Social welfare project brings spiritual release to prisoners
TAMBORÉ, Brazil — Overcrowding has become a common and increasingly damaging feature of Brazil’s prison system. The country’s 903 penal institutions house more than 235,000 prisoners, almost 65,000 more than the number they were designed to hold, and this level of overcrowding is fostering growing levels of violence and drug abuse. Responding to this challenge is among the priorities of the Bible Society of Brazil, which has been one of the partners in the Social Welfare in Prison project for more than 10 years. Under this initiative, the Society distributes biblical literature to prisoners, provides basic supplies to their families and promotes Bible study courses. TestimoniesThere are now more than 500 people bringing God’s Word to prisoners in 78 institutions in eight states across Brazil; last year alone contact was made with more than 141,000 prisoners and their families. Evidence of the effectiveness of the project can be found in the testimonies of prisoners who have been enabled to make a new start in their life. Maurício Marques da Silva, a prisoner in the south-eastern city of Avaré, for example, states that “I am a prisoner physically, but free spiritually; ready to leave here, to join the people of God and to be winners together.” He acknowledges the strong influence in his life of Paul Vandoras, a missionary from the National Missions Council, also a partner in Social Welfare in Prison work. In the Professor Aníbal Bruno prison in Recife, capital of the north-eastern state of Pernambuco, Deoclécio Lourenço da Silva is one of the ‘children of faith’ who has heard God’s Word through Antônio Terto Gonçalves, a former drug addict who, since 1980, has been working with prisoners. Mr da Silva admits that he was once “a mean man” who committed robberies and murders, but now enthuses that “what God has given me is worth so much more than a truckload of gold.” One of the most powerful testimonies comes from Elias Valério da Silva, who was jailed several times for drugs offences and armed assault, but has now overcome the pressure to return to a life of crime. “Society grants us few opportunities,” he says, “and that is, undoubtedly, the greatest challenge: becoming a social animal again, finding a job.” He has been guided towards a new life by Edmílson Rodrigues, Vice-President of the Prisoner Welfare Movement, and states that his “greatest dream” is now to “build a family and study theology.” Vital The Bible Society regards the Bible
as a vital tool in promoting understanding and peace in Brazilian society.
General Secretary the Rev Luiz Antonio Giraldi emphasises that “in
spreading the Bible, the Bible Society of Brazil contributes efficiently
to combating violence and promoting peace in our country.” A
longer version of this article appeared in A Biblia No Brasil,
July-September 2002. (WR 372/10
- 11.02) |
