Society may intend prison to be a place of retribution and correction but much more than that, God has used it as a place of refinement and transformation.
Inmates at Murchison Bay Prison, Luzira, a suburb of Kampala, the capital of Uganda are finding Christ behind bars.
Dozens received salvation, and turned their lives around, during the ‘Easter In Prison’ program organized by Christian radio station 104.1 Power FM on 13th April, 2019.
This initiative was in partnership with Wells of Hope, a nonprofit organization that address needs of prisoners and their families, with great attention being given to children with a parent in prison.
The prison houses both convicted and sentenced inmates, as well as suspects awaiting trial.
Despite their past, 104.1 Power FM’s Sales and Marketing Head, Mr Henry Katongole who delivered a sermon during the visit believes the 95 inmates who gave their lives to Christ have a new identity and a new relationship with the Savior.
According to Wells of Hope, the annual visits seek to give hope and opportunity for transformation of inmates – and they encourage them to give their lives to God.
They also aim at ensuring that believers in the prison become disciples of the church, and lead non-believers to have faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Transformed lives point everyone’s attention to God. This is one of the greatest motivation 104.1 Power FM has when involved in prison ministry.
They share the bible in a format that inmates can easily understand, and it reaches both literate and illiterate inmates.
The radio station was joined by gospel artists, including JohnMarie Ssengendo who joined the Murchison Bay Choir during praise and worship.
“No one else but God takes credit for the miraculous turnaround in inmates’ lives,” the group said.
“God does not give up on those in prison, but pursues them in love. A person’s past does not have to dictate his future. Even a former criminal, if he has learned from his mistakes and renounced his sins, can become a great leader in God’s hands,”
During the station’s visit to Kigo prison back in 2011, the then deputy officer in-charge, Bosco Oburu, admitted: “This is the best day as an officer in-charge; seeing these prisoners accept Jesus and willing to become better people is a sign that we are making progress.”
The inmates might come to the jail as criminals, he said, but he has seen many of them leave Bible study as free men.
“Forgotten victims” of crime
Earlier speaking to Uganda Christian News, Mrs Kyomuhendo Ssuubi, the director of Wells of Hope said Children have worse reactions to parental imprisonment if their caretakers are imprisoned for longer periods of time or in more punitive social contexts.
“We are trying to make sure that children of prisoners are considered as court sets the maximum penalty for parents convicted. After this mother or father has been imprisoned, court does not worry about who is going to look after the children.” She said. “They do not even ask how many children this person has or who is the next of keen. So we are trying to advocate for these changes.” she said.
Wells of Hope Ministries was founded in 2002 in Murchison bay Prison Luzira by Mrs Kyomuhendo’s husband, Francis Ssuubi where he was an inmate on remand for a period of 68 days. He was later acquitted after the charges were dropped.
While in prison, he wrote the Wells of Hope concept. He discovered the inmates’ biggest worry is the situation of their families that they left behind especially their children.
All Photos are courtesy of 104.1 Power FM.
