Yvette and Tiffany don’t live anywhere near Kernersville and probably would never have made a connection with anyone at Triad Baptist Church if if it wasn’t for a ministry called Angel Tree.

“This will be my third year, and I love it,” said Yvette, whose daughter is in prison. “You all have always made me feel loved and welcome, and like you have known me for years, and I know my grandson would not have Christmas without it.

“Even though his mother can’t be there, this way my grandson knows his mother is thinking about him. He gets so excited seeing his presents under the Christmas tree, and we love to see all the beautiful decorations you always have up at the church.”

Each December, Triad members take angels from the tree and buy gifts of $15 to $25 that, in turn, are delivered to children with personal notes from their incarcerated parents or — in some cases — by the parents themselves shortly after they leave jail.

Parents or caregivers of the children pick up the gifts from Angel Tree volunteers in Triad’s Activity Center in a program that also features refreshments, and a magic show and gospel presentation by Jonnie Manuel — one of three Triad members featured by WFMY-TV reporter Jessica Mensch in her live broadcast about Triad’s Angel Tree ministry on Dec. 6.

This year’s party is 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 19. The gift-giving ministry at Triad is coordinated by Prison Fellowship as part of its nationwide effort to redeem lives and rebuild communities through faith in Jesus Christ and family support.

“To see the smiles on the kid’s and caregiver’s faces is a blessing to me every year,” Manuel said about why he serves each year. “We’re always so much more blessed to give than to receive. I think anything you can do to show the love of Jesus to them speaks volumes about what we really celebrate at Christmas, and what Christmas is really all about.”

Tiffany, who returned home from prison Sept. 15 after serving a sentence for obtaining property by false pretenses, is excited about her first trip to Triad for the Angel Tree party, and to pick up gifts she deliver in person herself this year.

“Fortunately, I had a momma who prayed for me, and I’ve been given a second chance,” she said of the consequences of choices she made. “I’ve turned back to God and am getting back on my feet, and just became employed two weeks ago. I wanted to be able to give my children some kind of Christmas this year, and the Angel Tree will help me do that.

“It’s an excellent ministry.”

‘Sharing Christ’s love and acceptance’

Samantha Mueller, who leads Triad’s Angel Tree ministry, decided to host an Angel Tree party at the church like others across the U.S. after hearing about Prison Fellowship’s work from a friend.

She said the 2016 edition featured 60 angels on the tree. The project begins each October when Prison Fellowship gives her the list of children, needs, and family contacts.

“I had run angel trees before, but this one just seemed so much more,” she said. “You’re building a relationship with that child, trying to break that chain of bondage that might be present in their lives, because sometimes children grow up just like their parents. So hopefully this will intervene and keep that from happening as well as bring that prisoner back to their family and help restore a relationship and reconnect them to the community in a positive way.

“My favorite part of all of Angel Tree is sharing Christ’s love and acceptance with the families.”

Breaking the cycle

According to a study for The Pew Charitable Trusts cited by Prison Fellowship, 2.7 million or 1 in every 28 (3.6 percent) children has a parent incarcerated, up from 1 in 125 just 25 years ago. Two-thirds are imprisoned for non-violent offenses. And the Department of Health and Human Services reports that children of incarcerated parents are seven times more likely to be imprisoned themselves one day — underscoring why Prison Fellowship created the ministry to help children overcome the shame, guilt, and other impacts the crimes leave behind.

Get involved

Want to volunteer for the party or get a head start on helping Mueller next year? Contact her at sammiemueller3@gmail.com.