IPCA AFRICA NEWSLETTER Edition n 008/034, April - June 2017 INTERNATIONAL PRISON CHAPLAINS' ASSOCIATION I P C A WORLDWIDE AFRICA REGION Organization in special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council since 2014 Rev. Jean-Didier MBOYO (Representative & Chairperson) 5, Avenue Maniema, Commune de Lubumbashi, Ville de Lubumbashi, DRC Telephones : + (243) 997 037 513, Email : jdidiermboyo@gmail.com Website: www.ipcaworldwide.org DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO WELCOME NOTE Dear friends, We wish you all good reading of the International Prison Chaplains Association Africa Region Newsletter. Welcome to our second newsletter of the year from a series of 4. We are publishing this newsletter four times a year to allow us receiving updated information from you; to publish and to share it with all the Chaplains in Africa believing that it may encourage all of them as far as some are working in very difficult condition. COMMUNICATION To allow us to publish what you are doing and to connect you with one another, we beseech you to send us your news at the latest on June 30 th, 2017 for the next newsletter. Telling our Story IPCA AFRICA REGION Our Association has members in 34 countries in Africa and offices in 21 countries. We mention below some of those countries where IPCA is represented: Democratic Republic of Congo, South African Republic, Republic of Mali, Republic of Congo Brazzaville, Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, Burundi, Togo, Tanzania, Cameroon, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Zambia, Ethiopia, Liberia, Kenya, Botswana, Guinea Conakry, Madagascar, Gambia and recently Burkina Faso. We would like to encourage the African countries who are ready to establish an IPCA national office to do it or to persevere, and we are also exhorting all African countries where IPCA does not hold an office to be united in a committee for the Glory of our Lord and the IPCA success depends on this.
NEWS We want just to let you know that August 20 to 25, 2017, will be the period of the global day of prayer for International prison Chaplains Association Worldwide, so be prepared to organize some events in your areas. UN SIDE-EVENT During FIF Y-FI S SSION OF COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL D V LOPM N FROM 1 O 10 F BRUARY 2017 under the main theme: STRATEGIES FOR THE ERADICATION OF POVERTY TO ACHIEVE DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL The Permanent Mission of Denmark to the United Nations, The International Prison Chaplains Association, (IPCA-Worldwide) and The Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants (CURE- International) organized a sideevent under the title: A Human Dignity and Faith Perspective on the Eradication of Poverty for the Incarcerated Population of the World. On Tuesday, 7 February 207, conference room CR5, His Excellence Mr. Ib PETERSEN, the Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Denmark to United Nations; Reverend Jean- Didier MBOYO, Vice-President of the International Prison Chaplains Association (IPCA/Worldwide), Chairperson of the IPCA Team to United Nations; Charles SULLIVAN, President of Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants made the welcoming remarks and defined the reason and choice of the title of the sideevent to the participants. Reverend Hans HALLUNDBAEK, Main IPCA and CURE Representative to United Nations was the moderator of the sideevent. We had six panel presenters followed by questions and answers: Dr. Robert McCRIE, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York, USA. The increasing number of incarceration people in the World (in the USA murder is the crime main point and the recidivism rate is higher). Dr. Baz DREISINGER, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York, USA; Author of Incarceration Nations. Dr. Anita LIGHTBURN, Director, Beck Institute on Religion and Poverty, Fordham University; the faith Community is the provision for those coming back home. We need to be together to succeed in this journey. Marta NELSON, Executive Director, NYS Council on Community Re-Entry and Reintegration; the housing could be the good solution for reintegration. Rev. Dr. Jill SCHAEFFER, Professor of Ethics, New York Theological Seminary; The transformation of the creature to human being. Incarceration is a form of torture. Katherine VOCKINS, Executive Director, Rehabilitation through the Arts. To e continued
The continuation and end Rev. Petero SABUNE, Director of Reentry, New York State Department of Corrections; Director, New York Theological Seminary, Master s Program at Sing-Sing. for this population, while in prison, can significantly reduce their return rate to prison. This reduced recidivism rate is especially successful in cases where Returning Citizens are exposed to faith-based organizations which provide guidance and support for their Reentry efforts. A model of this nature has been in practice for over twenty years 3 in Sing-Sing prison. While the national average of recidivism in the United States is about 50%, the recidivism rate of those who have participated in the Sing-Sing model is less than 5%. With these documented results, this is one example of how it is possible to break the cycle of poverty prison poverty prison poverty prison. The International Prison Chaplains Association (IPCA/Worldwide) and Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants (CURE) hosted a panel discussion on the direct correlation between poverty and those who comprise the prison population. We have highlighted the fact that in most countries, the prison population is largely representative of the lowest economic strata within their respective countries. Rehabilitation and Reentry Efforts Those who were invited to be on the panel are leaders in this field with practical experience within the American system. They addressed various aspects of the aforementioned approaches ranging from artistic, vocational and academic exposure while in prison; to job skill training, interview techniques, and financial planning to improve their opportunities of success. To God be all glory!!! Rev Hans HALLUNDBAEK, IPCA/UN-Team/New-York Main Representative The Katanga/DRCongo IPCA Team, visited Kipushi prison in Haut-Katanga province. The main purpose of the visit was the grant of agriculture tools and to find the way to help the treatment of the irregulars inmates files. The chaplaincy resolved to get in touch with the local authorities in charge of prisons to get their support in accomplishing this task. The team is organizing itself to support the provincial government about the restauration of inmates by awarding local churches, local enterprises as well as the persons of good will. Below is the list of the tools granted to Kipushi prison by IPCA/Katanga/DRCongo team: - 10 boots - 10 gloves - 5 flat-bladed garden tool - 2 Watering cans - Seeds of : - Cauliflower - Cabbage - Tomatoes - Onions - Fertilizer They added according to the situation on the ground, one container of 1000 anti-malaria tablets. Reverend Constance KASILA, IPCA/Katanga/DRCongo Director
