Driven by Love: A Family Tradition of Giving Back

A HEART FOR SERVICE

“Absolutely everybody that he ministered to … he loved them, and they adored him,” said Cheryl. “We always spoke about the fact that we’re not taking Christ into prison. Christ is everywhere, and Christ is there.”

Jim had a passion that never wavered, from working on staff at Prison Fellowship in Manhattan to later serving as a volunteer and donor.

In his will, Jim left his beloved 2002 Toyota Solara to his daughter Susanna. She drove it home from the East Coast to Lubbock, Texas, with the convertible top down. The heirloom brought fond memories of her father.

It wasn’t so long ago that Jim drove it with the top down through Washington, D.C., hauling dozens of wrapped Angel Tree^® Christmas gifts and waving as friendly drivers honked at him.

“It was his favorite ministry,” Cheryl said. Prison Fellowship Angel Tree^® mobilizes churches nationwide to deliver a gift, the Gospel, and a personal message of love to children on behalf of their mom or dad behind bars.

DRIVEN BY LOVE

While Susanna loved the old convertible, it often sat unused in the driveway. Then she learned that she could donate the car to support a cause she cared about, like Prison Fellowship.

“I knew [Prison Fellowship] meant so much to him,” Susanna said. “When I started looking into it, I saw the work that you all are doing, and it's so important. It’s so helpful for so many people that you can help give them a chance at a new life.”

Susanna reached out and Prison Fellowship, through our partnership with CARS, handled the rest.

Vehicle donations are a unique and impactful giving option to help support the ministry. People can give an unwanted car, truck, boat, motorcycle, or even plane as a tax-deductible donation. Then, Prison Fellowship turns the gift into cash.

To Susanna, the opportunity to change a life is a gift in itself. She’s honoring her father, Jim, by paying it forward and she’s supporting a mission she believes in and knows he did too. She says it makes her feel good to know her gift is going to help people heal and thrive.

“It's like a ripple effect,” says Susanna. “[The car] is going to go to help people instead of just sitting in my driveway.”

GENERATIONAL GENEROSITY

Investing in the work of Prison Fellowship continues to be a Self family tradition. When Cheryl and Susanna think of the ministry, they remember Jim and his heart for those behind bars. They’ve even talked about making a trip back to Lorton, Virginia, once spring returns, to wander the historic prison grounds—now known as Liberty—where Jim used to minister.

“It’s just very impactful to know that that [work] goes on and it's making a difference,” says Cheryl, who makes every gift in Jim’s honor. She says Prison Fellowship is one of only a few groups she supports financially now that she is retired.

“For me, Prison Fellowship is a perfect targeted solution for people who are perhaps having the most difficult of issues,” says Susanna. “People are able to develop their spiritual lives in prison, gain skills, gain support … I just really believe when you show compassion to people, it changes lives.”