
    • Justice Action Center
    • Share on Social
  • STORIES
    • Stories
    • Blog
    • Videos
    • The Restoration Series [Videos]
  • WHAT WE DO
    • Why Help Prisoners?
    • What We Do
    • In-Prison
      • Prison Fellowship Academy
      • In-Prison Programs
      • Hope Events
      • Inside Journal
      • Women’s Ministry
      • Create: New Beginnings
    • Angel Tree
      • Register your church or group for Angel Tree
      • Prison Fellowship Angel Tree
      • Angel Tree Christmas
      • Angel Tree Camping
      • Angel Tree Sports Camp
    • Justice Reform
      • Justice Reform
      • Second Chance Month
      • News & Updates
      • Sign the Justice Declaration
      • Get a Copy of Outrageous Justice
    • Warden Exchange
    • Church Partners
    • Corporate Partnerships
    • Preparing Prisoners for Reentry
  • RESOURCES
    • Subscribe to Our Email
    • Support for Friends and Family of Prisoners
      • Resources for Friends and Family of Prisoners
      • Coping with Incarceration
      • Resources for Prisoners
      • Resources for Children of Prisoners
      • Supporting Successful Prisoner Reentry
    • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • In-Prison Ministry
      • Reentry Ministry
      • Family Ministry
      • Justice Reform
      • Mentoring Ministry
    • Resources for Angel Tree Coordinators
    • Resources for Chaplains
    • Resources for D.O.C.
    • Justice Reform Resources
    • Research and Evaluation Library
    • Share on Social
    • For Media Outlets
  • ABOUT US
    • Leadership
    • Chuck Colson
      • About Chuck Colson
      • The Charles Colson Hope Awards
    • Our Beliefs
    • Financials
      • Financials
      • 2022 Annual Report
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
    • In The News

Remembering Their Children: Prisoners Sign Up for Angel Tree

June 28, 2017 by Mary Ellen Armbruster

The men surrounded our table like bees to honeycomb. It was nearly Father's Day, and our little team of volunteers had agreed with Chaplain Andy Zack of Cheyenne Mountain Reentry Center that it would be a nice present to have an Angel Tree® table set up at the yard event, giving dads an opportunity to sign their children up to receive gifts at Christmas in their names.

The sun beat down upon the group of 300 prisoners as they gathered in the yard to hear Dennis and the Heat, a Colorado rap band, and George Medley, a former prisoner, share their stories of God's hope and redemption.

REMEMBERING THEIR CHILDREN

We hadn't anticipated such a large turnout. It hardly seemed like the weather for thinking about Christmas, but when the men heard that we were giving them an opportunity to sign their children up for Angel Tree, a steady stream made their way over to our little table to fill out Angel Tree applications. Our volunteers, Jill and Robin, worked diligently helping the men complete the forms.

Questions like, “What if my kids are divided between two homes?” and “My baby is only two—will they really choose a present she can enjoy?” were common fare all day long as we helped men, some of whom couldn't read, complete the forms. And it was heartbreaking when we had to tell others that they couldn't sign their children up because of restraining orders for no contact with their children.

Prisoners Sign Up for Angel Tree

EDDIE

I'll never forget Eddie, a 30-something dad, who diligently worked on his form while I looked on. He smiled and said, “My children have been served by Angel Tree for the last nine years, and I can't tell you how much it means to me, ma'am!”

I smiled as he scribbled down the four names and ages. He took great care studying the gift guide to determine what his little ones might want this year.

While he took his time, I studied the various tattoos on his arms. The ink told a story. Where had this man been? What crime separated him for so long from children he obviously loved? And would his children know how much he loved them, obviously caring enough to wrestle over the right words to say as he thought through the message he would write to them? That message that would be attached to the gifts that would come their way at Christmas time, presented by a church sponsoring Angel Tree.

One word at a time, he meticulously scribbled the heartfelt message to his kids. It wasn't until he walked away that I could read what he'd written:

My babies, don't ever forget how much I love you and carry you in my heart every day.

Love, Daddy

MEN OF GOD

As he walked away, I realized the men in the yard were shouting. Repeating back to George, our speaker, the same message he had dared them to affirm of themselves, the men proclaimed: “I am a man of God! I am a man of God!”

It struck me right then that Eddie had just stepped into that role, if even for a few moments, as he took the time to tell his kids how much he loved them. In that moment, I got a real sense that Father's Day had suddenly become Christmas—even in June!


ABOUT MARY ELLEN ARMBRUSTER

Mary Ellen Armbruster is the Colorado field director for Prison Fellowship.

OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT LIKE

THE PERFECT FATHER
“It was important to my dad to look perfect. He used to give us pep talks before going anywhere—about how to act, what to say—so that we wouldn't embarrass him.”

FATHER'S TURNAROUND CONVINCES DAUGHTER GOD IS REAL
“He thought he was 'big pimping' … He thought he was the greatest guy who ever touched Earth.”

Filed Under: Angel Tree, Feature Stories, Prison & Prisoners Tagged With: Angel Tree, Children with Incarcerated Parents, Families of Incarcerated, Family Ministry, In-Prison

SELECT A TOPIC

  • Advocacy & Reentry
  • Angel Tree
  • Families of Prisoners
  • Feature Stories
  • From the CEO
  • Hope Events
  • Inside Journal
  • Press Releases
  • Prison & Prisoners
  • Prison Fellowship Academy
  • Prison Fellowship International
  • Prison Fellowship News & Updates
  • Reentry
  • Second Chance Month
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • Warden Exchange

MOST POPULAR

Road to Second Chances Prayer Walk 2023

April 12, 2023

Carrying Chuck Colson’s Vision into a Bold New Future

April 10, 2023

But How Can We Help? Q&A With a Reentry Specialist

April 6, 2023

LATEST VIDEOS

WATCH ALL VIDEOS

JOIN OUR ONLINE COMMUNITY

FACEBOOK
TWITTER
INSTAGRAM
YOUTUBE
LINKEDIN
PF®
PFM®

RECOMMENDED LINKS

  • Ways to Donate
  • Inspirational Stories
  • Angel Tree Program
  • Prison Fellowship Academy
  • Justice Reform

RESOURCES

  • For Families & Friends of Prisoners
  • For Churches & Angel Tree Volunteers
  • For Media Outlets
  • Warden Exchange

JOIN RESTORATION PARTNERS AND WITNESS GOD RESTORE LIVES

Restoration Partners give monthly to bring life-changing prison ministry programs to incarcerated men and women across the country.

 

JOIN NOW
  • CONTACT US
  • EMPLOYMENT
  • PRIVACY
  • FINANCIALS
© 2023 PRISON FELLOWSHIP®

Angel Tree®, Angel Tree Camping®, Angel Tree Sports ClinicTM, Angel Tree Sports CampsTM, and Warden Exchange® are programs of Prison Fellowship®.