Brazil’s Prison Population in September 2009 was 472,482, making it the fourth highest in the world.. According to the Brazilian Government’s National Penitentiary Department (DEPEN), in June 2008 the number of people being incarcerated exceeded the design capacity of Brazil’s prisons by 40 per cent, and the number of prisoners was increasing by approximately 3,000 per month. Brazilian prisons are notorious for their overcrowding, corruption, violence and torture. For many years Human Rights groups have cited overcrowding as being the cause of many of the brutal riots in Brazilian prisons.
Of the 17 Prisons in the state of Bahia, 7 are in Salvador. “S.O.S Prisidio” (SOS Prison Ministry) is our ministry to these prisoners and their families. The team leader, Jesse Jane (real name) has lead hundreds of volunteers to minister, evangelize, disciple, and plant churches in every pavilion in each of these prisons. Churches and ministry centers have been started in the communities near each prison to reach the relocated families in the area.
To work in the high security area, each volunteer must have a background check, go through a strip search, and often be humiliated every time we go in. Is it worth it? You bet! The Pastors, deacon, etc of every prison church were justly convicted of serious crimes but Jesus Christ changed everything. These men and women are now ministering and leading other inmates to Christ. It’s a type of “Cell” church.
Pray for Jesse Jane, The Volunteers, the Christian inmates and those we are trying to reach. Pray for continued access, safety, ministry resources, and that many, many decisions will be made to follow Christ as Lord and Savior.
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