Prison ministry remains one of the important ministries for the Church. Ministers like Stanley have committed their lives to ensuring that the Gospel of Jesus Christ reaches those behind walls. As the writer of Hebrews reminds us, “Remember those who are in prison as if you were in prison with them.” In over fifteen years of service, Stanley Shereni, our 2010 graduate, has continued to innovate this ministry and secure its sustainability.
In many places, prison ministry has involved Christians going inside to evangelise with the Word of God. “This model worked well for many years and many people came to Christ, but we can do better,” Stanley explained. Access to prisons is becoming increasingly difficult and the time spent with inmates is very limited. “At some point I had to be listed as a prisoner so I could gain access to preach the gospel because the process is very restrictive,” he recalled.
The ongoing challenges showed that a different approach was needed.
“It did not take long for me to develop a programme called Turning the Imprisoned into Missionaries. God had already given us the grace to preach inside the prisons, and now we had an opportunity to create lasting impact even when we were not present. It became a movement that reshaped prison ministry. Although we were doing well, one of our major limitations was that we were not with the inmates every day and we could not fully understand their context.”
This new model was developed to address these gaps and offer a more complete approach. Sixteen inmates who showed a desire to grow and share the Good News were identified and equipped with advanced evangelism and discipleship skills. After completing the programme, each participant was sent to their respective blocks to reach at least five other inmates. In less than thirty days, the group had reached about seventy five people. This level of impact would have taken a visiting evangelist many months to achieve.
It became a major breakthrough and a clear sign that the prison ministry was entering a new season.
To date, about ninety one inmates have been equipped with evangelism skills and are now leading discipleship groups. Stanley shared, “These inmates are now leading prayer, Bible discussions, and evangelistic engagements within their cells. They have created a sustainable inmate-led ministry environment.” Walls and policies can no longer hinder the spread of the gospel. Whether the visiting ministers are present or not, the message of Christ continues to transform lives through people who truly understand the lived experience of imprisonment.
It did not take long for me to develop a programme called Turning the Imprisoned into Missionaries..
Stanley Shereni, 2010 Graduate.
The limited time available for visits is now dedicated to equipping and empowering, while the ministry itself continues inside the prison through the inmates who have taken up the work. The imprisoned have become missionaries in their own environment, creating opportunities for consistent spiritual growth and transformation toward Christlike character.
Stanley continues to lead meaningful change in prison ministry across Zimbabwe. His creative approaches reflect the transformative education he received at African Christian College, where he learned to think deeply, develop sustainable solutions, and serve with compassion.
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