God’s Word has ‘incredible’ impact
on prisoners in New Zealand

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — “The impact the Word of God has on inmates is incredible,” reports the Rev Don Wards, one of the chaplains through whom the Bible Society in New Zealand brings the Scriptures to the inmates of the country’s 20 prisons. In total, the Society supplies around 2,000 Bibles a year to prison chaplains for distribution to interested prisoners. Most of these Bibles are various English versions, but speakers of Maori and other languages are also catered for.

Powerless

Waikeria Prison, where Mr Wards works, is the largest in the country, holding almost 1,000 prisoners. Correspondingly, it also receives the largest number of Bibles from the Bible Society. When Mr Wards began his prison ministry 34 years ago, he worked with prisoners who at least knew about the Bible, even if they did not really understand it. Nowadays it is quite common for prisoners to not even have heard of the Bible. This does not mean, though, that they do not come to value it.

“In prison a person is basically powerless,” he explains. “They do not have the freedom to go anywhere, so when there is an opportunity to have something from outside, like spiritual support from the chaplain or a Bible, they value it.”
The way in which prisoners value the Bible is reflected, Mr Wards believes, in how they treat it. In all his time as a prison chaplain, he says, he has seen no more than six Bibles defaced and has never witnessed prisoners using the pages for making cigarettes.

Privilege

“The vast majority of prisoners know why they are here and accept that. On the other hand, there is a lot of pain and hurt. When something happens in their family, they are bereaved. Just as we would, they start to say, ‘I need some help here’. The Word of God is very helpful in these situations.

“At Waikeria we have many inmates who are doing some form of Bible study by correspondence. I meet regularly with one who is studying for a diploma. We pray together and I listen to him talk about his journey. To be his mentor is an awesome privilege.” (WR 387/7 - 8/9.04)