“They teach me life lessons . . . (how) to
do the right thing and be dedicated
to God.”

— Antonia Boyd, 11

"Statistics show that children of prisoners are six times more likely than other children to be incarcerated at some point in their lives.”* United Methodist Church Redemption Kids Ministries in Oklahoma is seeking to turn that around. As a ministry already focused on prisoners and ex-prisoners, it was natural for Redemption to reach out to children and families.

Many of these children feel alone in their struggles. Meeting children in similar circumstances helps them to cope. “I felt angry. I know I shouldn’t, because it’s not you that locked my parents up,” remembers Equandre Wofford, active in Redemption Kids for more than six years, and now a youth leader helping others succeed.

Click here to order resources

Joy Block, youth director for the Redemption Youth program at Redemption Penn Avenue United Methodist  Church, was incarcerated herself. Block says, “I want our (youth) to . . . follow God first. That’s number one.

“That’s going to be their strength—always—in life,” continued Block, who knows the key to breaking the incarceration cycle is to surround young people with God’s love.

Your gifts to Human Relations Day provide avenues to restored relationships through ministries like Redemption Kids, a Youth Offender rehabilitation Program; Community Developers, self-improvement programs; and United Methodist Voluntary Services, community advocacy that challenges oppression and injustice.

To send donations by check, mail to:

GCFA, P.O. Box 340029, Nashville, TN 37203. N OTE: List the name of the Sunday in the note section of your check.