“Youth Center of Excellence”
Groenpunt Correctional Services
Republic of South Africa
February 22, 2012
“My hope and prayer is that our program today will be used by God so that many of you will accept Jesus as your Savior and that you will follow Him as you complete your time here and as you one day return to your communities.”
These were not the words of one of the four URCSA pastors or the 12 members of the Maranatha Congregation accompanying Rev. Mike Betha on this occasion; these were the words of Mr. M.D. Mkwanazi, Commissioner of the massive Groenpunt (“Greenpoint”) Prison complex where some 5,000 adult and youth offenders are incarcerated. He spoke these words to about 250 of the prisoners of the “Youth Center of Excellence” where these youthful offenders, aged 17-25 years, are held.
Our Western focus on separation of church and state is not an issue in South Africa. So this day, not only the Commissioner, youth facility manager, Mrs. P.M. Mofya, four of the URCSA pastors present, a number of youth offenders, and even a guy named “Wandel”
from a church named North Point in Poulsbo, America, presented the gospel to these young prisoners. Nearly all offenders were present even though attendance was optional. The messages were interspersed with inmate performances of music, dance, poetry, and comedy – most all with a Christian focus.
It is clear Pastor Mike has endeared himself to inmates and prison management alike. He visits weekly as a chaplain (unpaid) and occasionally conducts special events like the one we experienced.
After lunch provided by the prison, a trainee “offender” journalist interviewed the five of us who had spoken and pleaded that we return again as soon as we can.
This day was another remarkable experience for us in so many ways, but especially the amazing impact of Pastor Mike and his Maranatha Congregation, and the enormity of the physical and spiritual hunger of a desperately hurting majority population in South Africa.
On reflection, our thoughts turned to the words of John 4:35, “I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields – they are ripe for the harvest.”