“…hundreds of prisoners have been turning to the Lord. They started with Bible studies and now have churches and Bible schools in prisons!”
80,000 Thrown in Jail
El Salvador, a country in South America ravaged by civil war and gang violence, is seeing an incredible spiritual awakening in its prisons.
After a large-scale government crack-down on gangs in 2022, hundreds of thousands of young men across the country have been convicted and sentenced, flooding the Salvadoran prison system.
In the first six months alone, the number of inmates in prison doubled. To date, more than 80,000 people have been detained under the “state of exception”, an emergency measure granting unprecedented powers to the police and military.
Conditions are poor and life tough for those inside.
But in the midst of this seemingly bleak picture, hope has sprung.
Loved by the Local Church
Your partnership with Biblica equips local Christian churches and ministries with the Spanish Bibles and resources they need to share the Gospel through Bible studies in the Salvadoran jails. We’ve seen a profound response from inmates, with many giving their lives to Christ!
Here’s how Alvaro, one of our mission partners on the ground, describes the revival:
“We are seeing massive transformation in this country, and we are really blessed to be part of it.
We have recently supplied 1,000 Life Application Study Bibles to the prison pastors, because
they need some basic knowledge to teach in these groups”.
Prisons Reshaped by the Gospel
It’s not just prisoners who are having their lives transformed. Many prison guards and chiefs have also encountered Jesus through the missionary activities and given their lives to Christ.
This prison revival has seen, in some compounds, over half the inmates become Christians.
The facilities are often split into sections for practical and safety reasons, so many thousands of believers are living alongside each other, providing community and fellowship in a dark place.
Many prisoners have been given lengthy sentences by the government. But these young men are finding hope and daily peace in their new relationship with God, each other, and the Word.
One prison chief shares, “Only the Bible works! nothing else can transform the lives of these prisoners”. There is hope that, when some of the young men are eventually freed, they will re-enter society and bring Christ’s love to bear in their neighbourhoods.
Thank you for being a beacon of light in a dark place. God is using your prayers and your generosity to spark spiritual revival in some of the most difficult places on the planet. It’s a powerful reminder that with Jesus, no situation is ever hopeless.
