Matthew Hammond and Laura Lapointe

Special Guest Alert! Mathew Hammond of Love Only Grows Music Ministry along with Laura Lapointe, his family and friends will be performing live at our next Embraced:Fully Zoom Meeting, December 4th at 6PM (Pacific Time). You will definitely want to attend. For what better way could there to celebrate the joy and spirit of the Christ spirit than with the healing and transformative music and abundant goodwill that emanates from Matthew’s deeply effecting voice and sweet guitar work? He, along with his wife Liz, family and friends look forward to sharing some of their original songs and Christmas carols with you, your church and friends. This promises to be a truly special evening of uplifting spiritual music that brings healing and transformation…. and oh did we mention joy?! There will be plenty of that.

Links:

• Love Only Grows Music Ministry (https://loveonlygrows.org/)
• Laura Lapointe, CS (https://healing.lauralapointe.com/)

Make a Tax-Deductible Donation to Support Embraced:Fully Angel Teams and Returning Citizens

Monthly Donation

One Time Donation

Note: Please be sure to select “Embraced Fully” in the “Fund” drop-down list on the donation page.

If you would like to support the work of Embraced:Fully with a check instead of an online donation, please make it out to:

The Principle Foundation
Memo: Restricted – Embraced:Fully Project
Mail to: 10670 Barkley St, Overland Park, KS 66212-1861

View additional donation options here

Please remember to specify Embraced:Fully as the program you’d like to support.

Embraced:Fully is a fiscally sponsored program of The Principle Foundation, registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, tax ID number 43-0816306.

Join us for our monthly Embraced:Fully Angel Team Workshop on Thursday, November 20, 2025 at 6:00 PM (Pacific) on Zoom. Guests are always welcome!

This monthly gathering is a welcoming space to explore how we can support returning citizens—individuals coming home from incarceration—on their path toward stability, healing, and freedom.

Together we’ll discuss:

• What is an Angel Team?

• Who can join or start one?

• How can churches and volunteers make a meaningful impact?

What Angel Teams Do

Embraced:Fully Angel Teams walk alongside returning community members to help them rebuild their lives — offering practical help like housing, transportation, and employment connections, and most importantly, a caring, faith-based community that welcomes them home.

Meeting Agenda

1. Introductions & Announcements
Share who you are and whether you’re currently connected with any returning community members—or would like to be.

2. Regional Angel Team Updates
Progress, challenges, and success stories from Angel Teams across the country.

3. Volunteer Chaplain Check-ins
Updates from visiting and corresponding chaplains working with inmates and returning citizens.

4. Discussion Topic: Giving Thanks and Gratitude
A time to reflect on the blessings, growth, and shared purpose within this work.

5. Next Steps & Closing
Confirm upcoming meeting dates and ways to stay connected.

This is a working meeting for Angel Teams nationwide and anyone interested in starting or joining a team, volunteering remotely, or simply learning more about reentry support. Together, we help returning community members build new lives and avoid re-incarceration through love, structure, and spiritual guidance.

Video Replays

Catch up on past meetings and inspiring stories:

Our Mission

In partnership with others, Embraced:Fully supports incarcerated and returning citizens in their moral and spiritual journey toward successful reentry.
Through Angel Team members, we help connect individuals with community, faith, housing, employment, transportation, friendship, and mentorship—building bridges of hope and belonging.

Make a Tax-Deductible Donation to Support Embraced:Fully Angel Teams and Returning Citizens

Monthly Donation

One Time Donation

Note: Please be sure to select “Embraced Fully” in the “Fund” drop-down list on the donation page.

If you would like to support the work of Embraced:Fully with a check instead of an online donation, please make it out to:

The Principle Foundation
Memo: Restricted – Embraced:Fully Project
Mail to: 10670 Barkley St, Overland Park, KS 66212-1861

View additional donation options here

Please remember to specify Embraced:Fully as the program you’d like to support.

Embraced:Fully is a fiscally sponsored program of The Principle Foundation, registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, tax ID number 43-0816306.

Our 2nd interview with Carlos Vasquez, author, speaker, and CEO of How to Battle and co-founder of the Pathway to Purpose Project.

