During the month of July 2017, Cornerstone Ministries conducted an evangelistic campaign series in the Cuamba prison in the north of Mozambique, Africa.
I was joined on this trip by my daughter Mikhaela and after landing in the city of Nampula, we had a six-hour drive on a rough corrugated dirt road to reach Cuamba and catch our fist glimpse of the Cuamba prison.
The prison in Cuamba was an overcrowded dungeon, with around 320 men crammed into three cells, with only 3 holes the size of a small side window of a car for ventilation in the walls (as seen on one of the pictures of the outside of the prison). It was a tough centre with very little room for the men to move inside their cells and only a very small courtyard that the three cells opened into. We held our program in the courtyard, which the three cell doors opened into. We were unable to use our data projector as it was too bright, so we held our laptop and moved around showing the men the graphics while we shared the presentations with them. Mikhaela conducted the health lectures while I ran the Bible program.
Each day we would purchase the men some extra food like bread and bananas, as well as some basic necessities that they really appreciated. Some of the men were very thin as they only get 2 meals per day and unless family from the outside supply more food they go hungry. We also gave all the prisoners a pair of jeans and a shirt that we were able to purchase in bulk from the local markets. The men were very thankful for these items telling us we were sent from heaven and that I was “The man of God”. The prison staff were very thankful as well, as they honestly struggle to look after the men with their small budgets.
The prison-preaching program went very well, with the men being well behaved and eagerly listening with many questions after each session. Two guards, who were also present at some of the meetings, also listened intently to the messages. Even though none of the prison staff made a decision for the Lord a lot of seeds were sown.
The director of the prison informed us when we arrived that no pictures were to be taken inside the prison as per usual; but he eventually let us take a few shots of the inside when the baptisms took place and when the food and clothing were given out.
We ended the campaign with 132 of the inmates being baptised in two 44-gallon drums as a makeshift baptismal font. The men were baptized inside the prison cell court yard by myself, as the district pastor had had an operation for a hernia the day before and was still in hospital. He was a bit disappointed that he could not officiate for the baptisms, as he had been working in the prison for a number of months before we arrived preparing the men for the program. The drums were placed inside the prison cells entrance area, and all the baptismal candidates received a Bible, Final Events book, and bread and bananas once they were baptised. It was a special time and we had formed a good relationship with them.
One of the local elders works in the prison on a weekly basis and will also be joined by one of the Bible workers that will be left behind to follow up other interests and nurture the men in the prison.
We also purchased a TV and satellite equipment to put on the Hope Channel from Brazil. This was set up in the court yard area where the men could watch it when let out of their cells during their short “leisure” time. The whole kit including the installation fee was only around $300 and is a great investment to keep feeding them with spiritual information.
When we purchased the satellite equipment and dropped it off at the prison, we were out on the road getting into our car when the guards were carrying it into the cell area. When the guards told the men what it was, we heard a great cheer from all the men. They were so excited to see what we had done.
Thank you once again for your ongoing support of God’s work that makes these prison programs possible.
In His service
Tony Rykers
