DR Congo
Having seen the results of our prison ministry in Uganda and Kenya, Pastor Israel Lenge has felt God's call to leave his pastorate in Kenya and return to his home town in DR Congo to set up Streams of Mercy Prison Ministries, Congo. We were able to share the vision and preach the Gospel on Congolese TV on a Saturday evening. The programme was broadcast to the whole of the Katanga province.
Prisoners are people with deep needs. Yes, they are in a place of correction. However, the aim of prison should not be just to punish but to correct and rehabilitate. And the life changing Gospel message has been shown to be instrumental in turning prisoners from their former lives of crime into good honest and useful members of society, and this is accepted by most of the prison governors we met. But we also need to show the love of Christ by helping to meet some of the prisoner's material needs also.
PASTOR ISRAEL'S VISION
The vision is to visit the prisons regularly, initially to preach the Gospel message, then to follow on with counselling and instruction for those who accept Jesus Christ. In each prison an assessment of material needs will be made and some assistance will be given as resources become available. We are praying that Christians here in Congo will catch the vision and that the majority of the needed resources will be given locally.
One problem facing many prisoners is how they will cope on the outside when their sentence is completed. Often they have no place to go, no financial resources and few vocational skills. And obtaining work with a prison record is never easy. So an important part of the vision is to set up a reintegration centre where inmates can come to stay for a while after discharge. In the centre there will be access to conselling and spiritual instruction as well as assessement of their needs and family situation. Where possible appropriate vocational training or help in finding work will be offered. And when the time comes for them to leave the centre they can be introduced to a church fellowship in their local area where they can find Christian fellowship and support. It is also hoped to set up a small school to enable the children of prisoners who cannot afford school fees to obtain an education.
For this to be successful the support of local people will be essential. We need local people with compassion who can join Pastor Israel in the ministry and help in various ways. We need Christians , both local and in UK who will pray for the work. We need those who can give their time to help with the Gospel ministry in the prisons. Then there is need for those who can give to the work – either financially or in other ways – eg by donating food, clothing, blankets etc. to help improve the life of those still on the inside. Then there will be a need for those with skills to help in the reintegration centre. People who can teach vocational skills – carpentry, tailoring, agriculture, building etc – and maybe literacy skills also, as well as teachers for the prisoner's children. There will also be a need for local employers willing to take on apprentices or to offer employment to ex prisoners. There will also be a need for pastors and counsellors to help guide the centre's clients and help them deal with particular psychological, spiritual or relationship problems.
This is a big vision – to begin in the Lubumbashi area but once established to extend into other parts of the Katanga province and maybe even to other parts of Congo.
We personally hope to revisit DR Congo annually to monitor progress, visit the prisons and encourage those involved locally.
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