Prison Fellowship

Remember Those in Prison

  • DONATE
    • One-Time
    • Monthly
    • Angel Tree
    • Other Ways to Give
  • GET INVOLVED
    • Volunteer
    • Subscribe
    • Angel Tree Christmas
    • 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 Camps
    • Justice Reform
      • Second Chance Month
      • 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
      • Coping with Incarceration
      • Resources for Prisoners
      • Resources for Children of Prisoners
      • Supporting Successful Prisoner Reentry
    • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • In-Prison Ministry
      • Reentry Ministry
      • Family Ministry
      • Justice Reform
      • Mentoring Ministry
    • Resources for Angel Tree® Church Coordinators
    • Resources for Chaplains
    • Resources for D.O.C.
    • Justice Reform Resources
    • Share on Social
    • For Media Outlets
  • ABOUT US
    • Leadership
    • Chuck Colson
      • The Charles Colson Hope Awards
    • Our Beliefs
    • Financials
      • 2021 Annual Report
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
    • In The News

The Perfect Father: A Story from Angel Tree Camp

June 15, 2017 by Emily Harris Greene

  • THE PERFECT FATHER

    The arrest of Sydney's father turned her world upside down.

    by Emily Harris Greene

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.

Sydney's father was "a man of extremes" who beat her but also brought her presents when he went out of town. "I talk about him as if he's dead," she says, "because in a sense who he was, is."

A NIGHTMARE

Sydney was napping the day her father was arrested. A police officer woke her up. Her father was going to jail.

When Sydney's father was convicted, he was registered as a sex offender. "Before he was incarcerated, he was a teacher," she says. "His crime was very publicized." She was asked by friends and strangers for the "real story" and other inappropriate questions.

Life changed drastically for the hurting family. Her mother grew depressed. The family lost their home. It was hard to buy food, too. "We ate lots of spaghetti," Sydney remembers, "It's cheap." At a new school, her father's crime haunted her; she was terrified of what her classmates would say if they found out.

During the week at school, Sydney tried to keep up appearances. On the weekends, the family visited the prison. Sydney never got used to it. She hated being patted down by the guards. "I'm not the criminal here!" she thought.


'I talk about him as if he's dead because in a sense who he was, is.'


perfect-father
perfect-father
perfect-father

A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE

In prison, Sydney's father found a relationship with God. "I struggled a lot with trusting in the authenticity of his faith," Sydney says. "To be honest, his apparent devotion had me angry at God. I didn't want any part of it."

That first holiday season without their father looked bleak. Sydney's mother struggled to stretch her paycheck.

"We went to midnight mass at church," Sydney remembers. "When we came back, there were presents under the tree! The lights were glowing, and the house was absolutely silent. It was such a magical moment." Sydney's mother had given Angel Tree® volunteers a key to the house so that they could deliver gifts. "[They] let us have that magic for one more year," Sydney says.

perfect-father

'They all seemed so insanely happy and peaceful.'


ABBA, FATHER

Angel Tree asked if Sydney and her brother would like to go to camp. Thrilled at the idea, their mother agreed, but Sydney was less enthusiastic. "No kid wants to feel like a charity case," she reflects. But her mother insisted, so to camp Sydney went.

She felt miserable those first few days. But she noticed something about her camp counselors. "They all seemed so insanely happy and peaceful," she says.

When Sydney asked her mentor why that was, she was told it was because they had personal relationships with God.

Such a relationship didn't seem possible to Sydney. She had committed too many sins. Why would God accept her? But that joy was too appealing to fight. "I reached out to my counselor … and accepted Christ," Sydney says.

Sydney returned to camp every year. The withdrawn girl became a counselor, connecting with other kids over their shared experiences. Sydney was no longer alone, and neither were the campers she cared for. And now Sydney's relationship with her father is healing. "We're definitely in a much healthier place," she says.

Today, Sydney continues to find ways to help other children like herself.

perfect father

'I reached out to my counselor … and accepted Christ.'


Tagged With: Angel Tree Camping

DID YOU ENJOY THIS STORY?

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

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER

Men and women in prison are looking for hope. And nothing provides hope like the living Word of God. The demand for Bibles and Christian content is at an all-time high. Will you help us meet the need? Please give generously today.


DONATE

About Emily Harris Greene

Emily Harris Greene is the digital communications specialist at Prison Fellowship. She is based in Virginia. Read More Stories by Emily Harris Greene

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
  • For Wardens & Prison Officials

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
© 2022 PRISON FELLOWSHIP®

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