PRISON FELLOWSHIP BLOG: Families of Prisoners

As our world navigates COVID-19, Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree is actively reaching out to families of prisoners to pray with them and encourage them.

An incarcerated father. A mom left on her own. Could Diane and her girls survive life on the outside without John?

Have you ever wondered what makes Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree different? Our distinct core mission is to create pathways of reconciliation between incarcerated parents and their children.

UPDATE: All Angel Tree children have been assigned and registration is now closed for 2019.

Joe was ashamed when he was arrested in front of his daughters. And then Angel Tree—a unique prison ministry to the children of prisoners—stepped in.

  Through Christmas presents and loving volunteers and churches, Angel Tree takes what begins as a tragedy for many families—the incarceration of their loved one—and turns it into a blessing.

Where does one find a Bible in braille? Sean and his daughters had no idea where to start, but with God all things are possible.

It's hard to count your blessings when you're coping with the day-to-day realities of prison. It's even harder during the holidays. But four prisoners have found several reasons to give thanks this year.

When Doug heard churches wanted to buy Christmas presents for his children, he thought it sounded like a prison scam. Was Angel Tree for real? Who would do something nice for a prisoner like him?

I don’t know why I said it” but a promise is a promise. Lueida had no idea what she was getting into when she decided to move beyond the Christmas reach.

Angel Tree volunteer Nedra has 21 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren—but there’s always enough love for more.

Seventy percent of prisoners’ children have caregivers who are over the age of 50. Many of these caregivers are grandparents. This Grandparents Day, we want to honor those family members who care for youth while their moms and dads are away.

At camp, Joseph can set his worries aside and be free to just be a kid. Every day at camp is a new adventure for this child and so many other campers. And after this summer, he will have plenty to share in his next letter to his dad in prison.

Every year, thousands of prisoners’ kids attend summer camps through Angel Tree Camping. Angel is one of those kids, and for her, camp has been a refuge.

After Shay’s first year at camp, she couldn’t wait to tell her mom the stories of fun and fellowship. The best part wasn’t horseback riding or laser tag—it was meeting people who shared her challenges and reminded her she wasn’t alone.