Angel Tree Competition Prize Winners to Spend Day at Rainbow’s End
For the first time since Angel Tree was introduced to NZ some 15 years ago, Prison Fellowship delivered more than just
gifts to the children of prisoners this past Christmas. Prison Fellowship partnered with a Christian Trust to run a
national competition for the children aged 3 to 13.
As well as receiving a Christmas gift on behalf of their parent in prison, children across 1600 households received a
pack consisting of picture book about heaven written by local author David Sutherland for Focus on the Family, together
with an opportunity to either colour in a picture or describe their view of heaven. Over 100 children entered from all
over New Zealand and these were recently judged.
One young person anonymously had this to say about Heaven “I will get to play with my friends and family. And eat, sleep
in a safe place. We get to hang out but without fear. To see friends and family again that we have lost on the way then
we get to see them again. Knowing that we are in a safe place is good enough for me.”
The 4 competition category winners come from Dunedin, Wairarapa, and Auckland. They and a caregiver will be brought to
Auckland this Friday,30th March, and will spend the afternoon ‘shopping’ for their prizes before going to dinner and
then Rainbows End on this Saturday, 31st March for a fun day out. A further 50 children from Hamilton, Auckland and
Northland together with their caregivers, as well as Prison Fellowship staff and volunteers , will join them at Rainbows
End, during which time they will hear from the book’s creator, receive their prizes, have lunch, and enjoy the rides in
the adventure park before returning home. Prizes will also be sent to all other entry winners throughout the country
thanks to the generosity of the Christian Trust.
ENDS