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 During the week, we helt eight meetings in Aiud prison and five in Arad prison. Three of the meetings were held in maximum security, and one meeting was with the women. We were joined in Aiud by a singing team from Cluj and the singing team that came with us in Arad come from the Pentecostal Church. They have a big heart for the prison ministry. There are still about 12 women prisoners in Aiud, but most of the women who were in Aiud prison have now been moved to the prison in Cluj. Many of them have given their lives to Christ. But there were some in Aiud that have never seen us before. They appeared serious at first but all of the women responded when the gospel was preached. It is so good to be with the men in maximum security. These men have been classed as dangerous but many of them have been completely changed by the power of the gospel. Pili was there. He is a man who wrote us after Torkil died and told us that he had been a violent man known in many prisons, and had come to the Lord through Torkild’s ministry. When we meet some of these men it is like being with close friends. The men in the prison are looking for a challenge. At the meetings we challenged them to live for Christ and to use their lives to lift up others. From among these men will come the future evangelists and leaders who can speak from experience how Christ can give hope, joy and purpose to those in prison. The prison staff are always very helpful and Rescue has a great relationship with them. Much work has been done over the years to develop this relationship. This is essential for the door into the prison to remain open for us. We tell the prisoners that many are praying for them back home in Denmark. Torkild who led the ministry for the first fourteen years used to say to the prisoners ‘I’ll make a deal with you; You pray for us and we’ll pray for you.’ When he asked them ‘is that a deal?’, they always responded with a loud ‘yes’. Now we make the same deal and we know that many prisoners are praying for us in their cells They are not just prisoners they are our brothers and sisters in Christ. The ministry is expanding as there is a great need among the prisoners. The greatest weapon we have is the love of Christ. When we go into the prison with the love of Christ it is able to bring joy even in the hardest place, and will break down the barriers of resentment and bitterness that destroy lives. It is wonderful to see the power of the gospel working in the lives of the prisoners. Back |