Ministry into Prisons
How this Prison Ministry Started: In 2010, we produced our first Bible study booklet in both English and Chichewa. [We have since produced two more.] For the first three years these studies were distributed primarily to church congregations in Malawi. In 2014, the late Pastor Lameck Msamange had the opportunity to offer one of these studies to a previous president. However, before a copy could be given to her, it had to be security checked by the army. While they were checking it, they also read it. As a result, one chief member of the army contacted Lameck to ask for a total of 10,500 copies to be distributed into all seven-army barracks in Malawi.​
On the same day in which these Bible studies were being distributed in Zomba army barracks, the prison commissioner from Zomba Prison came to meet his army counterpart to discuss security issues. He noticed this distribution and asked for two copies of the studies. A few days later, Wesley Msamange received an email from him telling him how two prison wardens had started to read the studies and asked him to get some more copies to give to their prisoners.
Bible and Bible Study Distribution in Prisons: Following our first distribution of Bibles and Bible studies in Nsanje and Chikwawa prisons, the officer in charge of Nsanje prison called to say that the dust still had not settled from their visit because he had sensed a spirit of calm in the whole prison. The church also received a letter saying that 103 inmates in Chikwawa prison had become Christians and they received requests for Bibles and studies from three more prisons.
The prison chaplain in Zomba Prison later emphasized the enormous changes which they had seen in the prisons where prisoners had received these Bibles and Bible studies. He said that the fighting and violence had stopped, the atmosphere was peaceful and far fewer prisoners were trying to escape. He also said that he would like every prisoner in Malawi to receive a copy of these studies and gave an open invitation for pastors from the Faith in Action Church to visit and preach in all prisons.
Banquet Meals: After considering Jesus’ parable of the wedding banquet in which the master sent his servants out into the highways and byways to invite everyone to this feast, we decided to also hold banquets in these prisons as well as distributing Bibles and Bible studies. One important point in this parable is that we should go into places where other people do not go—to the places where there are outcasts or those who are socially unacceptable and demonstrate God’s unconditional love and grace to them. We agreed that we would provide them with a meal of chicken with rice, vegetables and fruit, this would be a luxury for them.
Following our first Banquet meal in Nkhotakhota Prison, church leaders received word of thirty prisoners who wanted to give their lives to God. The reason the Officer in Charge gave for this positive result is that they were so overwhelmed by the love shown by providing the meal. They said that this is exactly the love of Christ, and it has led them to this decision. She said her prayer is for such meals in other prisons, hence reformation taking place in the process
Gallery
We have been offered an open door into every prison in Malawi following the transformation that has taken place after our visits. To date we have provided 2,630 Bibles and 44,935 Bible studies studies in the following prisons: Nsanje, Chikwawa, Zomba, Mangochi, Thyolo, Ntcheu, Balaka, Mwanza Neno, Nkhotakhota, Dedza and Makande prisons; and banquet meals in Nkhotakhota, Dedza and Makande prisons.
