Covenant Group, The Parable Group and their respective partner retailers nationwide have announced a joint initiative with Prison Fellowship International to launch the Children of Prisoners Sponsorship Program to rescue, restore and rebuild the lives of poor and vulnerable children of prisoners—impacting lives across the globe.

Prison Fellowship International is the largest and most extensive association of national Christian ministries working within the criminal justice field.

“Around the world, millions of children have lost one or both parents to imprisonment,” said Frank Lofaro, president of Prison Fellowship International. “These children don’t have a safe place to live and lack food, medical care, education—and hope. They fend for themselves on the street or live with their parents in prison and are at a high risk to be sold into child slavery and sex trafficking. The need is daunting; PFI already has 10,000 kids located and identified on our waiting list.”

Bill Anderson, former CBA president and now executive advisor and consultant to Prison Fellowship International, added, “We are excited to be working with Christian retailers to bring hope, relief and Christ’s love to children of prisoners around the world. Christian stores are the ideal partner—cutting across denominational lines and serving the whole church.

“We are delighted with the strong response and high level of participation by Covenant and Parable and their partner stores. Together we will make a huge difference—for God, for good … forever in the lives of thousands of kids. And we’re encouraged that additional stores and groups will join us as we move forward.”

Founded 35 years ago by former Nixon aide and Evangelical leader Chuck Colson, Prison Fellowship International is dedicated to communicating the redemptive love and transforming power of Jesus Christto prisoners, ex-prisoners, their families, and victims of crime around the world. Prison Fellowship International works in more than 125 countries and engages 45,000 volunteers in prison ministry.

“Remarkably, PFI has been able to save lives as they work to restore physical health, improve nutrition, provide general education and ultimately bring the lost to Christ. We couldn’t be more privileged to partner with them and our partner retailers in this great work,” said Steve Potratz, founder and president of The Parable Group. “Christian retailers will be able to connect children in need to customers who can help.”

The Parable Group and Covenant Group has begun to raise awareness to customers via catalogs, emails, online and in stores. Retailers will aim to engage customers to enter into a one-on-one sponsorship with a child for just $28 a month. The turnkey, easy-to-implement program includes training resources, marketing support, in-store merchandising, data-reporting and accounting services for participating retailers.

“The full sponsorship program is well-planned, well-executed, and highly cost-effective for the child sponsors,” said Covenant Group President Chuck Wallington. “We look to enroll many sponsors for children in need over the coming months as our stores work to promote this program to the customers we serve.”

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