Christmas Hope Given to Children of Prisoners

Focus on the Family
Saturday, 26 October 2002

Focus on the Family Partners with Angel Tree Ministry

Focus on the Family announces its second annual partnership with Prison Fellowship's Angel Tree® program. The two organizations are uniting this Christmas in a unique and strategic effort to distribute evangelism materials to potentially 600,000 children nationwide.

By every measure, prisoners' children are the most severely at-risk children and youth in America. Studies show that children of prisoners are five times more likely to end up in prison themselves (U.S. News & World Report, April 2002). These kids are at a greater risk for child abuse, neglect, illiteracy, crime, violence, incarceration, teen pregnancy, depression, premature death, and substance addiction.

Christmas is an especially difficult time for children whose moms or dads are imprisoned. By brightening Christmas for the child of a prisoner, Angel Tree® helps children begin to heal the pain of being separated from their mom or dad, and offers these families an important connection with a community that can offer support and love during a time of isolation

Angel Tree® operates through local churches in a child's area. For each eligible child, these churches provide a Christmas gift and materials that contain a presentation of the Gospel, as well as a network of support and accountability. Follow-up with the child and his or her caretaker is also a huge priority. Since the program's inception, more than 4.5 million children of prisoners have received nearly 8.5 million Angel Tree® gifts and a presentation of the Gospel.

Focus on the Family now acts as the warehouse for the evangelism materials distributed to Angel Tree® children, playing an integral part in making the ministry of Angel Tree® possible. Focus is fielding all calls and orders at its Colorado Springs headquarters. Materials include booklets, cassette tapes, videos and T-shirts that are age-appropriate and culturally sensitive. These items contain an explanation of the true meaning of Christmas with a child-oriented discussion of the Christian faith. The resources are available in either English or Spanish.

Focus on the Family's founder and president, Dr. James Dobson, says, "All of us at Focus on the Family are pleased to lend our support to Prison Fellowship's Angel Tree® program. It's a wonderful way for churches, families and individuals to help spread the hope and love of Jesus to children in need during the Christmas season. You can make a difference—one heart at a time."

To order Angel Tree® evangelism materials or to find out more information about church participation, please contact 1-800-55-Angel or visit the web site at www.angeltree.org.

For more information, or to contact Focus on the Family, see their website at: www.family.org