Every time Stanley Mkwanda visited the prison, one young man stayed behind after the Bible lessons had ended.
He always wanted more. More time to study God’s Word. More questions answered. More prayers to help him grow in his faith.
“The young man had a great desire for God, and every time we had our sessions, he would ask that I pray for his spiritual growth,” Stanley recalls.
Four years later, the young man completed his sentence and returned home with a new purpose. Instead of returning to his old way of life, he began preaching the gospel to people who had once been his peers.
For Stanley, that transformation was a powerful reminder that God is still at work in places where many people have lost hope.
When Stanley graduated from African Christian College in 2017, he returned home eager to serve. Soon afterwards, he was given the responsibility of reviving the church’s prison ministry, which had been inactive for several years. It presented more challenges than he anticipated.
Rather than becoming discouraged, Stanley relied on lessons he learned at African Christian College: that every problem presents an opportunity to create a solution through careful planning, clear goals, and faithful leadership.
“I had all the tools I needed to revive and sustain the ministry. I knew it would take more planning than simply doing something, and that is where I invested most of my time.”
His preparation paid off.
Today, the prison ministry is thriving once again, reaching more inmates than ever before with the hope of the gospel.
“We are now able to reach more prisoners than we have ever done before, and seeing people give their lives to Christ while in prison is the greatest inspiration.”
Stanley also understood that lasting ministry requires personal resourcefulness. To support his family while serving the church, he established a laundry business that now provides part time employment for two people.
His journey reflects the vision of African Christian College to develop transformational Christian leaders who identify problems and create practical solutions. And, the young man who once stayed behind for one more Bible lesson now shares the hope of Christ with others, reminding us that one transformed life can become a witness to many.
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