Prison Fellowship

  • DONATE
    • One-Time
    • Monthly
    • Angel Tree
    • Other Ways to Give
  • GET INVOLVED
    • All Options
    • Subscribe
    • Angel Tree Christmas
    • Start a Fundraiser
    • Pray With Us
    • Justice Action Center
    • Share on Social
Search
  • 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
    • Research and Evaluation
      • Good Citizenship Model®
  • 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
      • Subscribe To The Hope Connection
    • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • In-Prison Ministry
      • Reentry Ministry
      • Family Ministry
      • Justice Reform
      • Mentoring Ministry
    • Angel Tree Coordinator Training
    • Resources for Chaplains
    • Resources for D.O.C.
    • Justice Reform Resources
    • Create: New Beginnings Book
    • Share on Social
  • ABOUT US
    • Our Beliefs
    • Mission & Vision
    • Financials
      • Financials
      • 2024 Annual Report
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
    • In The News
    • Leadership
    • Chuck Colson
      • About Chuck Colson
      • The Charles Colson Hope Awards

Home Away from Home: Responding to the Impact of Incarceration on Families

September 1, 2020 by Emily Andrews

Camp Gives Lucy a Place to Belong

impact of incarceration

Twelve-year-old Lucy dreams of becoming a camp counselor someday—an idea that began at Camp Agape in Oregon. Her mom, Jennifer, says that camp changed her child's life.

They first learned about Angel Tree Camping®, a program of Prison Fellowship®, from faculty at Lucy's elementary school. Through scholarships and partnerships, the program makes Christian camp possible for children with a parent behind bars.

Before she ever saw the lush beauty of an Oregon campground, Lucy had seen things no child should, including a parent’s arrest. The family lost their home when Lucy’s dad went to prison. They had no relatives nearby to help. For a time, they lived out of their car, then at a shelter. Now they're in a house of their own again.

Because of Angel Tree Camping, camp is Lucy's home away from home.

The emotional impact of incarceration can seem unbearable, especially for a child. Jennifer started to worry that her daughter might go down 'a wrong path.'

HOW INCARCERATION AFFECTS A FAMILY

The emotional impact of incarceration can seem unbearable, especially for a child. As a result, Lucy became timid and struggled to make friends. Once a model student, she began misbehaving in school. Then Jennifer started to worry that her daughter might go down "a wrong path."

"It was horrible, the change," says Jennifer. "… She was missing her father like crazy. She'd cry all the time. She was always sad."

When Jennifer dropped her off camp for the first time, Lucy was a nervous second grader. Jennifer worried knowing her daughter had a hard time interacting with people. And she was leaving Lucy with folks she didn't know.

Yet Lucy found her place among a people who loved Jesus. Caring counselors and campers showed Lucy that she belonged, from day one. Meanwhile she made friends trying new activities like archery and go-karting. Every day, they read the Bible together and learned about Jesus while enjoying His creation.

Meeting other children of incarcerated parents helped her realize that she wasn't alone. By the week's end, Lucy was already looking forward to coming back to camp the next year.

"She walked out of there a totally different person," Jennifer recalls. "She had her head held high, and she was excited—she wasn't this quiet, shy girl anymore."

Children with a parent in prison, like Lucy, are overcomers.

WHERE HOPE GROWS

Today, Lucy loves to ask people if they know the meaning of "agape" from the camp's name. She'll say, "It means 'God's love!'"

Lucy's experience at camp replaced her fears with joy and hope. Today she does well in school and loves going to church. And every summer, she is eager to pack for her summer excursion again. "Her going to camp has brought God back into our family," says Jennifer, who has also started attending church regularly.

Lucy still keeps in touch with the friends she made at camp, too. Jennifer loves to see those relationships grow: "They are like a little family."

Both Jennifer and Lucy can't wait to give back to camp however they can, so other families may experience the same hope. Children with a parent in prison, like Lucy, are overcomers—and even when life isn't fair, Jennifer says, "They’re troopers, and they're making it through."

BIBLES ARE NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER

Prisons across the country are on lockdown due to COVID-19, and Bibles are one of the only ways to still get hope behind prison bars. And nothing provides hope like the living Word of God. The demand for Bibles is at an all-time high. Will you help us meet the need? Please give generously today and your gift will be doubled thanks to a matching grant!

DONATE NOW

DID YOU ENJOY THIS ARTICLE?

Make sure you don' t miss out on any of our helpful articles and incredible transformation stories! Sign up to receive our weekly newsletter, and you' ll get great content delivered directly to your inbox.

Your privacy is safe with us. We will never sell, trade, or share your personal information.

Filed Under: Families of Prisoners, Angel Tree Tagged With: Angel Tree Camping, Oregon

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

The Powerful Love of Moms Behind Bars

May 7, 2025

How Camp Can Change the Life of a Prisoner’s Child

April 30, 2025

Prison Fellowship’s Statement After United States Senate Declares April 2025 as Second Chance Month

April 29, 2025

LATEST VIDEOS

WATCH ALL VIDEOS

Join our online community

Facebook Facebook X (Twitter) X (Twitter) Instagram Instagram YouTube YouTube LinkedIn LinkedIn
PF®
PFM®

RECOMMENDED LINKS

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

RESOURCES

  • For Families & Friends of Prisoners
  • For Churches & Angel Tree Volunteers
  • 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
© 2025 PRISON FELLOWSHIP®

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