Faith
Christmas Gifts Lead to Family in Christ
Faith Facts
- A caring church and Christmas gifts offered Brandy’s family true belonging in God’s family.
- The Prison Fellowship Angel Tree partners with churches to deliver gifts and Bibles to children of incarcerated parents.
- Regular church engagement builds lasting hope, purpose, and connection for families in need.
Brandy, a single mom of seven in California, faced hardship with her children’s father incarcerated, but found unexpected hope through the church. Each Christmas, her children received gifts and Bibles, which became a source of love and strength from their absent father.
Her children’s desire to attend church led Brandy to join a faith community, where they discovered fellowship and encouragement rooted in God’s Word. This new chapter brought them into the embrace of believers who uplifted and supported them.
“Those Bibles… planted a seed for my kids. When their classmates started inviting them to church, they wanted to go,” she says.
Psalm 68:6 reminds us, “God sets the lonely in families,” and the local church is often how He accomplishes this today. Through the compassion of believers, families like Brandy’s experience not just help, but true community.
Regular church involvement doesn’t only strengthen faith—it provides stability, connection, and greater well-being. Christian communities demonstrate Christ’s love by welcoming and caring for the lonely and outcast.
At Christmas, the Body of Christ has a powerful chance to reflect God’s heart by supporting children of incarcerated parents. Angel Tree ministry opens doors not just to gifts, but also to relationships with both their parents and God’s people.
“When the Church is a place of welcome, it reflects the very heart of God.”
The simple act of inviting someone to church or sharing a gift can help a family find hope, belonging, and a new life anchored in faith.