A Daughter’s Story of Redemption and Hope: Nikki’s Testimony

“When I was around six or eight years old, I remember receiving Christmas gifts. I never knew where they came from or how they got to us, but I just remember being told that they were from your dad.” Growing up in California, Nikki Mattison was raised by her grandparents while both of her parents cycled through addiction and incarceration. “It was letdown after letdown,” she remembers. “I would stare out the window thinking this time was going to be different.” Years later, after meeting her husband and finding a church community, everything changed. “One Sunday, I found myself in this church, not knowing a soul—completely in tears and wrecked. It was that Sunday that I found Jesus for the first time, and I was never the same after that.” God didn’t just transform Nikki’s heart—He restored her family. Her dad, once incarcerated, rebuilt his life and became “Papa” to her children. Her mom found healing after decades of struggle and now works in recovery. “Many people ask me how it all works. All I can say is it’s because of Jesus.” Today, Nikki serves as the Angel Tree Events Manager at Prison Fellowship, helping organize Angel Tree sports camps and events that bring joy and hope to children with an incarcerated parent. “I get to look at them and say, ‘I see you. I’ve been you. You don’t have to live with the shame. In this space, we are all the same.’” 🙏 Bring hope and restoration to those affected by incarceration! Your support helps transform lives through Christ-centered programs. Give today: https://prisonfellowship.org/SeekJustice ❤️✨ #HopeInPrison #PrisonMinistry #PrisonFellowship Subscribe to Prison Fellowship:    / @prisonfellowship   Find out more about Prison Fellowship at our website: http://bit.ly/2S2OyG4 Subscribe to our newsletter: http://bit.ly/31EkmV6 Read more stories on our blog: http://bit.ly/3bjrp9W Follow Prison Fellowship on: Facebook:   / pfministries   Instagram:   / prisonfellowship   X:   / prisonfellowshp   TikTok:   / prisonfellowship   LinkedIn:   / pfm