By Laura Austin News Review Staff Writer – Several years ago Celebrate Recovery (CR)which is a biblically balanced approach to help bring sustainable recovery and healing, forged a partnership with Prison Fellowship Angel Tree, an organization that allows local congregations to extend the hope of the Gospel to families with loved ones in prison.
In 2019, The Ridgecrest Calvary Assembly Church (RCA) began holding Angel Tree Parties with their local Celebrate Recovery group. They heard a message from James D’Amato (who worked on the national level with Celebrate Recovery Inside and who now works with Prison Fellowship) at the CR Summit and were compelled to see how they could bring some joy to local kids with incarcerated family members. After seeing the joy on their faces, the church decided they would make it an annual event.
Last Friday evening RCA hosted an Angel Tree Event with volunteers from all faiths. The group gathered at RCA Church and hosted four local families and 15 children to participate in a Christmas event. The event provided an assortment of activities for the children of incarcerated parents. Children were guided by volunteers to activities such as writing letters, creating gifts and an opportunity to tell Santa their Christmas wishes.
Christmas gifts were given on behalf of incarcerated parents to each child, as well as lots of love and encouragement from the group.