Prison ministry in Cameroon is waxing on strength and perfection. The Presbyterian church in Cameroon is very active in most of the prisons in the country. At the New Bell Prison, the church is constructing a new chapel for praise and worship to our God from inmates, correctional personnel and the chaplains. Presently the chaplaincy is using a general chapel and it sometimes worships a little bit in an uneasy way as there is a lot of groups which come for worship, one group has to hurry up and leave place for the other to come in. One thing, in the prison, the programs are now distorted because of the construction which is going on by the government team. The prison was on fire and lot of things were destroyed. Rev. BAH Pius, IPCA /Cameroon Telling our Story
The International Prison Chaplains Association is represented in Liberia by the Ministry of Good Samaritan Fellowship International working with prisoners in Liberia at this point of time as the only prison ministry in the country. But, despite all the situation in the country the team still proclaiming Restorative Justice and the Godly ability through His Word to restore Liberia and its prisoners to Freedom In the Word. In Liberia, the hope is that Restorative Justice will give a moral, social and spiritual support to the criminal Justice system. Restorative Justice is being opposed in the World System of justice by National and International policies and continues to unite all in the spiritual and physical status among peoples and Nations to keep our word safe and in peace. Hence, Ministering to prisons or prison ministries should never be out of the way but stand only on the Word of God to give light and life to all people, save them from the darkness to the light of our Lord Jesus-Christ. We, in Liberia are praying that we in Africa and the world should never be victims of polarizing prison Ministry but establishing it in the Word of God to give life to all people inside and outside prison. Rev Dorothy T SCHELLART, IPCA/Li eria Representative The IPCA team in Burundi visited all the Prisons which are working with the Ministry and all the visits were wonderful. As usually, below the list of the Prisons we visited : - Bururi, Rumonge, Bubanza, Muramvya, Muyinga, Ngozi male, Ngozi female, Ruyigi, Gitega and Rutana The team accomplished these prisons visit under the direction of the Holy Spirit. There is no permanent chaplain in Bururi Prison, because the chaplain who was in charge of that Prison doesn't live there anymore, he went to live in another area and we are praying the Lord our God to give us a new chaplain for the area. In the Ngozi Male prison, the team doesn t get the permission to ministry and we hope by the support of the Lord our God, the letter of permission will be given to the team. The visits they are talking about are about those made by the Burundi National Office of IPCA, nevertheless, there are teams which are doing their normal ministry to inmates regularly. Reports coming from different teams stated that: - In Ruyigi prison, the chaplain is doing his ministry twice a week. - In Rutana prison, the local chaplains spends all his time in prison in order to be closer to the inmates for helping them and hearing what they have to say about their problems. - In Rumonge and Gitega prisons, the chaplains organise their visits twice a week. - As for Muramvya prison, the chaplain of this prison, because of the distance between the prison and his house, he is ministering once a week and it is the same situation in Ngozi male and female prisons. - The chaplain of Muyinga prison is making a lot of effort to accomplish his task. The chaplaincy has organized meeting with the local pastors to remind them about the importance of supporting the work of God in prisons. After the meeting, which 13 pastors attended, the 13 leaders decided to visit Mpimba prison because this prison is in the neighbourhood of their churches and residences. Next time, the chaplaincy is planning to invite other pastors who are staying or have their local churches near prisons to help the fulfilling of the social work. Reverend MANIHANKUYe Jean Bosco, Chairman IPCA.Burundi
6 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; them that are illtreated, as being yourselves also in the body. 1. A prison chaplain said: despite all the situation in the country we are still proclaiming Restorative Justice and the Godly ability through His Word to restore Liberia and its prisoners to Freedom In the Word in Jesus name (Liberia) 2. A wife of a prisoner said: thank you for remembering us, and other prisoner s families. (Mbeya, Tanzania) 3. A prison chaplain said: I was waiting for this moment. (Republic of Ghana) 4. An inmate said: I am free from the word of God I have heard today, because I start thinking about my future and thinking how I am a blessing for the society. (Republic of Ghana) 5. A prison chaplain said: It is my call to serve as prison chaplain under IPCA umbrella. (Republic of Ghana) 6. A Warder said; It is good to work with IPCA and to be part of the mission. Because it is the mission of salvation. (Republic of Ghana) 7. A Warder said; it is good to work together with prison chaplains, because they have the heart for prisoners. (Democratic Republic of the Congo) 8. An ex-prisoner said after attending the Biblical school in Kasapa prison that she has discovered the love of God in prison and found a new family. (a Ugandan ex-prisoner, Democratic Republic of the Congo) 9. The prison enabled me to meet the Lord Jesus-Christ (Hebrews 13:3) in my life and to begin a new life. Now that I am outside the prison, I believe with God s help I will be a model citizen and my life will be a testimony for the glory of the Lord. The chaplaincy of prison remains of a good memory for me because through its work I have met my Lord, thank you Lord! (Democratic Republic of the Congo) 10.I arrived at the prison with my two swollen feet. In spite of the efforts of my parents to treat me when I was still outside, I could not be healed. One day after having listened to the Gospel message, I decided to give my life to Jesus and when they prayed for me and the same night for the first time, I could sleep. The following day, my feet became normal again. When I leave this prison I will testify about the wonders of our Eternal God, although all my family members are idolaters. Jesus is so real that I cannot prevent myself from speaking about him.
