“Remember those in prisons as if you are chained with them” – Hebrews 13:3
Christians practise prison ministry in many ways: through evangelism, counselling, and through benevolence in providing them with needed supplies.
But for Stanley Tafirei Shereni (2010), it has become something more.
Following his graduation from African Christian College in 2010, Shereni worked as a pulpit minister at a stable congregation for five years. In 2015, as he searched for new ministry opportunities, he discovered there was no ministry happening at the local prison. He felt a peace that surpasses understanding and a confirmation in this ministry path.
Shereni has made it possible for thirteen children of inmates to get an education . . . three are about to go to college
Stanely Shereni, (2010)
Shereni went to work obtaining necessary authorizations, sourcing support, and preparing. Soon, the ministry was operational and he was utilising curriculum and materials from partners at New Life Behaviour International and God was doing wonders: hundreds of inmates dedicated their lives to Christ and had access to weekly Bible study lessons.
But still, God had more in store.
One day, Shereni met with a man in the prison who had been his family’s breadwinner. Because of his arrest, his three children were forced to drop out of school. The community ignored the family because of his arrest. This troubled Shereni.
With a new focus beyond the prisoners themselves, Shereni asked: “What would you wish for your kids if you were in prison?” The answer was simple: for them to find a different path and be educated for success.
Shereni was without resources to grow the ministry. God led him to search within. He used his bachelor’s degree from African Christian College to land a job teaching at a private school. It was a challenge to balance the prison ministry with a full-time job, but his dedication and hard work is paying off. Using his own salary from teaching, Shereni has made it possible for thirteen children of inmates to get an education . . . three are about to go to college.
Ministry happens in a variety of ways. It’s not just about preaching or evangelisation. Shereni modelled for all of us how to utilise our resources for Kingdom work.
What’s your next level in ministry?
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