“Isn’t it dangerous?” Bringing the gospel to young offenders in Brazil
Union Graduate Paula Harris shares her experiences of bringing the gospel to young offenders in the north of Brazil.
“Isn’t it dangerous?”
This was the reaction of my aunt when I told her about my new ministry in the north of Brazil back in 2016. But I had taken to the work straight away after a number of years working with kids on the streets of Belém, so to be honest, never really thought about it being dangerous. Be it prison or streets, the youngsters often had similar backgrounds.
Each day I and a colleague visited up to three of the 11 prisons just outside Belém; 3 girls' prisons and the rest for boys, all aged between 13 to 21. Each prison had a different atmosphere, some quite pleasant but others filthy, smelly and claustrophobic, with up to five in a cell.
The crimes were the same in each prison - mainly assault (robbery, usually with a weapon) on the street or in a home, but many had murdered or raped. I have known a boy of 13 who was in for raping and murdering his young niece. And even within the world of crime, there were the ‘unacceptable crimes’ such as rape, murdering your mother or being homosexual, which means these individuals are separated for their own protection. We evangelised these youngsters. And I loved it!
Paula Harris
The Challenges
Strangely enough, the main challenge was not the danger of being attacked, or even hostility, though obviously some kids were hard, proud and loved their life of crime, and didn’t want to talk about God. But for the most part they respected us and loved spending time with us.
One great challenge was religiosity. Most of the youngsters had contact with some type of church. They knew Christian songs and would even tell inmates in other cells to be quiet when we were speaking with them. But most had mixed up beliefs, including salvation by works, while at the same time seeing God as a Father Christmas type figure who is there to give them what they want – some even asked God to bless their assaults.
However, many did realise they were sinful but didn’t realise the offensiveness of their sin before a holy God. Another challenge was other ‘Christian’ groups who also had contact with these youngsters and often taught what is not biblical.
Most had mixed up beliefs, including salvation by works, while at the same time seeing God as a Father Christmas type figure who is there to give them what they want – some even asked God to bless their assaults.
More positively, though a constant challenge, was the follow-up of Christian youngsters after their release, as many were from other cities far from Belém. Unfortunately, some did revert to their old way of life and were even killed because of it.
Prison ministry in Brazil
The Blessings
For me personally, it was an immense privilege to speak to up to 40 young offenders a week and tell them of a Person who transforms the lives of all who come to him in repentance and faith. I often got to see the same youngsters each week so developed many relationships of trust where some, particularly the girls, really opened up about their lives and feelings.
For me personally, it was an immense privilege to speak to up to 40 young offenders a week and tell them of a Person who transforms the lives of all who come to him in repentance and faith.
The greatest joy of all is knowing that some believed and are still walking with the Lord. What a blessing for me to have been a part of the salvation and/or discipleship of many youngsters and to have seen how the Lord worked in their lives in the midst of temptations and trials.
Paula opens the Bible with young people
How exciting to be able to put so many valuable aspects of my training at WEST, now Union, into practice, including listening skills, teaching on the person of Christ and the interpretation and teaching of Scripture.
Even now after leaving Brazil, I still have contact with some of these youngsters and can continue to encourage them. And how wonderful to think that though I will probably never see them on this earth again, they will be in glory, praising God with me.
So, was this work dangerous? At times yes. But not everyone has access to these broken lives and how precious to have gained their confidence, to have taught and to have prayed with these brothers and sisters in Christ whose lives are being used for His glory.
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