Over the past few months, God has continued to open remarkable doors for The Message South Africa to share the hope of the Gospel within local prisons. These opportunities have allowed us to reach young men who are often forgotten by society, yet deeply loved by God, bringing a message of hope, purpose, and the possibility of a transformed future.
One of these opportunities came through our partnership with the Hillsong Prison Ministry at Pollsmoor Prison. Joining the Hillsong team, alongside artists Smasher the Greatest and Alistair Noah, Shaun had the privilege of sharing a message of hope and salvation during a Sunday service attended by 121 young men. What followed was nothing short of extraordinary. As an invitation was given to respond to the Gospel, 119 young men made decisions to follow Jesus. While these moments are powerful, what excites us even more is what happens next. Through Hillsong’s faithful and ongoing prison ministry, these young men are now being discipled, encouraged in their faith, and connected into a local church community within the prison.
Our involvement at Drakenstein Prison has also continued to grow through the Job Journey programme. Led by MEP Junior Trainer Sinawo, who is herself a former beneficiary of the programme, Job Journey combines practical job readiness training with mentoring and personal development to help participants prepare for life after release. Twenty-one young men enrolled in the course, with seventeen successfully graduating. During the opening session, Shaun shared the Gospel and many participants responded to the invitation to begin a relationship with Jesus. That initial response has since been followed by ongoing discipleship, mentoring, and practical skills development as the team continues to invest in their growth.
These experiences are a powerful reminder that God is at work in every place and every community, including behind prison walls. We are continually inspired by the openness and hunger we encounter among these young men as they begin to discover their identity in Christ, develop practical life skills, and imagine new possibilities for themselves, their families, and their futures.
It is a privilege to walk alongside them on that journey, trusting that the seeds planted today will bear fruit for years to come. Please continue to pray for the Prisons & Enterprise team and these young men.
