Ministry to hold party for former prisoners
This is a party for family members of prisoners and former prisoners. The event is open to all ages, from infants to teenagers, from young adults to the elderly. It will be an afternoon and evening of recreation for the whole family, with games, crafts, singing, stories, pizza ? and fun!
Those planning to attend are asked to please call party organizer, and Wings Tennessee affiliate director MaryAnn Gay, at 474-3732 or 224-2264, to RSVP for the party.
Wings Ministry is also asking for volunteers to help with the festivities. Those who wish to volunteer are asked to be present from 2 to 4 p.m. for orientation and to help with setup for the party. Those interested in volunteering for the Spring Party event can contact Gay at the numbers listed above.
Wings Ministry was started in New Mexico 12 years ago by Ann Edenfield Sweet. Her husband was arrested and sent to prison, and she was left alone to raise four small boys. Ann was devastated, like so many others in this situation, by the humiliation, rejection, and financial hardship that come with having a spouse in prison. Out of her pain, Ann started Wings Ministry to offer love and support to other family members of prisoners through a network of caring Christians.
Wings community parties, which are a fun way for families to experience the unconditional love of Christ as they interact with caring volunteers. Relationships grow through sharing together: singing, crafts, discussion, Bible stories, games, and, of course, pizza.
Similar parties are held in prisons and help reunite children and other family members with their incarcerated loved one. Both of these events are designed to strengthen the bond within the family and to help families find the love and support of a church in their homes.
The need for this kind of ministry is obvious, organizers say. We are all affected by crime ? either directly or indirectly.
The statistics are startling:
? One in 10 American children has a parent behind bars, on probation or parole; for African American children it is 1 in 8.
? It is estimated that as high as 70 percent of the children of prisoners will become prisoners themselves.
? One in 32 adults were behind bars, on probation or parole in 2005.
? If the current trends continue, one in 15 Americans will spend time in a state or federal prison.
? Tennessee ranks fifth in the nation for violent crimes committed.
? Warren County was one of six Tennessee counties with the highest numbers of meth lab seizures in 2004. The Drug Enforcement Administration calls meth ?the most dangerous drug problem of small town America.?