Prison Ministry

In Botswana prisoners are not only sentenced by the judiciary but also by the community, friends and relatives. After they are released from prison, they are rejected because of the stigma of being an ex convict. The fact that they served their sentences and were rehabilitated whilst in prison is a factual issue which the community chooses not to address. It is more painful when the group which should be the one to set the standard by loving their fellowmen turns out to be the ones to reject them. The Bible says that if we visit prisoners, we are also visiting Christ because He shared his body for every human being and that He is the one who will come to judge the living and the dead. As Christian our calling is to love and to come together as the body of Christ.

It is the responsibility of a Christian to be sensitive to the pain and turmoil of prisoners, because he/she is a new creation whose heart of stone has been turned into a heart of flesh and thus can be able to comply with the dictates of this scripture to … “let the groaning of the prisoner come before you: According to the greatness of your power, preserve those who are appointed to die.” (Ps. 79:11) A Christian should hear the groaning of a prisoner in their spirit.

Psalm 69: 33 states that and I quote “… the Lord hears the poor, and does not despise the prisoners”. If the Lord does not despise the prisoners why should we? Psalm 146:7 says the Lord gives freedom to the prisoner but of utmost importance we should remember that Christ died for the body of Christ and in Hebrew 13:3 the Bible states that “Remember the prisoners as if chained with them - those who are mistreated – since you yourselves are in the body also”. If one part of the body is aching then the whole body becomes sick because we are all joined together in Christ.

Botswana does not have a single half way house to accommodate a prisoner who has completed his sentence. Once a prisoner is released he/she is forced to fend for himself/herself in a hostile environment despite the rehabilitation programme and skills he/she might have acquired whilst in prison.

Churches in Botswana have in the past played a significant role in visiting prisoners and providing them with basic toiletries, etc., but this assistance is ad hoc. The prisoners are ministered to whilst still in prison and upon release there is very limited follow-up programmes that have been devised. The churches have not yet devised ways of providing tangible assistance which would ensure that those who leave prison do not return. Due to the hostile environment after release, most prisoners end up relapsing and going back to prison –treating prison as a safe haven.

Unlike in other countries (USA) prisoners in Botswana, do not have access to TV screens to enable them to participate in church programmes and share their testimonies. I believe it is essential for convicts to also eat the same spiritual food as the one fed to those outside. They should be allowed to watch gospel, sermons and teachings on TV which will help build their character, their faith and spirit. Furthermore the leadership training programmes conducted on the Love world would help train the leadership in prison. In case were clarity or assistance required, the church members in the Prison Ministry would provide them with the necessary guidance. In the case of WCCC BIBLE SCHOOL has a wealth of materials which should also be shared with them and played on the screens for the convicts. This will lead to a lot of convicts being born again and thus win a lot of souls.

Number of Prisons
There are 27 prisons and more than 9000 inmates throughout the various prisons in Botswana found in the following places

1. Gaborone
2. Lobatse
3. Mochudi
4. Serowe
5. Letlakeng
6. Mahalapye
7. Machaneng
8. Tsabong
9. Gantsi
10. Kasane
11. Bobonong
12. Maun
13. Kanye
14. Molepolole
15. Selibe/Pikwe
16. Boro
17. Machaneng
18. Tshane
ETC…..












Programme for Prison Ministry


DAYS 0700 - 0730 0900 - 1200 1400 - 1600
Monday

CENTRAL PRISON Praise/Worship
Rhapsody
Prayers
Word
Testimonies
Ministration
PSYCHO-SOCIO SUPPORT and COUNSELLING
Tuesday

FIRST OFFENDERS Praise/Worship
Rhapsody
Prayers
Word
Testimonies
Ministration
PSYCHO-SOCIO SUPPORT and COUNSELLING
Wednesday

WOMENS PRISON Praise/Worship
Rhapsody
Prayers
Word
Testimonies
Ministration
PSYCHO-SOCIO SUPPORT and COUNSELLING
Thursday

CENTRAL PRISON Praise/Worship
Rhapsody
Prayers
Word
Testimonies
Ministration
BIBLE STUDIES
Friday

BOTS PRISONS Praise/ Worship
Prayers
Word
Testimonies
Ministration BIBLE STUDIES ,

PSYCHO-SOCIO SUPPORT and COUNSELLING
*Saturday

OUTSIDE GABORONE Praise/Worship
Prayers
Word
Testimonies
Ministration Church Service
Ministration

Counselling Cell group Meetings
*Sunday

OUTSIDE GABORONE Church Service
Ministration
Testimonies
Counselling Leadership Meetings




Requirements for each prison
 toiletries (monthly to be provided with toothpaste, toilet soap, body lotion, )
 Bibles (once)
 hymn books (once) this is optional they hymns could be photocopied on sheets on paper for them
 notebooks and pens according to need


HALFWAY ACCOMMODATION


1. Those released from prison to be provided with accommodation for at least 3 – 6 months to enable them to adjust to outside the prison life and assisted to find their footing back in the society. Some prisoners might have been in prison for over 10 years and upon release find the environment completely different. To this end, a house with someone manning it in each of these areas would be necessary. Initially half way homes could be established in the main cities and towns i.e. Gaborone, Lobatse, Francistown, Mahalapye, Maun, Serowe and when funds permit extended to each prison locality.

2. The ex prisoners need to be assisted to get job placement or start up their own business ventures. To take up such placements they will need to be some forms of settlement grants/tools to enable them to pay for their transport expenses, etc

3. They will need to be counselled to enable them to deal and cope with rejection/hostile environment from the community

4. They will need assistance to join their families for those whose families are outside Gaborone

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