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Posted August 3, 2012
Recently I visited ministries in Denver, Colorado, that care for the homeless. That city is struggling with the surging population of chronically homeless. It’s gotten so bad that the local government has had to outlaw camping within the city limits.
Why was the CEO of Prison Fellowship Ministries visiting homeless shelters in Denver?
I was asking questions. Those who serve Denver’s indigent population estimate that over 50 percent of those who come through their doors are ex-offenders.
Posted August 1, 2012
Three Prison Fellowship® volunteers lay down on the ground. Prisoners at California's Folsom State Prison crowded close, laughing and whooping in anticipation. “Where's the medic?” someone asked jokingly. The volunteers cringed, bracing for possible impact.
Finally, as the crowd grew silent, a BMX biker sailed down a ramp, jumped into air, and flew over the heads of the three volunteers. It was all part of an in-prison event put on by Prison Fellowship and partnering organizations.
After
Posted July 30, 2012
Lucius Jenkins could have become a statistic.
When police officers arrested eight year-old Lucius’ father on charges of sexual abuse, he could have gone the way of many other children with incarcerated parents – behavioral problems at school, becoming isolated from friends and family, or even following his father to prison. Instead, with the support and encouragement of his mother, and the mentoring of an Angel Tree volunteer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Lucius has become an
Posted June 28, 2012
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., June 18, 2012—Laura Kaeppeler has overcome some difficult obstacles on the way to becoming Miss America 2012 – including the challenges of being the child of a prison inmate. Next week in Fort Lauderdale, Prison Fellowship, the nation’s largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families – including Kaeppeler’s family while her father was incarcerated – will present its inaugural Angel Tree Star of Victory award to Kaeppeler in recognition of her
Posted June 26, 2012
KCBS-TV in Los Angeles recently ran a feature story about Calicinto Ranch, a camp in southern California that caters to children of prisoners. Calicinto Ranch is a partner camp in the Angel Tree Camping program.
The video segment features interviews with six different campers of varying ages – each of whom currently has a parent behind bars. The campers speak candidly of the impact has had upon them, and their desire to avoid the paths of
Posted June 15, 2012
It felt like Christmas in June as I entered Broward Correctional Institution’s indoor visiting park with faithful Prison Fellowship® volunteers Suzzan Volk and her mother, Johanne.
Beautiful toys, clothing, and other handmade items produced by the female inmates were displayed on the back wall of the facility. The items had been created as Christmas gifts for children participating in Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree® program.
A few months prior, the Florida Department of Corrections approached Prison Fellowship to
Posted June 5, 2012
Soon after I became CEO of Prison Fellowship Ministries, I met Mark Brenon. Mark is a pastor at Grace Community Church in Magnolia, Texas, and a recent graduate of the Colson Center’s Centurions program, a year-long opportunity for followers of Jesus to deepen their understanding of Christian worldview.
Family matters a lot to Mark. The church he helps to lead is full of large families, and he has four children of his own. But last Christmas,
Posted May 22, 2012
If Lolo Jones isn’t currently a household name, it likely will be very soon. The 29 year-old Olympic hurdler’s combination of athletic ability, engaging personality, and good looks have made her a favorite of both track fans and the national media. After an unfortunate trip cost her a chance to medal in the 2008 games, Jones is among the favorites to bring home a gold medal from the Olympic
Posted April 23, 2012
As word of Chuck Colson’s passing spreads, a number of commentators are offering tribute to the man whose very life is a testament to God’s redeeming grace. Here are a few shared thoughts:
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“For more than 35 years, Chuck Colson, a former prisoner himself, has had a tremendous ministry reaching into prisons and jails with the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. When I get to Heaven and see Chuck again, I believe I will also see
Posted April 20, 2012
In today’s BreakPoint commentary, John Stonestreet offers his reflections on the life and legacy of Chuck Colson, and offers a personal word of thanks for the many lives who have been touched by him:
… Quantifying his impact would be impossible, but you know I meet those who have been impacted by him all the time – they read his books, or they listen to BreakPoint, or maybe their children were loved by Angel Tree volunteers
Posted March 28, 2012
After catching a touchdown to help Clemson win the 1981 National Championship, wide receiver Perry Tuttle adorned the cover of Sports Illustrated with the caption, “Orange Bowl Hero Perry Tuttle of Clemson.
You might think that would be Tuttle’s favorite memory of his greatest football game ever. But it wasn’t. It was the game his dad attended just after being released from prison.
From Tuttle’s interview on Joe Gibb’s Game Plan for Life site:
I am the youngest
Posted March 1, 2012
Interacting with the criminal justice system can be confusing and frightening, especially for a prisoner's child. Unable to understand what's going on, they may feel great fear, insecurity, anger, or even guilt.
'THE NIGHT DAD WENT TO JAIL'
"The Night Dad Went to Jail: What to Expect When Someone You Loves Goes to Jail," is an illustrated children's book intended to make the experience of a parent's incarceration a little less frightening. Written by Melissa Higgins and illustrated
Posted January 17, 2012
I want to personally thank the volunteers and donors that participated in our 2011 Angel Tree Christmas program. Because of you, almost 400,000 prisoners’ children received a gift from their incarcerated parent and great hope through the Gospel.
That’s almost 400,000 children who feel closer to their absent mom or dad, closer to a local church, and closer to Jesus Christ!
Akeylah is one of the many precious angels whose Christmas was brightened by your generosity. At
Posted December 21, 2011
On her blog, author Ellen Painter Dollar talks about her family’s involvement in the Angel Tree program at their church, and how it has helped to shape her kids’ view of Christmas – and her view, as well:
My children talk and talk about how the kids will love their gifts. They also ask why a mom or dad would be in prison, and who takes care of the kids while they are. I’d like to
Posted November 21, 2011
I recently came across a story in the “Good Deeds” section of the Gaston Gazette (Gastonia, NC). In it, James Bodenheimer talks about receiving two mailings soliciting contributions for the holiday season—Prison Fellowship and Special Olympics. Both are programs that the Bodenheimers have supported in the past. Alas, Mr. Bodenheimer is currently unemployed, and decided that he would be unable to support either cause this year.
Enter Mr. Bodenheimer’s seventh-grade son, Jameson. He asked his father