Prison Ministry Opens Center in Kenya
Crossroad Bible Institute, approved for support by the Christian Reformed Church in North America synod, has opened another international distribution center, this one in Kenya.
This is CBI's fourth center in Africa. It also has centers in many other places worldwide.
In Kenya, as in many African countries, prisons are dirty, overcrowded, plagued by disease and lacking adequate health care. Due to these factors, a 2008 report stated, nearly 50 prisoners die monthly. Mothers often raise their babies or young children in these dangerous conditions.
The CBI program will begin operation in the Naivasha Prison, a tightly regulated facility with 3,000 inmates, and four other prisons. Kenya has approximately 50,000 people behind bars.
The director of CBI Kenya is Jefferson Gathu, who also heads Cistern Materials Translation and Publishing Center, an organization that provides Christian literature for native tribes of Kenya and other parts of Africa.
As in other developing nations, CBI Instructors not only hand-deliver the Bible-study lessons and letters of discipleship to the students in prison but also provide inmates with basic necessities like food, medical supplies, blankets, soap and toilet paper. Gathu also heads efforts to organize medical camps, construct prison libraries and aid in re-entry of prisoners into society.
Gathu is assisted by Samuel Chege, who said he appreciates the CBI discipleship program, explaining, "Imprisoned people have heavy burdens of loneliness, guilt, bitterness, depression or confusion. We want inmates to know that they are capable, appreciated and doing a good job."
CBI’s international program director, Cynthia Williams, recently attended the official CBI Kenya grand opening. Among the 120 guests were senior prison officials and chaplains, bishops, pastors and others.
"We are grateful for the shared vision of our Kenyan brothers and sisters and enthusiastic about the opportunity to work with them to serve God's people in prison and re-entering society in their home country," CBI President David Schuringa remarks.
Crossroad Bible Institute's prison ministry has operated for 26 years. With 40,000 students, CBI now has 12 international distribution centers on six continents and several openings pending. Visit CBI for more information. CBI’s program is provided at no cost to prisoners and their families.
