Prison Fellowship Angel Tree

Vanessa, an incarcerated mother in Texas, shares with us how impactful Prison Fellowship Angel Tree has been for her daughters.

"I am so grateful for the financial support from Angel Tree. Without them, there was no way my household could afford to send two daughters to camp. They both stated what a supernatural experience they had in these retreats—especially on worship night. Both of my daughters have grown so much in their faith, have begun serving in their community, and have gotten baptized. Jesus truly reaches kids at these camps ... best decision I have ever made for them as a parent."

Kassie's journey of addiction started at just 14. It cost her everything: home, family, and freedom. But Kassie's story doesn't end there.

After being given a 21-month sentence, an encounter with the Prison Fellowship Academy changed everything. Kassie started taking responsibility with a renewed mind and found hope in Romans 12:2: Don't be shaped by this world; be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Read more about Kassie’s transformation in Christ, and find out what she's doing today!

From Wild Child to Recovery Specialist - Prison Fellowship Kassie’s addiction felt like a tornado wrecking her life, and treatment programs made little difference. Now Kassie helps others overcome addiction.

The summer heat is scorching and dry, but it can do nothing to diminish the atmosphere of joy at Oakridge Christian Camp, a ministry partner of Prison Fellowship

Camp is a home away from home for many kids, and as Oakridge Christian Camp owner Brian shares, "We want that family feel. That family extends to other families. … I think [these kids] pick up on that. The family extension just flows through, and I hope they do feel it.”

The Family Branches of Oakridge Christian Camp - Prison Fellowship Brian started Oakridge Christian Camp to be closer to his family. Now, he invites the children of prisoners into that family through Angel Tree camping.

At Prison Fellowship Angel Tree sports camp, kids receive a free basketball and a new pair of shoes—as well as a new perspective.

Basketball camp provides kids with incarcerated parents a sense of community Former Washington Wizards prospect, Brandon Johnson, told campers his story of being a child with an incarcerated parent and being an incarcerated parent himself.

At only 4 years old, Micheal's world changed when his dad went to prison. He began acting out and was rebellious toward any authority.

A counselor urged Micheal’s grandmother to bring God into Micheal’s life because faith is what would save him.

Could something as little as a Prison Fellowship Angel Tree gift change everything?

Read this heartwarming story of how Micheal began to thrive on a life-changing journey with Christ.

Micheal’s Radical Transformation Began at Angel Tree Camp - Prison Fellowship Micheal’s behavior guaranteed a volatile future for him. A week at Angel Tree camp revealed his leadership potential and altered his life forever.

Here are 10 Bible verses to pray over and share with our mothers, wives, daughters, and sisters behind bars this Mother’s Day week—and all year long!

10 Inspiring Bible Verses for Incarcerated Women - Prison Fellowship Pray over and share these 10 inspiring Bible verses with incarcerated mothers, wives, daughters, and friends.

It all began when a former gang member shared the Good News of Jesus with Jose while in prison.

This uplifting story follows Jose's journey from prison to the challenges of reentry and the hope he finds through his faith in Jesus.

God’s Mercy Wouldn’t Let Go - Prison Fellowship Drugs and bad choices eventually landed Jose in prison. When he looks back at it all, he sees how God used the Church to bless him with purpose and hope.

It is officially April, and begins today! We are partnering with over 800 organizations and churches to declare our support for unlocking for men and women with a criminal record. Ready to be part of the movement?

What is Second Chance Month? Unlocking Brighter Futures for Millions During April, we raise awareness of the stigma and the legal restrictions that former prisoners and their families face.

Abandoned and abused—Jasmine felt like a forgotten child. But one day at church, God used an angel on a Christmas tree with her name to change everything.

Jasmine's story will strengthen your faith in the power of our loving Heavenly Father who makes all things new.

How One Gift Made Generations of Impact - Prison Fellowship Jasmine felt alone and unloved, but an Angel Tree gift changed her entire life. The impact inspired her to pay it forward.

"Jesus cares about those in prison. He wants to reach them. He died for them," says Aisha, a Prison Fellowship Justice Ambassador.

Aisha sensed that God was calling her to advocate for those who could not advocate for themselves after her own journey through hardship ignited a passion for justice.

Voted this year the "Volunteer Attorney of the Year," she has spent the last 10 years partnering with nonprofits to provide free legal services for those living in poverty. She has also worked with incarcerated youth for almost nine years and became certified in anger management to help minister to them. Now, she uses her platform as a Prison Fellowship Justice Ambassador to advocate for change.

"That’s how we change the world, one person at a time."

From Childhood Poverty to Justice Ambassador - Prison Fellowship After a childhood of poverty, Aisha eventually found her calling as a lawyer and now as a Justice Ambassador, advocating for men and women who are incarcerated.

We are so thankful to have received a grant from the Robert S. and Mildred M. Baynard Charitable Trust!

This generous gift will support children of incarcerated parents, especially those living in Florida, through Prison Fellowship Angel Tree and will make a great impact on each and every child.

