Tag: woman

 

“…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.

“The teachings of the Gospel brought me back to life.”

Sarah married young, like many Egyptian Muslim women. But her extremist husband had a fiery temper and began to abuse her both emotionally and physically. When the couple had two sons, he soon began to abuse them as well.

Women in this cultural environment don’t have equal rights – there is little they can do about domestic abuse, as they are expected to be disciplined within the home. Sarah said:

“My husband’s belief was that a good Muslim wife doesn’t object or express her opinion; she serves and silently obeys orders. The world around me was dark and sad. Life at home was a nightmare, and tears never left my eyes.”

But at work, Sarah met a Christian called Lydia, who radiated a different kind of happiness. Sarah knew that Lydia had financial difficulties and other troubles, but her heart seemed to be continually filled with peace.

One day, with tears streaming down her face, Sarah poured out her feelings of unworthiness and despair, asking God why He had allowed so much suffering in her life. Looking for answers, she went to Lydia and asked, “Is it your faith that fills your heart with peace?”

Lydia began to explain the message of salvation to Sarah, who was deeply touched.

What’s really in the Bible?

At work, Lydia gave Sarah a Bible, and helped her to read it. As she started reading, she was initially confused and scared. She was so surprised to see the contradictions between the extremist Islamic beliefs she had been taught all her life and the compassionate words of Jesus. It gave her a deep desire to know more about the Christian faith.

Sarah went on reading the Bible, noting down the differences between the Bible and the Qu’ran. Day by day, she became convinced of the teachings she found in the New Testament. She found wisdom and comfort at last.

Jesus’ message transformed everything

Sarah says:

“The Bible became my daily companion; I read it every day. It was nourishment for my mind, solace for my heart, and peace for my life.

“After the first year of my experience with the Gospel, I had been transformed into a different person that I didn’t know existed within me. The teachings of the Gospel brought me back to life after I thought I had lost it forever.”

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*Names have been changed to protect the women’s identities. Thank you to our partner in North Africa, Open Doors.