Where Grace Meets Guilt: A Story of Prison Ministry

My journey in prison ministry began while I was appointed to the Imbali Corps in the Mid KwaZulu-Natal Division. It wasn’t something I had initially sought out, but rather, it was a calling that found me. I quickly realized that the Lord had a plan for me within the prison walls, a plan that would forever change my perspective on humanity and God’s grace.

When I first stepped into the local prison, I was overwhelmed and often deeply burdened by the stories I heard. These were men who had committed terrible crimes. Some were hardened criminals, their faces etched with the pain and bitterness of years spent in harsh environments. Yet, as I sat with them, listened to their stories, and prayed with them, something remarkable began to happen. My heart was stirred, not just with pity, but with a deep sense of understanding and empathy. I began to see them not as society sees them, but through the compassionate eyes of Christ.

the tough exteriors often housed souls longing for redemption

The more time I spent with these men, the more I realized that many of them were victims of their own circumstances. Born into poverty, raised in broken homes, surrounded by violence and hopelessness, they often felt they had no other choice but to turn to crime. This doesn’t excuse their actions, but it does help to explain them.  In engaging with these men, I discovered that beneath the tough exteriors often housed souls longing for redemption, forgiveness, and a chance to start over. A few had never before heard the message of God’s love and grace. Others had grown up in the church but had strayed far from the path. Almost all of them, however, were searching for something greater than themselves, something that could offer them hope in the darkest of places.

Leading victim-offender dialogue in prison has become one of the most meaningful aspects of prison ministry. As a mediator in these deeply emotional sessions, I have witnessed moments of intense vulnerability and healing. These dialogues, which only take place after the offender has served at least half of their sentence, offer a unique opportunity for the perpetrator to answer the burning questions that have haunted the victim or the victim’s family. In these sessions, offenders have the chance to explain why they did what they did, offering insight that can sometimes bring a sense of closure to those who have suffered. For many victims and their families, this process is not about forgiveness but about understanding and finding peace in the aftermath of trauma.

When I was later appointed to Johannesburg City Corps, I sought out the local prison as soon as I could. The environment was different, the faces were new, but the stories were much the same. Again, I found myself drawn to the ministry, moved by a deep desire to offer these men the hope and healing that only Christ can provide. The more I engaged with them, the more I felt that this ministry wasn’t just a duty; it was a calling.

yet they too can find freedom in Christ.

Even now, while serving at Territorial Headquarters, I continue to visit the prison every month. It is a ministry that has become an integral part of my life and my walk with the Lord. I have had the privilege of leading some of these men to Christ, witnessing the transformation that takes place when a hardened heart softens under the weight of God’s love. I have walked alongside others as they struggle to reconcile their past actions with their desire for a better future. Some have the hope of a release date, a chance to start anew on the outside. Others know they will spend the rest of their days behind bars, yet they too can find freedom in Christ.

What I have learned through this ministry is that we must see people not for what they have done, but for who they are in the eyes of God. Each person is made in His image, each one is loved by Him, and each one is capable of experiencing redemption. It is easy to judge, to condemn, to write off those who have fallen so far. But that is not our calling as followers of Christ. We are called to love, to reach out, and to bring the light of the Gospel into even the darkest places.

I would encourage anyone who feels the stirring of the Holy Spirit to seek out opportunities to minister in prisons. It is a harvest field ripe with souls who are hungry for hope, for love, and for a second chance. The work is challenging, and at times heartbreaking, but it is also incredibly rewarding. To see a life transformed by the power of Christ is to witness a miracle, and that is something worth every moment spent behind prison walls.