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“I Don’t Even Feel Like I’m Locked Up Today.” | Prison Family Reunification

God Behind Bars + PandoApp

Sep 19, 2026 · 9 min3K

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“I DON’T EVEN FEEL LIKE I’M LOCKED UP TODAY.” ❤️

Inside Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln, Illinois, 15 incarcerated mothers and their families were given something incredibly special.

An entire day together.

For this Back to School Family Reunification, God Behind Bars transformed a prison gym into a place where moms could hug their children, play games, share food, open gifts, and help prepare their kids for a new school year.

Before their families arrived, the mothers even got to shop for school supplies, choosing binders, notebooks, paper, and other items for their children.

It may sound like something small.

But for a mom in prison, these are the everyday moments incarceration can take away.

Some of these mothers had not seen their children in YEARS.

One mom was preparing to see her daughter for the first time in two years. Another shared that this would only be the second time she had seen her growing son in two years.

Then the doors opened.

Moms hugged their children. Families played together. Kids showed their moms their new toys and backpacks. Mothers wrote notes reminding their children how proud they were of them as they prepared to go back to school.

And for a few hours, prison didn’t get to define their family. ❤️

One mother described it as one of the best experiences she had ever had:

“I don’t even feel like I’m locked up today.”

Another child was asked about her favorite part of the entire day.

Her answer was simple:

“Seeing Mommy.” 😭❤️

These are the moments FAMILY REUNIFICATION can create.

Incarceration affects more than the person serving the sentence. Children grow up. School years begin. Birthdays pass. Milestones happen. And families are forced to navigate life while separated by prison walls.

God Behind Bars Family Reunifications create opportunities for incarcerated mothers and fathers to reconnect with their children, strengthen family relationships, and create memories together.

We believe families are worth fighting for.

We believe relationships can be restored.

And we believe no family is forgotten. ❤️

Subscribe to God Behind Bars for more prison family reunifications, incarcerated parent stories, Christian prison ministry, inmate testimonies, baptisms, prison worship, and incredible stories of what God is doing behind prison walls.

#GodBehindBars #FamilyReunification #PrisonMinistry

00:05

a station where they get to shop, they're going to come through, choose a binder, further kid to go back to school. They get some paper, a notebook, they'll get to put something together and just get them prepped for their school year, which they don't get to really be a part of. Kids are going to get to reunify with their mom. Some of them maybe haven't seen them in like three years. They'll get to meet their mom, play some games, enjoy some food and spend the whole day with them. We just walked into the room where we are making this event happen. This is the gym and we are going to transform the space here. We have 15 families that are joining us. We are going to put tables around. We're going to have a big red carpet with them walking down where they get to meet their mom and the walls are going to be transformed and we're going to make it look good guys. So this is the before. You guys get to see what we do at God Behind Bars, what these family reunifications entail and what the day is going to look like. Let's get at it. This is great. Y'all just, I don't know. Since we're at these school supplies, just to be able to do something. That's what means more to me than anything. I can say anything. That's for me. Thank you. I appreciate you. I'm just ready for her to come. I'm nervous, excited. Yeah, it's just, I haven't seen her for a long time, it's been two years. What are the school supplies? I mean, I mean, it just helps because we're not there as moms, so to take a little bit of the burden off my mom having to financially support my daughter for me. Yeah, she's so helpful. It's kind. This is the second time I see my grandson in two years and I'm still thankful for you guys. Today just means a chance to have some more bonding time with my little girl as she gets ready for school. Just, it's time. Time is so valuable. Do you have, okay? Because you have a legacy to get. Okay. Thank you so much. [Music] [Music] Thank you for inviting me. Thank you. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music]

04:46

[Music] >> I'm just very grateful that you guys are glad your way to do this for us. Cuz we don't see our kids all the time, they're really gonna love it, it's really nice. [MUSIC] >> I mean, I just felt joy, I just feel excited that I spend all of the time with my daughter. I know when she's doing so, and she's saying that she'll be so excited. It's not, it's just a different visit than we normally have a visiting room. So it's a different atmosphere, I really love it. [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> This is like one of the best experiences, I mean like literally. I don't even feel like I'm locked up to it, I think that's all. [MUSIC] >> Excuse me. [MUSIC] >> You brought it up to you, are you? >> You brought it up to you. >> It's your backside. >> Ellie, what did you get? >> Show him your baby. >> I know your baby that has a baby. [MUSIC] >> Do you love her? >> I love her too. [MUSIC] >> So I got a Bible, and then a Lego 3. >> Thank you. >> Win, some pencils. [MUSIC] >> So the bales make my way and the dolls make my way.

07:15

>> Everybody that put this together in one room, I would say, thank you so much. We are so grateful, I feel incredibly blessed. We're over the moon that we got to spend this time together that we got in this bonding experience. And we wish there was more groups of people like you guys. Thank you. [MUSIC] >> Everyone, just that we're very grateful, we know that this is a once in a lifetime thing. But I'm very grateful that everyone got to come, especially my baby. What would you want to say? >> My favorite part was to sing on me. [MUSIC] >> I don't know, I'm so grateful that this happened and beyond blessed that God made away for everything, just pray and continue to pray day in and day out for these families, for their lives to be restored, for hope to be renewed, for their faith in the Lord to be cherished and loved and that they grow together. Thank you so much GBB family for partnering with us on making this family reunification a possibility here at Logan Correctional Facility in Chicago.

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