Prison Ministry

Give the gift of Christmas to a child affected by incarceration.

Each year Prison Fellowship receives thousands of Angel Tree applications from prisoners throughout the country in hopes to restore or continue their relationship with their children. The inmates are so thankful for the opportunity to provide their children with a Christmas gift. In Southern California there are approximately 70,000 of these children who have a mom or dad in prison...sometimes both. Statistics show that 2 of 3 of these children will follow their parent into jail.

We are reaching out to these kids in hopes to break the cycle through the love of Jesus Christ. The gifts are given to the children as a gift from their incarcerated parent, as a way to strengthen and restore their relationship with one another. The children often feel abandon and broken, and these Christmas presents provide a way to stay connected and to break down the walls.

The cost of the gift is nominal, approximately $50 per child. Each child is blessed to receive a minimum of two gifts ($25 value each, however, you are welcome to spend more as you feel led). When you choose to sponsor a child, you will be given their name and a gift suggestion for one fun gift and one article of clothing that the parent picked out specifically for their kids. Each gift should be new, and returned to the prison ministry unwrapped.

Year after year, we sign up for 200 children to sponsor, but the Lord always sends more children our way. And year after year, He abundantly meets the needs of each child and family. We want to spread Christ's love, grace and mercy to the kids on the outside, and help them receive the true meaning of Christmas; the love of Jesus Christ. With Him all things are possible!

The gifts are either hand delivered to the children's homes, or are handed out at a Christmas Party. Christmas of 2008 was our first Angel Tree Christmas Party at the Rock Church and we will do our best to repeat this tremendous blessing every year! Santa Claus made a special trip to the party and handed out stockings filled with toys, trinkets, and gift certificates. Each stocking was handmade by the quilting ministry at the Rock and the children were so excited about their stockings because for most of the children, it was their first stocking. Yoo-Hoo the clown blessed the kids with face painting and balloons. The children particpited in arts and crafts and games galore! Each family left with a bag filled with gifts on behalf of their incarcerated parent.