We discussed how to come out of prison with a true purpose in life. Carlos served 17 years and experienced true moral character transformation. Today, his inspiring podcast reaches thousands of listeners.

About our guest

Carlos Vasquez is a speaker, author, and the Founder and CEO of HTB Consulting. After overcoming homelessness, addiction, and a 17-year prison sentence, Carlos transformed his life through faith, education, and personal development. He walked out of prison with just $200 in gate money and rebuilt his life from scratch.

Carlos is also the co-founder of the Pathway to Purpose Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to mentoring at-risk youth, including those in foster care and juvenile detention. Through his work and podcast platform, Carlos strives to inspire individuals to embrace resilience, overcome fear, unlock their potential, and create lasting change in their lives and communities.

Links:

• How to Battle (https://howtobattle.com/)
• How to Battle Podcast (https://howtobattle.com/podcast/)
• Pathway to Purpose Project (https://p2p-project.org/)

Make a Tax-Deductible Donation to Support Embraced:Fully Angel Teams and Returning Citizens

Monthly Donation

One Time Donation

Note: Please be sure to select “Embraced Fully” in the “Fund” drop-down list on the donation page.

If you would like to support the work of Embraced:Fully with a check instead of an online donation, please make it out to:

The Principle Foundation
Memo: Restricted – Embraced:Fully Project
Mail to: 10670 Barkley St, Overland Park, KS 66212-1861

View additional donation options here

Please remember to specify Embraced:Fully as the program you’d like to support.

Embraced:Fully is a fiscally sponsored program of The Principle Foundation, registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, tax ID number 43-0816306.

Join us on Thursday, October 16, 2025 at 6:00 pm (Pacific) for our monthly Embraced:Fully Angel Team Workshop Zoom meeting.  Guests are always welcome!

In this meeting we explore how we can support returning citizens as they return home from incarceration, as well as how we can support their journey and path to freedom. We discuss topics including: What is an Angel Team? Who can be part of one? How do we start them up, and what role can our churches play in this meaningful work?

Embraced:Fully Angel Teams help qualified individuals coming out of prison find housing, transportation, employment, and most importantly a welcoming church community.

Agenda for the call:

1. Introductions & Announcements – Introduce yourself, are you currently working with any returning community members (or planning to)?
2. Regional Angel Team Updates & Returning Community Member check-ins – sharing progress, challenges, and accomplishments.
3. Visiting and Corresponding Volunteer Chaplain check-ins – updates from the field.
4. Topic for Discussion: Day 1 of release – now what!?
5. Confirm next meeting dates, wrap up meeting.

This is a monthly working meeting for Embraced:Fully Angel Teams across the nation, and also people interested in volunteering to either start or join one, or participate remotely.  Angel Teams help returning community members succeed in not going back to prison or jail.

Make a Tax-Deductible Donation to Support Embraced:Fully Angel Teams and Returning Citizens

Monthly Donation

One Time Donation

Note: Please be sure to select “Embraced Fully” in the “Fund” drop-down list on the donation page.

If you would like to support the work of Embraced:Fully with a check instead of an online donation, please make it out to:

The Principle Foundation
Memo: Restricted – Embraced:Fully Project
Mail to: 10670 Barkley St, Overland Park, KS 66212-1861

View additional donation options here

Please remember to specify Embraced:Fully as the program you’d like to support.

Embraced:Fully is a fiscally sponsored program of The Principle Foundation, registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, tax ID number 43-0816306.

Video replays

Our mission: In partnership and collaboration with others, we support inmates in their moral and spiritual journey for successful reentry with the assistance of Angel Team members who help find community, faith-based connections, housing, employment, transportation, friendship and mentorship.

About our guest

Links:

• Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO)

Make a Tax-Deductible Donation to Support Embraced:Fully Angel Teams and Returning Citizens

Monthly Donation

One Time Donation

Note: Please be sure to select “Embraced Fully” in the “Fund” drop-down list on the donation page.

