In a prison filled with some of Africa’s most violent criminals, the atmosphere was as unsettled as the air before a thunderstorm. The inmates were restless and unafraid, too hardened by their pasts and hopeless about their futures to care whether they caused any more harm. Here, life was nothing more than a waiting game with every one of the 166 inmates destined for execution.
But none of this intimidated the missionaries and their medical outreach team who gathered outside the prison gates one Sunday morning. They were excited at the opportunity to not only treat the sick, but also present the Gospel.
“It doesn’t matter if men don’t need them anymore because of their wickedness,” the missions team leader said. “We know that the Lord needs them for His Kingdom. They must also hear the Gospel of life of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The missionaries had a detailed plan for this particular day. First, they would present the Gospel to the inmates, who sat in a communal space separated from the missionaries by a barbed wire fence. Then, during medical consultations, the Christian doctors would discuss with each inmate whether he wished to accept Christ’s salvation.
“We are aware that we descended into the heart of Hell because we could feel the presence of danger and death reigning around us,” the missions leader said. “Our God, in all His glory, is with us to bless this special opportunity to save lost souls.”
The missionary tasked with presenting the message saw the same expression on most of the inmates’ faces: they had lost the will to live. But he spoke with confidence through the power of the Holy Spirit, and as he preached, something miraculous happened: men began to weep.
“For the first time in their lives, they were listening to the voice of God who was reproaching them,” the team leader said. “They all knew that they were condemned to death because of their sins and that there was no salvation that could come from men but from God.”
As the speaker preached on God’s redemptive power, the energy in the room began to shift.
“It was the first time that we had experienced such a moment charged with emotions provoked by the power of God,” the missions leader said. “Everyone could feel that the funeral atmosphere had suddenly cleared of its own accord. We could see everyone wiping away their tears and faces were now radiant. It was extraordinary!”
When the speaker concluded his message, an inmate raised his hand. “It is now that I have discovered my true state and have all the answers to the questions I have been asking myself unanswered for years,” he said. “After listening to this word, I now know where I am going.”
“As you can see, this is the first time that we are all very happy to experience such a moment together,” another inmate said. “Please, we need prayer because we all need God to save us.”
Thunderous applause erupted after the speaker’s final prayer, and the 120 Bibles the missionaries brought were not enough to meet demand. “It was wonderful to experience such a glorious moment in the presence of the Lord,” the missions leader said.
After the main gathering, the inmates attended their medical consultations. “Now it is up to the medical brothers to lead the individual inmates to accept the Lord during the medical interview,” the missions leader said.
While some inmates decided to follow Christ publicly, others chose to make their decision known only to the doctor. “We have with us the list of all those who have decided to give their lives to the Lord,” the missions leader said. “They all need our prayers.”
During a follow-up conversation with the prison warden the next day, the missions leader was once again in awe of God’s hand at work. According to the warden, many inmates had begun to read their new Bibles, and some even formed small groups to discuss the teaching they’d heard the previous day.
“The whole establishment is in a state of great joy,” the missions leader said. “He [the warden] did not know how to explain it to us or describe it. All our thanks go to our Lord Jesus Christ who blessed this work and crowned it with memorable success!”