A Day I Will Not Forget

Before Covid-19, True Freedom’s Executive Director Michael Swiger and Cyril Prabhu forged a partnership. Their goal was to facilitate reconciliation between incarcerated parents and their children in Ohio. Recently, this beautiful dream became a reality at Grafton Correctional Institution!

Cyril is the founder of Proverbs 22:6. The amazing system he designed outlines concrete steps for parents and children to take towards each other, with support from local organizations like True Freedom. The event at Grafton started with True Freedom volunteers standing in two lines to form a tunnel through which kids and dads would run into each other’s arms. Needless to say, there was not a dry eye in the house. Next came a carnival complete with games, face painting, cotton candy, and popcorn—an experience most of these families hadn’t enjoyed in years, if ever. KFC for lunch was another big hit! Mike Swiger then led a worship service, sharing a message about forgiveness. Mark Stradiot played the guitar and Laura Keselman joined him in singing. Inmates and their family members were asked to write down the names of anyone they needed to forgive. Then the special paper they used was placed in water, where it dissolved, just like our sins in the sea of forgetfulness. Dads who had daughters participated in a Daddy-Daughter dance. After this, in a moving ceremony, each father read a letter of apology to his child and washed the child’s feet. Missed birthdays were acknowledged as everyone was called up by name according to birth month, and all sang. Finally, dads and kids went through a line of donated school supplies together. Huge smiles attended dads helping children pick out the bookbags, notebooks, pens, and erasers they liked the best.

Here’s what volunteers are saying about the event:

“Wow, what a privilege it was to serve! What joy to see the faces of the dads and their kids as they ran through the tunnel. When the families wrote down who they needed to forgive and dropped those papers into the water, watching those names dissolve as we prayed was so emotionally moving; it brought tears of joy to everyone’s eyes! I love Cyril’s vision of breaking the cycle and bringing families back together through the power of the Gospel!” -Jon Lawrence

“I found the day to be incredibly inspirational and am so glad I participated. To see the joy and excitement experienced by all, especially the children, was both amazing and gratifying. It was an unforgettable day.” – Bill Holko

“I witnessed profound moments of healing and connection. The fathers, who had long been separated from their children and caregivers, were able to bridge the gap through heartfelt letters of forgiveness and shared activities. Initially marked by hesitation, the day transformed into a deeply emotional experience. By the end, the families united as one, embodying true joy and love. It was a testament to the power of forgiveness and the resilience of family bonds, creating a safe space for everyone involved to heal and reconnect.” -Angelica Rizzo

“Seeing the children run to their fathers makes me realize how blessed I am to have loved ones in my life. When we can see the grace of God start the restorative process, it is a beautiful and wonderful thing. It is a day I will not forget.” – Christopher Greene

True Freedom Ministries is so thankful for our partnership with Proverbs 22:6. Your generosity allows us to co-sponsor events like this one. According to Mike Swiger, “This was one of the most impactful events ever experienced by True Freedom.”

Would you prayerfully consider making a one-time or monthly donation to support True Freedom Ministries?

https://www.truefreedomministries.com/donate

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