If you would like to support the work of Embraced:Fully with a check instead of an online donation, please make it out to:

The Principle Foundation
Memo: Restricted – Embraced:Fully Project
Mail to: 10670 Barkley St, Overland Park, KS 66212-1861

View additional donation options here

Please remember to specify Embraced:Fully as the program you’d like to support.

Embraced:Fully is a fiscally sponsored program of The Principle Foundation, registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, tax ID number 43-0816306.

Join us on Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 6:00 pm (Pacific) for our monthly Embraced:Fully Angel Team Workshop Zoom meeting.  Guests are always welcome!

In this meeting we explore how we can support returning citizens as they return home from incarceration, as well as how we can support their journey and path to freedom. We discuss topics including: What is an Angel Team? Who can be part of one? How do we start them up, and what role can our churches play in this meaningful work?

Embraced:Fully Angel Teams help qualified individuals coming out of prison find housing, transportation, employment, and most importantly a welcoming church community.

Agenda for the call:

1. Introductions & Announcements – Introduce yourself, are you currently working with any returning community members (or planning to)?
2. Regional Angel Team Updates & Returning Community Member check-ins – sharing progress, challenges, and accomplishments.
3. Visiting and Corresponding Volunteer Chaplain check-ins – updates from the field.
4. Topic for Discussion: Housing, employment, and future success
5. Confirm next meeting dates, wrap up meeting.

This is a monthly working meeting for Embraced:Fully Angel Teams across the nation, and also people interested in volunteering to either start or join one, or participate remotely.  Angel Teams help returning community members succeed in not going back to prison or jail.

Make a Tax-Deductible Donation to Support Embraced:Fully Angel Teams and Returning Citizens

Monthly Donation

One Time Donation

Note: Please be sure to select “Embraced Fully” in the “Fund” drop-down list on the donation page.

If you would like to support the work of Embraced:Fully with a check instead of an online donation, please make it out to:

The Principle Foundation
Memo: Restricted – Embraced:Fully Project
Mail to: 10670 Barkley St, Overland Park, KS 66212-1861

View additional donation options here

Please remember to specify Embraced:Fully as the program you’d like to support.

Embraced:Fully is a fiscally sponsored program of The Principle Foundation, registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, tax ID number 43-0816306.

Video replays

Our mission: In partnership and collaboration with others, we support inmates in their moral and spiritual journey for successful reentry with the assistance of Angel Team members who help find community, faith-based connections, housing, employment, transportation, friendship and mentorship.

About our guest

Links:

•  Catalyst for Peace

Make a Tax-Deductible Donation to Support Embraced:Fully Angel Teams and Returning Citizens

Monthly Donation

One Time Donation

Note: Please be sure to select “Embraced Fully” in the “Fund” drop-down list on the donation page.

If you would like to support the work of Embraced:Fully with a check instead of an online donation, please make it out to:

The Principle Foundation
Memo: Restricted – Embraced:Fully Project
Mail to: 10670 Barkley St, Overland Park, KS 66212-1861

View additional donation options here

Please remember to specify Embraced:Fully as the program you’d like to support.

Embraced:Fully is a fiscally sponsored program of The Principle Foundation, registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, tax ID number 43-0816306.

Join us on Thursday, August 21, 2025 at 6:00 pm (Pacific) for our monthly Embraced:Fully Angel Team Workshop Zoom meeting.  Guests are always welcome!

In this meeting we explore how we can support returning citizens as they return home from incarceration, as well as how we can support their journey and path to freedom. We discuss topics including: What is an Angel Team? Who can be part of one? How do we start them up, and what role can our churches play in this meaningful work?

Embraced:Fully Angel Teams help qualified individuals coming out of prison find housing, transportation, employment, and most importantly a welcoming church community.

Agenda for the call:

1. Introductions & Announcements – Introduce yourself, are you currently working with any returning community members (or planning to)?
2. Regional Angel Team Updates & Returning Community Member check-ins – sharing progress, challenges, and accomplishments.
3. Visiting and Corresponding Volunteer Chaplain check-ins – updates from the field.
4. Topic for Discussion: Staying in touch with program participants, celebrating progress
5. Confirm next meeting dates, wrap up meeting.

