Blessing In Prison

Yesterday a team of 7 of us visited the men's maximum security prison in San Juan de Lurigancho, Peru, about an hour away from FRC-Lima.

San Juan de Lurigancho holds 11,000 prisoners in a space meant to hold 1,500. The majority of the prisoners there are former terrorists, serial killers, & narcotraffickers. It is a place of violence, mayhem, grit, grime, & disease. It is estimated that more than half of the prison population @ San Juan de Lurigancho is suffering from AIDS, HIV, or tuberculosis.

In the midst of this scene, yesterday we held an evangelistic outreach in Pavilion # 11 at San Juan de Lurigancho. About 300 prisoners attended the outreach, & about 60 accepted Christ as Savior & were ready to be baptized right away.

In Matthew 25:36 (NIV), as Jesus is talking about how He will separate the sheep from the goats, He mentions how visiting those in prison, among other things, is an example of doing something directly for Him, & worthy of a divine blessing & inheritance.

If you have never ministered in a prison, then try it. It is an unforgettable experience, & shows obedience to Jesus' words in Matthew 25:36. If you do it, you will see how, in a place full of violence, mayhem, grit, grime, & disease, the light of Jesus can shine forth in a brilliant way. You will bless many prisoners, but you will be blessed even more.