Fathers for life
This is likely the most important story I’ve had the opportunity to tell with USA TODAY. I am so thankful that John Walton from Awana told me about the Returning Hearts Celebration while we were at the Southwestern Photojournalism Conference in March of this year. As soon as he started telling me about the transformation in the lives of the inmates I was hooked. I came back to USA TODAY and pitched the story to the paper and I was able to spend three days at Angola prison in Louisiana and witness the reunion of these men with their children. Many many thanks to Lyndon Azcuna and the whole team at Awana for helping me meet such strong men of faith and conviction. I am so thankful to Randy, Keith, Kyle, and Edward for sharing their story of how their lives were changed by knowing Jesus. Most importantly I want to thank my father, who loved me, guided me, and set a great example for me by living a life of integrity.
Here is a link to the story + Photo Gallery
Love this video, love prison ministry, love to hear how God is moving in the lives of even the “toughest” men.
That is so touching. God is awesome. Thanks for sharing Garrett…It bought tears to my eyes to see the reunions! MichelleM, crew
WOW! This broke my heart. Thank you so much for this. AMEN!!
An amazing and uplifting story. Thanks for helping make us aware of the good God is capable of doing anywhere in anyone.
I was one of the volunteers blessed to be part to this amazing event. Read about my experience on Willow Creek’s Compassion and Justice blog.
http://wccc.blogs.com/compassion_and_justice/2010/06/returning-hearts-celebration.html
Thanks for this amazing video you did, helping to spread the word.
Blessing.
Kym
It looks like the rest of our culture could learn something from these inmates. When there is true repentance and a yielding to Jesus Christ, He changes lives!!! The most destructive lie that has come out of Washington is the “seperation of church and state” clause that is not even in the US Constitution.
Benjamin Rush, who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and who also was the surgeon general of the continental army made this statement:
“The only foundation for education and a republic is to be laid in religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object of life and life of all republican governments.”
Surely future generations wouldn’t try to take the Bible out of schools. In Contemplating the political institutions of the United States, if we were to Remove the Bible from schools, I lament that we could be wasting so much time and money in punishing crime and would be taking so little pains to prevent them.”
Absolutely incredible. I had heard an audio interview from Ryan Dobson a few weeks ago about Angola prison and what God was doing in the hearts of the prisoners there as these men have put their trust in Christ. Praise God that although they will never been free from that place, he has set them free from sin to have a relationship with Him. Thanks for sharing this story!
I cried. He is that good, isn’t he? I know who I am/was. I should be there, but here I am… eating breakfast with my children… teaching them about the grace and forgiveness of God… our Father.