This Christmas I had the wonderful honor of celebrating the birth of Christ with the inmates of Kitalya prison in Uganda. This was a most unique experience. The prison of just over 1,000 inmates hosts a large church of over 500 members. What’s more, this prison church is so unique because it is composed not only of inmates, but also guards, officers and wardens.
Jesus is taking over the prison!
This is not your typical church. In our first visit to the prison we experienced multiple gospel choirs singing; with inmates and guards singing side-by-side. There were even special performances by the wardens and officers of the prison. The power of the gospel has swept so powerfully through this prison that the officers actually have a much easier job because the many christian inmates don’t cause them any trouble and help create an atmosphere of hope within the prison walls.
The team on our first visit
9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 2 Timothy 2:9-10
This was my second time at a church service in this prison and both times I was moved by the beautiful believers within the prison walls who have lost their freedom as men and yet they can celebrate complete freedom in Christ Jesus; who has truly set the captive free. These men have such genuine faith and love, as they know how far they had fallen and thus they also know the reach of the blood of Christ to cover even the worst of sins.
Kitalya prison
There are so many powerful redemption stories captured in the hearts of these men of Kitalya prison. One story is that of a man who gave his life to Christ the first time we visited the prison and we later learned that he was in prison for murder because he had sacrificed a child to demons as a witch doctor. Indeed Christ’s blood covers every sin and there is no man too far fallen to reach for the redemptive power of the cross and receive His forgiveness.
Kingdom expansion!
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19
As we celebrated Christmas, I was humbled by the opportunity to preach to these passionate pursuers of the Prince of Peace! We exalted the Lord with much dancing and singing. The service lasted 5 hours. One of the highlights for me was watching a group of inmates dance before the Lord with a traditional tribal dance that was characterized by powerful drum rhythms on multiple types of drums simultaneously and men dancing barefoot in the dirt. With huge smiles and exuberant joy, they would dance before us stomping the ground with extreme force to the point where clouds of dust filled the air all around. It was such a powerful and beautiful experience that left me with goosebumps; knowing I was experiencing a rich piece of culture that likely goes back thousands of years!