Missions

A Criminal's Daughter

by lynn gipson 
11/07/12
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 On April 25, 1951 at 8:01pm my father was no where to be found. That is the exact date and time of my birth, and he had been missing in action for several weeks. Not one soul claimed to know where he was. Apparently he was not far away because when he heard he had a baby daughter he came to the hospital to see me and was promptly arrested for check fraud.

Welcome to the world, Lynn! After the first four year of my life my mother left my father, and I don’t remember any Christmases up until that time. I certainly don’t remember ever receiving a Christmas present from my father before or after that time.

That was in the 1950’s, and there was not a lot of help for children of inmates or the families of those serving time in prison. Today there is a wonderful organization for that provides parents who are incarcerated at Christmas time with the ability to give Christmas presents to the children they left behind. It also offers the gospel of Jesus Christ to the inmates and their families, often healing the hearts and minds of the offenders and bringing hope and peace to the children.

Angel Tree was founded by a woman who was a career criminal in the decade of the seventies. She was led to Christ while behind bars and found real purpose in her life by coming up with a program to bring families of those in prison back together. This wonderful organization works through local churches to provide the good new of Jesus Christ to inmates and find the names of their children, and what they would like for Christmas. The children then receive Christmas presents from their incarcerated parents via the good people of the local churches.

Children who lose a parent to prison love their mother or dad very much. When their lives are disrupted by an incarceration of their loved one they only understand that person is not with them anymore. To receive a Christmas present from that parent lets them know they are still loved regardless of the circumstances. Many inmates are led to Christ by this wonderful outreach of love through the truth of Christ brought to them through this organization. Their families are brought back together and the minds and souls of the criminals are transformed.

For just a small donation you can give a child who is hurting a wonderful Christmas this year. A child who might otherwise receive nothing can actually receive a present from the one who means the most to them, giving them hope and the faith to believe in a man called Jesus.

Find out how you can help by clicking on Angel Tree and reading about all the wonderful things this Christ filled organization is doing in poverty stricken communities everywhere. In the world today there are many troubled souls, but Jesus can and will lead any child who goes astray back into His fold. I should know. As a criminal’s daughter many pitfalls came my way, and it took many, many years but Jesus always knew I would find my way to His path for me! God Bless!