A child with a parent in prison has a 70 percent chance of going to prison too. Children with two parents in prison have odds of more than 90 percent against them. What can we do to stop that destructive cycle?
Dioceses around the country are sending some of those children to camp for one week of healing, love, learning and fun. Does it make a difference?
Camp Amazing Grace was launched in July at the Bishop Claggett Center in Maryland for 25 little children with parents in prison. Only 18 of these smallest victims of crime were able to attend, but they loved what the 30 supporting parishes did for them, sponsoring and supporting their week in the sun.
The children swam in the pool, flew through the trees on the ropes course, worked with crafts, played games, painted, made bookshelves, sang songs, danced, produced a play, assisted a magician, and worshipped together at a Hip Hop Mass.
Some of them cried when the last day came. Some of us did too.
We are hoping that these children will have Big Brother Big Sister or Volunteers of America mentors who will continue this ministry throughout the year and that we will be able to have another Camp Amazing Grace next year.
"My fear,” said the Rev. William H. C . Ticknor, camp chaplain, ”is that without God’s amazing grace in the lives of some of these children, we clergy will be visiting them in prison or officiating at their funerals.”
The grace was amazing at Maryland's camp. Does your diocese have one?
Submit your thoughts, comments, and stories of everyday advocacy to eppn@episcopalchurch.org with the subject line “Everyday Advocacy”
