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Angel Tree Children Ministry

when mom and dad are in prison the children are so sad, lonely and scared

When mom and dad are in prison, what happens to the children?

Angel Tree Ministry is a non profit organization trying to infuse hope where there is none. They take these kids camping, teach them valuable skills and cater to their spiritual and emotional well being.

Here is a message from Rev. Donna Phelps and her husband Garry:

Yes! It's that time of year again and right now we have 568 kids waiting to see if they will be remembered as one of the Angel Tree Children Ministry.

When Mom or Dad is in prison, it's the innocent children who do hard time. But you can let them know they aren't forgotten. You can give the child of a prisoner the joy of Christmas this year. Each gift is given as though it is from the incarcerated parent. In addition, every child also receives an age-appropriate presentation of the Gospel message--the true meaning of Christmas. And when Christmas is over, you'll enjoy opportunities to continue to minister to these families year-round.

We ask you to please invite them to your church & pray for these needy families. Right now we need volunteers to: buy and wrap gifts, to purchase gift cards of any kind, donations of stockings, candies, socks, gloves, coloring books, DVD's, etc...and monetary donations to sponsor Angel Tree events. We ask you to please pray about this tremendous need, and remember: what if it were your child? Please try and see them through the eyes of Jesus. To find out how wonderful it feels to "welcome the children" in Jesus’ name, just call us at 910-842-9418.

At present there are over 32,000 children of prisoners across North & South Carolina. Let's not let any be left out. We want to thank these individuals in advance for their hearts of compassion and for adopting children.

Building HOPE Ministries, P.O. Box 1331, Shallotte, NC 28459

donnabuildinghope@yahoo.com

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Connection Join The Optimist Group

Posted by Myrtle Beach Real Estate by Mirela Monte on 10/21/2009 10:53 PM

Comments (15)

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angel tree children ministry, children of inmates, when mom and dad are in prison, sc and nc inmates kids, mirela monte myrtle beach connection

Originally posted at: Myrtle Beach Real Estate by Mirela : Angel Tree Children Ministry

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15 Comments on Angel Tree Children Ministry

OCT

What a heartfelt post, and what a wonderful organization Angel Tree is.

Sheldon: Yes, indeed! One of my agents, Darlene Olivo, is very involved with this organization. The stories she tells us are so touching. It would be horrible to be so young and not have your mom and dad, expecially at Christmas...

Here is a message from Darlene:

I want to introduce you to two of the most incredible people I’ve ever met: Rev. Donna Phelps and her husband Garry, who go to our church at the OD Pavillion. Donna and Garry do so much for the Prison Ministries and other different organizations (all year long) as you will read below.

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting one of the kids they brought to church in trying to help him, so cute but so sad; both parents in jail for LIFE terms!! They do incredibly hard work for all families and kids and I tell you, we’ll be there to help in any way we can this holiday season. Read below and check them out, God Bless them!! Darlene and Anthony Olivo

Mirela,

I agree that this is a great way to show these children some form of love. The church where I attend have an angel tree every Christmas, and thankfully all the childrens names are taken after a few services.

This is a worthy cause.... investing in the lives of children who are our future. I commend you for bringing this to the attention of us all. Hopefully the exposure to outside readers will create givers. The picture of the child is priceless and tells a story without a word.

Mirela- I've seen the trees locally here in central Georgia and purchased gifts for the tags and left them at the location but never really knew about the actual ministry. You've now prompted me to investigate it further this year and see if it's the same. Really a touching and thoughtful post.

OCT

I lost a nephew this summer. Car wreck. On the way to a drug buy. 45 years old. Four children by three mothers.

Spent so much time just doing drugs, selling drugs, doing time....he did not accumulate enough good quarters of work to qualify his children for Social Security death benefits. (It really doesn't take a lot.)

The kids.

Always the kids.

Jim-I am sorry to hear of the loss of your nephew, my heart goes out to his 4 children. It reminds me that anyone can be a father, but being a Dad really is important.

I, too, attend the church where Rev. Donna and Garry Phelps attend. They are a wonderful couple who love the Lord. Their ministry is to help others and they achieve this in so many ways, ministering to their needs and mostly, to their souls. Angel Tree Ministery is a wonderful one and I encourage each/every one of you to support it this year (or one similar in your area). Kids are our future and no child should have a Christmas without their parents but so many do for one reason or another. Some children never even know who their real parents are. God Bless You for reaching out to those less fortunate, however you choose to do so.

My daughter wants to adopt 10 kids, or so she says. She's only 16, so we'll see... In the meantime, she and I will contribute to this worthy cause. As a society, we do a bang up job of incarcerating people; the USA has the highest prison population in the World. We incarcerate, instead of counsel, and we foster generations of inmates, by neglecting the children those parents leave behind. It is absolutely tragic, and we can't get far unless we tend to this issue and effect some real changes...

In many European countries petty theft or drug abuse garners the infractor appointments with a counselor for behavior modification. Ethics and morality are important components of the wrongdoer's re-education. Here, we summarily throw these people in prison, where they can learn even more bad habits, thus ensuring a lifetime of crime and yet more "rehabilitation"(jail). It costs around $25,000/yr. per inmate to keep these people incarcerated, yet no one talks about this huge financial strain on our national budget.

Still, no one talks about the kids left behind, which is one reason this fine organization strikes a chord in so many of us.

Thank you all for your wonderful, heartfelt comments!

Here is Rev. Donna Phelps response to this blog:

All I can say is WOW! Your kindness is just overwhelming. No we do not have a web site. However, you may give them our address & email.

Building HOPE Ministries, P.O. Box 1331, Shallotte, NC 28459

donnabuildinghope@yahoo.com

Again, THANK YOU! THANK YOU! YOU HAVE NO IDEA THE ETERNAL EFFECTS THIS MAY HAVE! TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY!

OCT

These children really do deserve any help they can get. They are just one more innocent victim.

OCT

Girls and Guys, you make me so proud to be a Real Estate Broker (retired last year). Your support of Angel Tree makes my heart leap for joy! I am also involved with Building Hope Ministries and I know this couple very well. I know for a fact, Donna Phelps needs a website. If you know of anyone who is blessed with the time and talent to create one for her, what a difference it would make in their ministry. God is good. I know HE will hear my cry for help and bless her with a website and meet every need for Angel Tree. Thank you all so much.

OCT

I have the chills reading the responses from you all, thank you! I am so excited and have already begun collecting and gathering gifts for the kids for Christmas. I to agree that Donna must get a website started, anyone out there that can help her and Gary ?? I wish I had the knowledge to help her create one, God will provide help, he always does. Darlene Olivo ABR-Buyers' Choice Realty North Myrtle Beach

Sorry everybody, didn't mean for my picture to go on my comment twice, heaven forbid once is enough LOL!! Darlene

Darlene, you are truly a blessing to help with needs for Angel Tree Ministry. I appreciate you agreeing with me that Building Hope Ministries does need a web site. Let's keep praying about that.

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