Setting captives free - Prison Ministry

One of the programs established by Ministries Without Borders Philippines Inc. is the Prison Ministry Program.  Workers and volunteers from MWBPI visit prisons on the islands of Luzon (where I'm based) and Mindanao on a weekly basis. They share the gospel with the inmates, give nice snacks and provide skills training programs and activities. 

It was great to meet and spend time with Jan Eriksen a few weeks ago.  Jan has an amazing story. As a former pimp and drug lord, he experienced the dark reality of a world of violence, murder, prison, rape and prostitution. It was from this living hell 35 years ago that God saved him, restored him and healed him.  Seventeen years ago he founded Street Aid; a ministry among drug addicts and prostitutes then went on to establish Street Ministries International, ministering all over the world and working closely with local churches in the cities to reach out to these lost individuals.  He travels the world sharing his story, and he and his wife spent over a week with us here in the Philippines. Over 3000 inmates here heard his story and the awesomeness of God's grace and mercy. Jan also gave them all a copy of the book he has written.

One of the prisons I've visited is Dasmarinas Municipal Prison for minors aged between 15 and 18.  There were some younger children there also, but more for safekeeping due to their situation at home.  We met and spent time with around 35 children; having bible study,  doing fun activities,  giving snacks and just talking to them. There was a mix of girls and boys (mainly boys) and even though they had separate cells to sleep in I still found it difficult to get my head around; that boys who were there for maybe rape or murder were at the same place as young girls who were there for burglary. This week they got so excited about the activity they were doing.  They were provided with red card shaped into a heart and some craft stuff, so that they could make a Valentines Day card to their parents/grandparents at home.  MWBPI have provided the minors with shirts, slippers, shorts, school supplies, books  and recreational toys as well as a ceiling fan and a water dispenser for them to use.

We also went to an adults prison; it's where the inmates go to await their trial. We only went for a short time-just to see what it was like in there. I was quite speechless...which doesn't often happen. First we saw the cell for the women. It was a tiny cell, barely 4 meter square. There was maybe 4 bunk-beds, no lighting, a hole in the ground for their waste and that's it...for 34 women. It was packed in there. The guard told us it was safer not to go and see the cells for the men, but he said that the cells were exactly the same but had up to 70 inmates in each! It was crazy to see. I'm sure crime would plummet if prisons were like that in the UK.