1. For Burundi to continue the program of gathering pastors for the sake of prisoners. 2. That the Lord open doors for the IPCA/KATANGA/DRCongo team to the local authorities 3. The completion of the construction of the new chapel in one of the prison in Cameroon 4. God grant the Mbeya Team, Tanzania with sugar, soap and toothpaste for inmates. 5. God grant IPCA Burundi with a computer and a printer and protect all chaplaincies offices around the world against robbery. 6. That the Lord our God grant the Burundi chaplaincy with the permanent permission for visits in prisons. 7. God provisions for Mbeya team to get books for Bible studies 8. Implementation of IPCA in Africa where it is not. 9. The raising of financial support for the chaplaincy in Tanzania. 10. Peace, safety and stability in Burundi Telling our Story!!! Raconter notre Histoire!!! We return thanks to God : 1. For the success of the first meeting between IPCA/Burundi and pastors about supporting prison ministry. 2. For the grant IPCA/KATANGA/DRCongo as given to Kipushi prison. 3. For the work IPCA/Liberia is doing in the very difficult conditions. 4. For the ongoing rehabilitation of the prison which was under fire in Cameroon. 5. For the great Christmas and New Year celebration with inmates in James Camp and Akuse prison in Ghana. 6. For the Success of the Global day of prayer for prison ministry. 7. For the success that the Lord has granted the Inauguration of IPCA Ghana 8. For comfort the Lord has granted the family of our dear Sister Florence Chisanga Nkonkomalimba 9. For the word of God which is preached in Burkina Faso s prisons 10. For the activities that the chaplain of Ruyigi juvenile prison in Burundi started To God alone be all glory! 7
The bonds of the prison could not submerge the love of God in our hearts. The love of God in our hearts is as a devouring fire which dissolves the bonds and releases the way to announce the Good News of Salvation from our God by the Lord Jesus-Christ under the power of the Holy Spirit. We lead the prisoners to hope and to live waiting for the real dawn in their life, dawn of their spiritual safety and the regeneration of their lives by the advent of Christ and also dawn of their physical release from the prison bonds, fruit of their hope and faith as Christians. Reverend Jean-Didier MBOYO, Chairperson ANNOUNCEMENTS 1. APAI organises the INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF PAROLING AUTHORITIES. In Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada from 23-26 April 2017. There will be a direct translation from English/French and French/English. 2. Justice Reflections brochures are now available in French, you can request them by contacting the editor at : info@justicereflections.co.uk or justicereflections@hotmail.com EDITORS NOTE If this Newsletter interested you and you wish to receive it regularly, please take care to write to us in the following email address : jdidiermboyo@gmail.com or to the following postal address : 5, Avenue Maniema, Commune de Lubumbashi, Ville de Lubumbashi, République Démocratique du Congo or phone us at, +(243) 997 037 513, +(243) 815 083 030 The subscription is free. To God Alone Be all Glory!!! (2 Corinthians 8: 8-14) but to follow a rule of equality: in the circumstance your superfluity presents will provide for their needs, so that their superfluity provides also for yours, so that there is equality, 1. Training in Kenya about Restorative Justice. (Ref. PIPCA.AR/006) 2. Training in Burundi theme: Caring for ex-offenders. (Ref. PIPCA/AR/005) 3. Training chaplains in Mbeya, Tanzania. (Ref. PIPCA/AR/004) 4. Bibles for Bible schools in prison, Mbeya, Tanzania (Ref. PIPCA/AR/003) 5. Motorbike for the chaplaincy of Mbeya, Tanzania (Ref. PIPCA/AR/002) 6. The implementation of IPCA in the countries where it is not (PIPCA/AF001) To support one of these projects, contact IPCA Worldwide for procedure or directly IPCA Africa by giving the reference number of the project, God bless you for the support! 8