Prison Ministry
In Matthew 25:34-36, Jesus commanded us to visit and help the prisoners: "I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me a drink; I was a stranger and you received me, naked and you clothed me;I was sick and you took care of me, in prison and you visited me."
Objectives:
that prisoners will hear and receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior, beginning a new way of life;
that the verses from John 8:36 would be our guide: "If the Son sets you free, then you will be free indeed";
that the Malagasy government would help with Human Rights and the Rights of the Prisoners.
Situation:
The situation of the Malagasy prisoner is catastrophic. All prisons are very old, with inadequate space or property, thus having crowded conditions. With the admission of more prisoners, the space allocated to one person lessens! The prisoners do not have sufficient food at meal times, with some prisoners receiving one ration of manioc (cassava) per day. Many prisoners have insufficient funds for buying additional food or other items which are considered necessities. Some families rarely or ever visit.
Strategy:
Objectives:
that prisoners will hear and receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior, beginning a new way of life;
that the verses from John 8:36 would be our guide: "If the Son sets you free, then you will be free indeed";
that the Malagasy government would help with Human Rights and the Rights of the Prisoners.
Situation:
The situation of the Malagasy prisoner is catastrophic. All prisons are very old, with inadequate space or property, thus having crowded conditions. With the admission of more prisoners, the space allocated to one person lessens! The prisoners do not have sufficient food at meal times, with some prisoners receiving one ration of manioc (cassava) per day. Many prisoners have insufficient funds for buying additional food or other items which are considered necessities. Some families rarely or ever visit.
Strategy:
- Weekly visits to prison sites (at present time: Antanimora, Arivonimamo, Tsiafahy) with the possibility of adding the two prison sites of Miarinarivo and Moramanga. All of these sites are within a 100 kilometer radius of Antananarivo and would be considered day trips. The purpose of visiting these prisons is to provide them with evangelistic services: worship services, laying on of hands and prayer, confirmation and baptismal instruction, confirmation and baptismal services, sharing the Good News.
- Provision of rice:
- four 50 kilogram gunny sacks per week to the men's compound at Antanimora, which is grossly inadequate for the number of prisoners (between 800-900 men in the largest compound, with 75- 85 men sharing space in one room). There are four main compounds for the men.
- one gunny sack each to the women and the youth (juvenile delinquents) per week;
- six gunny sacks to the maximum-security prison of Tsiafahy per month. This is a new venture, started only this month of February. If adequate funds are available, additional rice would be provided weekly to the more than 500 prisoners, to whom visitors are not permitted.
- Provision of essential medications such as antibiotics, antacids, analgesics, etc.
TOTAL
amount in US$: 21,811.00 (see breakdown)
Prison Ministry Photos
