Tatenda Shunyai
MASVINGO – The Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church last week baptised 120 inmates at Mutimurefu Prison while 235 where awarded with certificates after completing Bible study courses.
The baptism and graduation ceremony was conducted by the SDA in conjunction with the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS).
The event was attended by SDA Zimbabwe president Pastor Micah Choga who officiated the event, other representatives of the church and the ZPCS officials.
ZPCS Masvingo provincial Public Relations Officer (PRO) Tinashe Manyuke praised the church for being there for the good of others.
“That is wonderful and we are inviting them at Whawha young offenders in Gweru for the same programme. We have 75 students who have completed the discover course awaiting graduation. The pioneers of the programme are from Harare,” said Manyuke.
SDA national Public Relations Officer (PRO) Pastor Nceku Moses Msimanga said the church was making efforts to help communities and to help rehabilitate others who needed it.
“As the church, our aim is to impact the community and we base with the Scripture from Mathew 5 vs 16. We consider the inmates as part of the community so we pray with them, touch their lives and provide food and clothing, we don’t only preach to them.
“These inmates are part of us so we intervene and help them emotionally, physically and spiritually because it is our mandate,” he said.
After being given the certificates, the inmates testified on how the Bible study had had an impact on their lives especially with regards to theirs perspectives towards life. Many of them pledged to stick to the ways of the Bible and its wisdom on how people ought to conduct themselves.
The SDA donated uniforms and toiletries for the inmates and had time to have lunch with them to complement the ZPCS prisoner rehabilitation process.
The church is on a drive to help different communities through different outreach programmes like health expos in different places and crusades bringing people closer to God.
Other inmates also called for other churches to partner and work with prisoners.religion
