Prison Ministry

Good Friday was a busy day, but truly a blessing.  Taking time away from setting up house for a few American visitors, my team and I headed over to the local prison to lead the Good Friday service.  A first for all of us. 

At 1:30 pm on Friday afternoon, I drove into the prison parking lot and noticed that a few Ugandan friends were already waiting at the front door with the sound system we were borrowing.  I talked with a few guards and they opened the doors for us to enter another locked room.  There we had to hand over cell phones and cameras.  We could see in-mates walking around the compound, dressed brightly in yellow - with thin pin stripes running down their shirts and shorts. 

I was brought to see the OC - Officer in Charge - by one of the guards and there I had to sign a guest book and talk about further ministry in the prison.  The OC was excited to have us come, and he was intent on sharing more about prison life with Chris and Michelle... two of my team-mates.... the family on the right of the photo.  While us adults were talking in the office, the older kids, and the Kolb parents were escorted in to the compound and shown a place to sit on the verandah.  In-mates started to play music with local instruments - drums, small harps, and thumb pianos.  Close to 2:00 pm the OC dismissed us from his office, and we walked out to join almost 500 bright yellow in-mates and the rest of the team on the porch.

The prisoners led worship, then we as a team acted out a drama about shopping at a supermarket, where there were lots of sales.  One young man had accidentally spent all the money his mom gave him, on sodas - instead of on the plastic plates he was supposed to buy... so he decided to steal the plates.  A police officer was cheerfully greeting the young man when he walked out of the supermarket, and when he lifted his arm to shake the officers hand, the plates dropped out from his shirt.  Oh no, the young boy was caught.  After talking with the owner of the shop, the officer decided to arrest the young boy, but moments later and older man came along and said that his father told him about this thief, and that he should pay the price instead.  The officer untied the young boy, and arrested the man who stepped in his place. 

Then Chris preached about man being made in the image of God, and yet we have all sinned.  Sinners that Christ came to die for, and now we can be saved.

The in-mates led in more upbeat songs before I began my Judas Iscariot monologue.  For some reason, God put this particular character in my heart for the Easter season.  So, I researched, read, and prayed before writing a long script.  After presenting my drama, as a team we sang "In Christ Alone".

Bobby did another sermon - on being the worst of sinners, but just like Saul... becoming Paul...  we too can be made new in Christ.  Very touching... then while the musicians played softly, our Ugandan friends guided us in a time of altar call.  Four women, and maybe 9 men came forward.  I prayed the salvation prayer with a few ladies.  One asked if she was truly forgiven, since she had shed blood by murdering her husband.  Yes, if you truly trust in God, and believe in His amazing grace, you are forgiven my friend. 

After the service, Michelle, Rachel and I went over to the women's prison... which is right next door.  The OC had combined the men and women together for the service, but we followed the women back to their compound so that we could bless them with some Easter treats.  Each woman received a package of sanitary pads, a small piece of laundry soap, and the five children in the prison (with their mother's) each received a kilo of sugar. 

I am praying that God will open the doors for me to go to the prison on a regular basis.  I am waiting to hear from the Commissioner in Kampala.  Also, it will be exciting to work alongside of the OC, because he doesn't want prison to be a place of punishment, but a place of transformation... where they can experience the love of God, but also learn a trade - like farming or carpentry. 

Please pray for this ministry ... and for the many young people who fill the prison system.  Also, pray for more judges to administer in Uganda... since out of the 500 in-mates, only 167 have received conviction, the rest are awaiting trial.