The Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola played host to an emotional father-daughter dance, reuniting dads with their daughters for the first time in years. Organized by God Behind Bars, a non-profit that partners with churches and ministries nationwide to support incarcerated individuals and their families, the event brought together 37 daughters aged 5-20 and 29 fathers who had been separated due to incarceration.
Eyewitness accounts describe the scene as heartwarming, with dads shedding their prison identities to become "Dad" for one night. Leslie, an inmate father, recounted his experience, saying, "When I turned around and saw my baby in that dress...I said, 'Baby, why you crying?' and she said, 'Dad, I finally get a chance to dance with you for the first time.'" The emotional moment was said to have left Leslie tearful, as he highlighted the importance of fatherly involvement in breaking the cycle of incarceration.
God Behind Bars emphasized that such events are crucial for vulnerable children like those of incarcerated parents. Research reveals that fatherless daughters face higher risks of low self-esteem, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, and incarceration. The organization aims to bridge this gap by providing opportunities for dads to reconnect with their daughters.
The event was a success, thanks in part to the efforts of volunteers and sponsors. Professional makeup artist Jessica Haynes and others helped prepare the daughters for the dance, while custom tuxedos were donated by Amor Suits. The prison's Seminary Lecture Room transformed into a dance venue, complete with decor and floral arrangements.
The night also included a choreographed dance performance by the fathers for their daughters. Each daughter received a gift bag containing hair and beauty products from T3 Micro and a bible donated by Hosanna Revival. The event concluded with families sharing a Thanksgiving meal together, creating new memories to last a lifetime.
As one attendee put it, "We're supposed to be the worst of the worst...and we walk around like that sometimes. Seeing all of us together with our kids, the loves of our lives, with no masks...that was cool." The event has left an indelible mark on those who participated, serving as a powerful reminder of the importance of family and redemption.
Eyewitness accounts describe the scene as heartwarming, with dads shedding their prison identities to become "Dad" for one night. Leslie, an inmate father, recounted his experience, saying, "When I turned around and saw my baby in that dress...I said, 'Baby, why you crying?' and she said, 'Dad, I finally get a chance to dance with you for the first time.'" The emotional moment was said to have left Leslie tearful, as he highlighted the importance of fatherly involvement in breaking the cycle of incarceration.
God Behind Bars emphasized that such events are crucial for vulnerable children like those of incarcerated parents. Research reveals that fatherless daughters face higher risks of low self-esteem, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, and incarceration. The organization aims to bridge this gap by providing opportunities for dads to reconnect with their daughters.
The event was a success, thanks in part to the efforts of volunteers and sponsors. Professional makeup artist Jessica Haynes and others helped prepare the daughters for the dance, while custom tuxedos were donated by Amor Suits. The prison's Seminary Lecture Room transformed into a dance venue, complete with decor and floral arrangements.
The night also included a choreographed dance performance by the fathers for their daughters. Each daughter received a gift bag containing hair and beauty products from T3 Micro and a bible donated by Hosanna Revival. The event concluded with families sharing a Thanksgiving meal together, creating new memories to last a lifetime.
As one attendee put it, "We're supposed to be the worst of the worst...and we walk around like that sometimes. Seeing all of us together with our kids, the loves of our lives, with no masks...that was cool." The event has left an indelible mark on those who participated, serving as a powerful reminder of the importance of family and redemption.
! I mean, can you even imagine being separated from your child for so long? It's like, this non-profit God Behind Bars, they're doing some seriously good work here 
. The way it brought dads and daughters together, it was like a whole new world opened up for them 
. And the emotional reunion scenes... ugh, my heart is melting just thinking about it 
.
. And the dad's identities being shed for one night, just to become "Dad" for that brief moment, it's so beautiful 
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. So yeah, God Behind Bars is on the right track, for sure 
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so thoughtful! i mean, we're always talking about how incarceration affects families & communities, but this event really puts a human face to it. dads are not just inmates, they're also loving fathers trying to make ends meet. and to see them shed their prison identities & become "dad" for one night? 
low self-esteem, substance abuse, teen pregnancy...it's like, why can't we break this cycle of incarceration? shouldn't every kid have the chance to grow up with their parent there?
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. it's like, we often think of prisons as these harsh places where people go to serve time, but what if they're also spaces for healing and growth? 
after reading this story! Seeing dads reuniting with their daughters for the first time in years is just...wow 
. It's amazing to see how something like this can bring so much joy and happiness to people's lives. And it's not just about the emotional reunion, but also about creating new memories and breaking the cycle of incarceration 
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. It's inspiring to see volunteers and sponsors coming together to make this event happen 
. And those custom tuxedos for the dads? 
Too cute!
. Research shows that kids without dads are more likely to struggle with low self-esteem and other issues, but when they do get to spend time with their dads, it can make all the difference 
.
. i love that god behind bars is doing this work, it's so needed in our society. and let's be real, who wouldn't want to see a group of dads busting out some sweet dance moves for their daughters? 
. I mean, what about the 100s of other dads who are still locked up, missing out on precious time with their kids? And let's not forget, this is just a one-time event, what about long-term solutions for these families? The whole thing feels like a feel-good commercial rather than actual progress 
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That's 9 out of 29 dads who had been separated from their kids for years, but got to relive that moment tonight. 
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That's why organizations like God Behind Bars are working tirelessly to provide these kinds of events and support systems. 
Those are some awesome brands coming together to help break the cycle of incarceration!
. That's a major win in my book! 
custom tuxedos? hair and beauty products? that's so sweet of Jessica Haynes to volunteer her time and talent.