Freedom behind bars

The prison guard locked the gate behind us as the inmates curiously watched us enter. That locked gate in 2018 was the start of an open door for ministry among juveniles held on remand in a detention centre in Freetown.

One of the challenges of mission in such a place is being confronted with the enormity of the loss, pain and issues these young men have faced, and continue to face, in their lives. Conditions in prisons are harsh and sometimes life-threatening. There is overcrowding, lack of electricity, inadequate provision of food and water, poor sanitary conditions, very limited medical care, and little by way of rehabilitation services.

Conditions in prisons are harsh and sometimes life-threatening

In the dilapidated cells, the few old and dirty mattresses available are recycled between prisoners. There are no toilets in the cells, and one of the early requests we received was for plastic bags for the boys to defecate into. Many of those imprisoned have been forgotten by their family, friends and society. Most experience considerable difficulty in accessing basic legal assistance. 

There is the danger of hostility, and fear and anxiety are ever-present realities for the inmates. There is no formal education in place, and the boys are regularly hungry. Their life experience has been characterised by violence, rejection, addiction and pain. How do we possibly respond to the overwhelming needs?

Violence, rejection, addiction and pain … how do we possibly respond to the overwhelming needs?

For anyone ministering in contexts of great physical, emotional and spiritual brokenness and suffering, lamenting to God is often part of the response. Our prayers of lament help us process the grief and sense of helplessness we feel. We are called to compassion, and where we are able, we meet some of the temporal needs of the inmates by providing food, toiletries, laundry soap, clothes and other items, however, we know that their most fundamental need is reconciliation to God. As believers, we understand the reality of being a prisoner to our own desires and sins, and that our freedom comes through Christ alone.

Our prayers of lament help us process the grief and sense of helplessness we feel

We believe in the power of redemption and transformation. And so, we go armed with the only thing that can change someone’s life – the gospel. We share the good news that it is possible to have a life-giving relationship with the living Christ who has the power not only to change human hearts but to bring real hope to situations the world may deem hopeless.

We explain that while God may not always set them free from their physical prison, he can give freedom from their imprisonment by sin. We share that they have immeasurable value to God, and how Jesus heals broken people, releasing them from guilt and shame, giving them eternal life and a new purpose for living.

We share that they have immeasurable value to God

At times the young men can be loud, boisterous, and hot-tempered, but this is counteracted by their enthusiasm to participate in games, arts and crafts, and other social activities; their responsiveness when they receive encouragement and praise; their attentiveness as they listen to the Bible teaching; their desire to answer the Bible quiz questions; their quiet diligence as they get stuck into the worksheet; their keenness to accept a Bible; and their welcome and appreciation shown to us.

Loud, boisterous, and hot tempered, but this is counteracted by their enthusiasm to participate 

There are times when the sense of God’s Spirit moving is so powerful, and only eternity will reveal how many of these young men encountered the light of Jesus in the darkness of that challenging place.