The Sunday Mail
RELIGION writer, Desire Ncube spent some time last Sunday with Kentucky Prison inmates. Ncube had a first hand worshipping experience with the inmates and got the chance to interview some of them.
Two pastors give us their stories from behind the walls. Read on.
Pastor Sheppard Nyahunzvi
MY name is Pastor Sheppard Nyahunzvi I am 32 years old. I was a pastor at Durban Christian Centre in South Africa and when I came here (Zimbabwe), I was not yet settled but I was worshipping at True Vine Faith Ministries in Harare.
I was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison for theft of trusted property. A certain man gave me his money and l misused it. He wanted to buy a car with the money.
When I came here (prison), it was painful but I met other pastors and we encouraged each other to pray and worship even in this situation. We have managed to transform our lives as well as the lives of other inmates. I was transferred from Harare Central Prison to Hurungwe prison in 2014.There was no church there. I met the prison Chaplin, Mr Maramba and we discussed the matter and started a church. Hurungwe Prison was very popular with Nyau dances and other ungodly acts but within a short space of time, we managed to change the spiritual atmosphere of the prison.
I was working with Pastor Alimando, another inmate pastor and other Christians who were also in the prison.
During the time that I was there, more than 90 Hurungwe Prison inmates were baptised by the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. I was then transferred back to Harare Central Prison and now I am here at Kentucky. We are still going ahead with the work of God.
This is my sixteenth month here at Kentucky. The greatest thing I want to thank God for is the encouragement that come from the book of Ephesians. Paul says my incarceration is for the gospel to go forward. I am not centred on what brought me here, but the practical life experience l am getting. God wanted to teach me something and I glad I benefited a lot.
During my stay as an inmate, God has used me in a mighty way. Many people received Christ. I have been having religious studies with one of Madzibaba Ishmael’s followers and just last week, he accepted Christ as his Lord and personal saviour. When people are out there they have no time for God but believe me you when you are here you will realise that everything is vanity, worshipping God is the only worthwhile thing.
People who were busy for God out there are now the champions of the gospel. Almost every day, I win souls for Christ. I want to thank God for using me in this prison.
My wish is that when I finish my jail term, I want to start a prison ministry. I want to come back (prison) and preach to the inmates in different prisons.
I have since realised that God is gathering people in prisons so that we preach to them. This is an opportunity that God is giving both of us, ministers and prisoners.
Jesus gave us an instruction to go and preach the gospel. If I can have sponsors who can assist me, my dream will came true. I am encountering a myriad of challenges here, some inmates’ relatives do not visit them, some have broken hearts while others have since lost hope of life. These people need encouragement and it is my duty to encourage them with the word of God. When we started, it appeared as if we were joking but to date, more than half of the people who stay here are strengthened, they are now in a position to claim Jeremiah’s promise which says that God has good plans for His people. The main problem that we are facing here as “inmates Christians” is that pastors who are out there are not visiting us. I think they are not comfortable being associated with us but the truth of the matter is that this is the place they were ordained for, inmates should not perish when we have thousands of prophets and pastors out there.
Inmates are perishing, not only here but across the country’s prisons because most of them are lacking knowledge which I believe pastors can freely give them.
I urge my fellow pastors out there to utilise this opportunity, I have a strong conviction that it is God’s will that brings people here (in prisons), probably because they refuse to listen to his word while free.
I have seen many inmates who were viewed as bad guys being transformed. We are doing one on one Bible study, we also conduct cell group discussions and every Sunday we gather for a service. My desire is to start a prison ministry so that these guys may be transformed before they are released back into the community. If they are not transformed while in the cells, still they are bound to come back.
But if they are transformed whilst they are still here, they will be able to go and preach to their friends outside.
Every morning, I wake up and go to the administration to pray for this prison so that we can have food and well wishers who can assist us in different ways.
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I am 39 years old.
Pastor Muchineripi Munashe Chabata
I was incarcerated in June 2010 after I was convicted for indecent assault. I was sentenced to 12 years in prison, however four were suspended and therefore l am serving an effective eight years.
I was a pastor with the Lutheran Church and I committed this crime at my church in Glen View.
I was invited to a certain church, I slept there because the work that I wanted to do was supposed to be done early in the morning.
During that night, l committed the crime.
It was so embarrassing as people took turns to blast me, but l found courage in the word of God which says we are all sinners, pastors are not an exception.
Since the day I came here (prison), I have benefited a lot. The first lesson I received behind bars is that as pastors, when we get our training at theological colleges, there is a community that cannot fit in it, for example, the prison set up.
Some pastors are even afraid to visit prisoners, to preach and minister to them.
But l realised that this is where gospel ministers are supposed to stay, there is a lot of work here there are many people who needs help.
My thinking has changed ever since I came here, I am now of the view that when pastors are receiving their training’s at their theological institutions, they should introduce prison counselling or prison ministries within the theological curriculum so that inmates will benefit.
I have also noticed that only Pentecostal churches receive prisoners when they are freed.
A number of mainline churches tend to ignore them, yet these are the churches that we expect to warmly receive convicts.
Back then, we used to hear that mainline churches such as The Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist Church In Zimbabwe and Anglican, among others used to adopt inmates; practically empowering them with skills and capital so that they could sustain themselves after finishing their prison terms.
As a minister who has experienced prison life, I think it is very important for mainline churches to go back to their old culture, I think it will benefit both the church and the community.
One other thing that I think people should know is that being incarcerated doesn’t mean the end of life, it is part of life.
For example, I benefited a lot in here, my knowledge has increased and my pastoral training has been enhanced.
I think what I have gained surpasses what those in the field have gained during my time here. l am now able to overcome the challenges that was facing when I was outside.
After completing my jail term, I will continue with my calling. While people might think that I am an outcast, I know that God is still counting me as his servant.
Before I came here, I found an organisation called Makumbe Youth Orphans Program.
When l complete my sentence, I will enhancing that program. I want to rename that organization to Orphans Network and Care Program.
There are a lot of things that I have to do as a gospel minister. l have to assist orphans, prisoners and many people who are poverty stricken around the country.
This is one area that most of us pastors lack.
I also want to appeal to church leader,s especially those who have their pastors in jail not to ignore them, they should follow us. I have my Bishops and supervises but ever since I came here, no one has visited me.
I am trying my level best to persuade them to came, I what to talk to them, my soul can be destroyed if they do not come and help me while I am here.
People should follow and revive the spirit of incarcerated pastors’ so that they remain in God.
