A Thank You from Kenya

Children of prisoners are the least of these, the ones Jesus tells us to care for in Matthew 25:35-40. They want what so many of us take for granted: educational support, regular meals, a warm bed, a dry roof over their head. They need someone—like you—to help lift them out of despair, and develop a meaningful relationship that lets them know God cares—and so do you.

That’s why Prison Christian Ministries created a unique sponsorship program for children of prisoners, who often fall between the cracks of what other child-focused programs provide. With 19 years of experience working as a correctional officer inclined chaplaincy, I know they thrive when they receive consistent acceptance, love, and practical care, and when their needs—in these specific areas—are met:

Assurance of safety – With at least one parent in prison, the remaining parent’s (or family member’s) ability to provide care and protection is stretched thin. Children risk being trafficked into the sex trade or drawn into gang life, join terror groups in Somalia and run on the streets.

Extra support to combat social stigma – Children of prisoners are rejected by their peers simply because they have a parent in prison. That has a profound effect on their emotional and psychological well-being.

Special assistance to maintain a relationship with the incarcerated parent – In the developing country, it is difficult and costly to visit someone in a distant prison. But children need their parents. If the relationship is ruptured, they suffer.