Joyce Meyer Prison Project April 2008

A unique outreach took place during April which was the brainchild of Joyce Meyer Ministries in South Africa – an amazing example of Christians working together to minister in a very practical way into Correctional Facilities.   JMM provided the resources and enlisted a group of Christian organisations already involved in prison ministry to reach into Gauteng Facilities with 200 volunteers from over 30 churches. 

Hans Roos directed a team of volunteers who made up 58415 packs, each containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, a bar of soap, PLUS one of Joyce Meyer’s books, an Ukuplula Iketanga Little Bible, a Book of Hope magazine and a tract from Emmanuel Press.   Lotsha Ministries liaised with the Dept. of Correctional Services to arrange permits, enlist people from churches to join the outreach and help distribute these packs to every Correctional Facility in Gauteng.   Teams from the different churches worked tirelessly to go into the 33 prisons in the 10 management areas of Gauteng’s prisons.

At each Correctional Facility time was allowed for a short Christian spiritual message, accompanied by songs of praise and a special time for prayer.   After that, each inmate received their own individual pack.

A team member told us of an inmate who asked if we would mind if he sent the pack home to his son.   Many of the team members were overcome at the impact the outreach had made on inmates and members of DCS who also received a pack.  Team members came away with a better understanding of prison ministry and some felt they would like to become part of a prison ministry regular team.   They realised that behind bars were people who had made bad choices and were now in a place of darkness and despair with no hope.   Many regretted their past and needed to be told about the love of Jesus and His saving grace with the power to heal and change their lives.  

The JMM Project provided a life-changing opportunity to inmates and volunteers alike.