Precila Takabvirakare
MPANDAWANA – The local Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church this week organised a service at Gutu Prison where inmates were given a chance to fellowship together with others.
Prisoners participated in a Bible study and preaching sessions, with lessons centred on life after prison as well as rehabilitation.
The church provided them with decent lunch hampers.
Pastor Michael Musagwize said having a fellowship with prisoners was one of the initiatives that is enunciated in the church’s doctrine under the prison ministries department.
He said the church chose prisoners because they were among the most neglected people in society.
“We chose inmates because they form one of the most forgotten groups in society. As a church, we are there to provide them with their physical, spiritual and social needs as the Bible, in Mathew 25 vs 36, requires us to do,” said Musagwize.
Besides fellowship, he said, the church was also there to help relatives of inmates who fail to raise money to visit them in prison.
“As a church, we also realised that there is need to bridge the gap between inmates and their relatives as part of the rehabilitation process so that when they are released, they will easily fit back into ordinary society,” he said.
Pastor Musagwize said they were looking forward to more fellowships with inmates on a monthly basis, and even to the baptism of those who want to turn to Christ.local
