Prisoners Repent, Hearts Transformed

When I initially received an email from Guma Alexandre, my co-worker in Rwanda, saying that we have been granted an opportunity to teach for 3 consecutive days at Rilima Prison in Bugusera, I could hardly believe it. It has become increasingly difficult to get permission to teach/preach inside the prisons and it is only because of the reputation and trust of Pastor Deo Gashagaza, the Director of Prison Fellowship in Rwanda with whom we have partnered the past nearly 5 years, that I still get permission from the Prison authorities. We were able to minister there from May 12-14.

Teaching and Celebration in the Prison
The prison currently holds just over 3000 prisoners (2200 being genocide killers) and nearly all of them attended the 3 days of teaching. The courtyard inside the prison was arranged so that nearly everyone had some shade from the hot sun and we had brought in some good sound systems and microphones. I preached all 3 days and Pastor Deo wrapped up 2 of the days. The various denominational prison choirs started and ended every day with praise and worship and dancing.

As we prayed, Pastor Deo and I had decided to focus our teachings on repentance and asking God’s forgiveness. King David’s sins of adultery and murder and his cry of deep repentance in Psalm 51 would be the basis of our teaching. Usually we come to the end of a sermon and then ask those who want to repent to come forward or put their hands up and we lead them in a prayer of repentance and invite them to receive Christ. This time we radically departed from this method, asking each prisoner to say exactly what they were repenting from on the microphone.

The Difficulty and the Joy: Repentance and Confession
A few hundred men came forward, most being genocide killers. Some tried to justify their actions, others said they were with a ‘group of killers’ who killed many, but they themselves didn’t kill anyone. We told these people to stand to one side and again explained that God sees our hearts and that true repentance required brutal honesty with themselves and with God.

Slowly some started confessing to the murders they committed, giving the dates, the place and how many killings they were involved in. Specific repentance is of the utmost importance as they have to ask the families for forgiveness and show them where they buried their loved ones (if they indeed did). It is a tedious process and very draining in body, mind, and spirit to hear these confessions, clarify some points, and get down to the truth.

Redemption and Freedom through Confession
All the while the prison authorities are taking videos or photos and making notes of where the killings took place. Obviously, this can be a deterrent for people coming forward, but then again, some are probably not ready to confess, even after being in prison 20 years. So in these three days, about 150 prisoners made confessions from the heart, repented, and received Christ as their Redeemer. It is so humbling to be part of this ministry and I thank God for these opportunities to see so many set free from the clutches of Satan. Keep in mind this was my 3rd or 4th time preaching there and the Director of the Prison told me they already had received 1400 letters from prisoners confessing and asking to see the families to ask forgiveness.

First, Innocent came forward and said he had participated in a killing between 83 and 100 people in April 1994, asked God and those of us present for forgiveness; he then said he will show the family where the people were killed and said he wanted to ask their forgiveness. Another said he had killed a mother and daughter. One said he had killed many people inside a hospital. Another said he had killed a young boy named Fidel and want to also meet his family and ask forgiveness.

On the 3rd day it seemed the most hardened murderers had waited until the last minute to come to repentance. I actually cannot remember all the confessions as I was ministering with Pastor Deo to speak forgiveness and lead them to Christ. But I do remember vividly a man of about 30 coming forward as we were about to wrap up. He said he was not involved in the genocide but had done something worse than genocide. He is still awaiting trial. Pastor Deo gave him the microphone, asking him to confess to what he had done. He stood head down and then told us he had raped a 7-year old girl, then killed her and dumped her body into a pit toilet. I was filled with revulsion and there were gasps of horror even from these hardened prisoners. The man said he had been using drugs and alcohol and was “filled with demons.” He wanted forgiveness from God and to become a follower of Jesus (my teaching the last day was on being a follower of Christ). He also asked to meet the family to ask their forgiveness and he said he will show them where he put the body.

Personal Reaction and Response
I was in a shock, because I was thinking of my own 7 year old Mia, and feeling the agony and anger of the family of the little innocent girl that was killed so brutally. I had to pray to ask God to help me to forgive as this man who asked God’s forgiveness. I heard God say to me, “because I love him, I forgive him.” Even as I write this today, I am still in deep agony in my spirit and keep seeing the face of this man, Edmond, in front of me. God reminded me that I had taught them from His Word that when God forgives our sins, he puts it as far as the East is from the West, because Jesus had already paid the price for even the worst sins we can possibly commit. I had to put my hand on Edmond and say you are forgiven, a child of God and my brother. I pray that he will remain in Christ.

Friends, these things are not easy to comprehend, but I have seen God’s love at work in this land like nowhere else. People who have lost dozens of family members are forgiving the perpetrators, and are even living and working alongside them in their communities. Former killers testifying to the amazing love of Christ who brought them out of darkness and into His light, forgave them, and set them free from the shackles of their sins.

Thank you for those of you who are partners with us in this ministry. We thank God for you and ask that he will continue to bless you and encourage you to stay the course with us.

To God alone be the glory through Jesus Christ our Lord.