Prison Fellowship Receives Grant From Robert S. and Mildred M. Baynard Charitable Trust - Prison Fellowship WASHINGTON, D.C., March 1, 2024 —Prison Fellowship, the nation’s largest Christian nonprofit serving prisoners, former prisoners, and their families, announced today that it received a grant from the Robert S. […]

After Willie was struck by an 18-wheeler, he and his wife, Candance, never imagined how drastically their lives would change.

Willie developed an addiction to painkillers, and as a result, the addiction escalated to committing robbery—so he faced 48 years in prison. Read how they chose to lean on God to stay together while bars kept them apart:

Staying Together When Bars Keep Them Apart - Prison Fellowship When Willie was sentenced to 48 years in prison, Candace decided to make their marriage work, no matter what. Together with God at the center, their love has thrived.

Ryan’s life flashed before his eyes in a life-or-death situation when he was shot three times. Now, in a prison cell, could God save him?

God Is Opening Doors - Prison Fellowship Through life’s struggles, Ryan learned that God would open doors of opportunity, help him to trust again, and soften his heart. How?

When Jeremy went to prison, he thought his family relationships were forever shattered, and he almost lost hope. Now released, Jeremy and his wife, Traci, facilitate Prison Fellowship Angel Tree in Arizona to help other prisoners’ families experience joy and connection.

What is the Mission of Angel Tree Camping? - Prison Fellowship Prison Fellowship sat down with Jeremy and Traci to talk about serving prisoners’ families through summer camp and year-round ministry.

The year 2023 was a fantastic one for Prison Fellowship. We served prisoners and their families, equipped prison leaders nationwide, and advocated for criminal justice reform.

Check out the impact you helped us make!

Prison Fellowship's Year in Review: Celebrating Your Impact! Welcome to Prison Fellowship's 2023 ministry recap, where your belief and investment in our mission have helped to break the cycle of incarceration. Witness ...

Hello to all our amazing Prison Fellowship supporters out there. This is Heather Rice-Minus, Prison Fellowship’s new president and CEO, and I’m excited to share with you today a little more about me and the things that are close to my heart.

I have fond memories of childhood—playing school with my dolls as a little girl and playing basketball and lacrosse as I got older. I had many pets and wanted to be a veterinarian when I grew up. But God took my life in a different direction, and I found myself pulling many all-nighters to earn my J.D. from George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School and become a member of the Virginia State Bar. I went on to manage prison reform advocacy efforts at the National Religious Campaign Against Torture before finding my way to Prison Fellowship in 2013.

Taking a stand for justice that restores, and—in doing so—upholding the God-given dignity of every human being, is so crucial to me. My husband, Paul, and I have two precious daughters, and they remind me that every person in prison is someone’s beloved child.

With this in mind, it is such an honor to lead Prison Fellowship in serving incarcerated men and women and their families. I’m excited that we can enable local churches and other partners to serve alongside us through programs like Angel Tree, which cares for and connects children with their incarcerated parents.

I pray that the Church in America experiences new revival as we inspire the local church to grow alongside the Body of Christ behind bars. This year holds numerous opportunities to continue being part of what God is doing, and it takes all of us—volunteers, churches, donors, advocates, and more—to make a lasting difference.

Happy New Year! This is Heather Rice-Minus, Prison Fellowship’s new president and CEO. As we enter 2024, I pray you are experiencing the abounding peace and joy of Christ.

I am honored to be part of this pivotal time at Prison Fellowship. We’re witnessing an undeniable culture shift in prisons across the U.S., and we’re continuing to expand on our founder Chuck Colson’s original vision of incarceration today. We’re building rapport with corrections leaders, reframing the national conversation on corrections, and advocating for a justice system that reflects every person's God-given dignity.

I first joined Prison Fellowship in 2013 to work on restorative criminal justice reform. While leading the advocacy team, I cherished the chance to advocate for the FIRST STEP Act. Last month we celebrated the five-year anniversary of the act’s passage and all the opportunities for rehabilitative programming and earned-time credits it has created since.

In my most recent role of executive vice president, I also led teams that built partnerships with churches, helped strengthen relationships between incarcerated parents and their children, and fostered partnerships with our donors. I’ve had a front-row seat to see what God is doing in prisons around the country. I am confident that many of tomorrow’s leaders are behind bars right now—in Academy classrooms, at Hope Events, in prison chapels, in quiet cells praying for purpose.

Each new year brings a sense of new possibilities and fresh starts, and I look forward to seeing what God has in store for Prison Fellowship and those we serve.

In case you missed Alice’s recent story, “A Heart Transformed by Grace,” here is a video with more on her and her children’s wonderful experience with Prison Fellowship Angel Tree.

You can also check out her story again here: https://bit.ly/3RiyNsa

One Family’s Experience With Angel Tree Christmas Subscribe to Prison Fellowship: https://bit.ly/pfmsubscribe Find out more about Prison Fellowship at our website: http://bit.ly/2S2OyG4Subscribe to our newsl...