PRISON FELLOWSHIP: Children with Incarcerated Parents

OneLife Church in Springfield, Missouri, was still excited about Christmas months after it ended—all because of Angel Tree.

Thank you for your prayers and support for our Angel Tree Camping program.

"How could I matter? My own dad didn’t want me. He chose drugs over me."

"It hardly seemed like the weather for thinking about Christmas, but even so, a crowd of men made their way over to our table to fill out Angel Tree applications."

Guest blogger Terri Grothe shares how to tell a child their parent is incarcerated and how to have open communication between the child and caregiver.

Interested in prison outreach but don't know where to start? Here are five ways you can make an impact through Angel Tree!

At nine years old, Desmond is already well aware of the troubles of the world. His prayers reflect how his father's incarceration has affected him: "I pray for Jesus to help me and my mom out with our house and food and bills," he shares.

For the past two summers, Ben Wade has worked as a counselor at Frontier Camp, a Christian camp in Grapeland, Texas. Most of the time, being a camp counselor is pretty straightforward. But the week that the Angel Tree® kids arrive is different.

Life at home was a nightmare for friends Paige and Macie. They desperately needed a refuge. They found support at Angel Tree Camping.

If you find yourself in the position of caring for children who have one or more parents in prison, you have experienced the impact of prison deeply. You may have your own feelings about the incarcerated person and the potential financial weight you might have to bear.