From policeman to
gang leader to evangelist

PHILIPPINES — “Riots are no longer ‘in’ here in prison; what is ‘in’ is the Lord’s work!” Roberto Barrera was once respected by those around him for his work as a policeman and for his stable family life. Then things changed dramatically. Locked up in Manila City Prison after being accused of murder, he rose through the ranks of one of the gangs that operated there and gained a reputation for being fearless and ruthless.

It was not until he met Pastor Noel Alberto, himself a former prisoner, that Mr Barrera’s life began to improve again. Through Pastor Alberto he came to faith, a faith which he is now sharing with his fellow prisoners with as much fervour as he once devoted to organising riots. He has read the Bible no less than 15 times and enthusiastically urges his fellow prisoners to do likewise. “I have observed that my fellow prisoners are reading the Bible more often than before,” he says. “It is more peaceful and the frequent riots have stopped.”

Mr Barrera is just one of the many prisoners in Filipino jails who are being reached by a very active prison ministry network. Among the organisations involved in this work are the Philippine Bible Society and the International Bible Society. Their collaboration in the area of prison ministry began with the distribution of a Portion, Is There Any Hope for the Future?, as part of a wider initiative supported by the Opportunity 21 program.

‘The Promise’

After a positive response from prisoners (see World Report 372/31), it became clear that there was a need to provide full Bibles to allow effective follow-up work. So in the second half of last year, more than 8,000 copies of Pangako (‘The Promise’) Bibles in Tagalog, Cebuano and Ilocano were distributed in 18 prisons across the country to prisoners who had been baptised or were actively attending Bible study groups.

Through Pastor Alberto he came to faith, a faith which he is now sharing with his fellow prisoners with as much fervour as he once devoted to organising riots. He has read the Bible no less than 15 times and enthusiastically urges his fellow prisoners to do likewise.

Not surprisingly, Mr Barrera was quick to respond when a consignment of Bibles arrived at Manila City Prison. Among the fellow prisoners to whom he distributed a copy was Nestor Quilat, who was imprisoned in November 2002 for theft. This was by no means the first time that Mr Quilat had been in prison; since the age of 12, when an uncle murdered his parents and his siblings, he had been living on the streets of Manila and had been forced to steal to keep himself alive.

This time, though, life in prison was different. With no visitors to fill at least some of the time, Mr Quilat participated in Bible quizzes, attracted by the thought of winning a prize. He began to memorise more and more of the Bible, and within a few months, guided by Mr Barrera and Pastor Alberto, he committed his life to Christ. At that point, he was still sharing a Bible with other prisoners, but he later became the proud owner of his own Pangako Bible. Now he memorises verses not in the hope of winning a prize but because he is eager to learn more about Jesus.

One of the most active prison ministries in the Philippines takes place in New Bilibid Prison, in Muntinlupa City. Here, God’s Word is shared with the prisoners by at least 40 different churches and organisations. Among them is the Bible Society, which in September supplied 1,900 Pangako Bibles for distribution to prisoners in the maximum security section, including some serving life sentences. For prisoners who spend their days surrounded by barbed wire, not even allowed outside their cell block for exercise, receiving a Bible was a clear reminder that they have not been abandoned by God.