Father-daughter dances usually don’t make the news. But a recent event in Louisiana went viral because of its setting: America’s largest maximum-security prison. On Nov. 22, the nonprofit organization God Behind Bars helped 29 inmates at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, known as Angola, reconnect with their daughters in a memorable way.
Incarcerated men who had been selected for their good behavior wore tuxedos, presented flowers to their dressed-up girls, and danced the night away with them. Organizers transformed a space in Angola’s Bible college into a prom-like setting, with pink petals, balloons, and drapes.
Tears flowed as some fathers met and hugged their daughters for the first time; others reconnected after years apart. The men surprised their guests by performing a line dance they’d been rehearsing. Dads also gave each of their girls a handwritten letter and a Bible with highlighted passages.
God Behind Bars Sponsors Father-Daughter Dance at Angola
Next to a video recap of the father-daughter dance at Angola, God Behind Bars wrote, “For one sacred night, this prison became a place of redemption…where missed proms, missed dances, and missed milestones were restored. Where fathers learned how to be dads again. Where daughters felt chosen, seen, and loved.”
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The organization continued, “This wasn’t just an event. It was a picture of what God can do, restoring families, healing wounds, and rewriting stories the world had already counted out.”
God Behind Bars founder Jake Bodine recalled, “I watched a group of men stand with pride and dignity, shedding every label the world had ever put on them. For one night, they were not inmates. They were Dad. It was a holy moment.” He added, “New legacies were born, and many [people] were completely redefined by a God who delights in restoring what has once been lost.”
The father-daughter dance showed prisoners “who is counting on them,” said Bodine. When inmates “realize the weight of that, they will hold themselves accountable for change.”
Since 2009, God Behind Bars has reached more than 1 million inmates with the gospel. Because up to 95% of incarcerated Americans will eventually re-enter society, the group aims to reduce recidivism and meet prisoners’ spiritual, relational, and physical needs.
Incarcerated Dads Reunite With Their Daughters
Angola, the setting for the movie “Dead Man Walking,” has been called America’s bloodiest prison. But lately it has been focusing more on rehabilitation, offering its 6,300 prisoners career training, incentives for good behavior, and more.
On Nov. 22, the nonprofit organization God Behind Bars helped 29 inmates at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, known as Angola, reconnect with their daughters in a memorable way.Click to Post