This is a monthly working meeting for Embraced:Fully Angel Teams across the nation, and also people interested in volunteering to either start or join one, or participate remotely.  Angel Teams help returning community members succeed in not going back to prison or jail.

Make a Tax-Deductible Donation to Support Embraced:Fully Angel Teams and Returning Citizens

Monthly Donation

One Time Donation

Note: Please be sure to select “Embraced Fully” in the “Fund” drop-down list on the donation page.

If you would like to support the work of Embraced:Fully with a check instead of an online donation, please make it out to:

The Principle Foundation
Memo: Restricted – Embraced:Fully Project
Mail to: 10670 Barkley St, Overland Park, KS 66212-1861

View additional donation options here

Please remember to specify Embraced:Fully as the program you’d like to support.

Embraced:Fully is a fiscally sponsored program of The Principle Foundation, registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, tax ID number 43-0816306.

Video replays

Our mission: In partnership and collaboration with others, we support inmates in their moral and spiritual journey for successful reentry with the assistance of Angel Team members who help find community, faith-based connections, housing, employment, transportation, friendship and mentorship.

About our guest

Eddie Ellis joined the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth team in early 2018. He works with ICAN members across the country, connecting them to each other and with local resources. He also works with other directly impacted communities, including the family members of juvenile lifers.

Eddie, a native Washingtonian, was arrested and charged with murder at the age of 16 — he was later found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 22 years in prison. He served 15 years and finished the rest of his time on parole.

Eddie came home in 2006 and since that time he has worked on a variety of issues, including reentry, solitary confinement, and on behalf of people with disabilities who are in the system and coming home. He has served on the board of directors of a national legal organization, and helped with client center training for lawyers, probation officers and social workers. He is an advocate for those in the system, a mentor, and a motivational speaker. His lived experience as a formerly incarcerated person provides invaluable insight and depth into his work that allows him to connect with and engage the community he serves.

Links:

• Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth
• Purchase “Change is Possible: I Never Gave Up” on Amazon

Make a Tax-Deductible Donation to Support Embraced:Fully Angel Teams and Returning Citizens

Monthly Donation

One Time Donation

Note: Please be sure to select “Embraced Fully” in the “Fund” drop-down list on the donation page.

If you would like to support the work of Embraced:Fully with a check instead of an online donation, please make it out to:

The Principle Foundation
Memo: Restricted – Embraced:Fully Project
Mail to: 10670 Barkley St, Overland Park, KS 66212-1861

View additional donation options here

Please remember to specify Embraced:Fully as the program you’d like to support.

Embraced:Fully is a fiscally sponsored program of The Principle Foundation, registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, tax ID number 43-0816306.

More than 1,000,000 prison inmates now have access to the Christian Science Bible Lesson on their tablets.

When they reenter society, some of these seekers will be looking for a welcoming church community.

Are we ready?

Whether your church currently has an Institutional Committee or not, this is an opportunity to learn more about the new seekers who might be visiting your church soon.

This workshop explores:

• Current Christian Science activities and publications in prisons and jails
• Personal stories of moral character transformation and finding church homes
• How to prayerfully address concerns
• Correcting common misperceptions
• Resources, training and guides for volunteers
• How to participate in the National Angel Team Network to help support individuals in their path to freedom

Invited speakers:

Bob “Woody” Woodard, Marilyn McDonald, Marshall Reddick, Byron Alexander, Kenyard White, Brian Abbott, Elizabeth Arnett

Make a Tax-Deductible Donation to Support Embraced:Fully Angel Teams and Returning Citizens

Monthly Donation

One Time Donation

Note: Please be sure to select “Embraced Fully” in the “Fund” drop-down list on the donation page.

If you would like to support the work of Embraced:Fully with a check instead of an online donation, please make it out to:

The Principle Foundation
Memo: Restricted – Embraced:Fully Project
Mail to: 10670 Barkley St, Overland Park, KS 66212-1861

View additional donation options here

Please remember to specify Embraced:Fully as the program you’d like to support.

Embraced:Fully is a fiscally sponsored program of The Principle Foundation, registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, tax ID number 43-0816306.