Multi-award winning singer Lauren Daigle may be one of the biggest selling Christian artists in the world, but she says one of her favourite places to perform is inside a prison.
The two-time Grammy winner and 2023 Billboard Christian Artist of the Year has posted a video of her visit to Dr. Eddie Warrior Correctional Center in Oklahoma earlier this year where she put on a concert for 300 women. Crosswalk.com writes that her “beautifully written lyrics about God’s unfailing love, mercy and grace” moved many of the inmates to tears.
The news outlet reports the most powerful moment happened when Lauren held up a Bible and told the women that God still loves them, that God wants all people to turn from their sinful ways, but His love never ends or fails.
When Lauren entered the prison gym with a skip in her step, the room erupted in cheers. Lauren cheered right back as if trying to outdo their enthusiasm. “You know what a holy roar sounds like. People always ask me: Where’s your favorite place to perform? And I always say, Places you’d never know—prison.”
“God yearns for you. He yearns for all of us. How amazing is that? [You say:] God, I see what I’ve done wrong. I definitely turned away from you. I didn’t want anything to do with you. And He says: Don’t worry, that didn’t stop me from loving you,” the singer proclaimed.
The Prison Fellowship ministry which organised the HOPE event added: “Laughter and cheers erupted from the smiling faces of over 300 women. Joy radiated throughout the prison gym during an afternoon these ladies will never forget!”
The women seemed to know each song by heart. Many in orange uniforms with INMATE stamped on their backs sang in unison, raising their hands and wiping away tears.
