Six years ago in a sprawling prison near Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic, God took CBSI behind bars to offer those living there freedom in Christ.
Chaplain David Walden of Ministry on the Edge and I worked in partnership with Dominican officials to bring CBSI to La Victoria Prison. Within the prison were 13 “cell churches.” These “cell churches” were formed as men congregated in various locations of the prison. Each of these has become a CBSI class—complete with inmate Teaching Leaders and Small Group Leaders.
During a trip to Santo Domingo last July, I met with the Teaching Leaders of these 13 CBSI classes. These men are shepherding approximately 1,660 inmates who love the Lord!
Results are remarkable. During the past six years more than 2,000 inmates have been engaged in CBSI, and in the past two years 400 of them, who had also completed character and job training, achieved early release. To date, none has returned!
Dominican Judge Rafael Baez was personally responsible for the early release of many of these 400 inmates. He has seen inmates transformed by God through the study of His Word in CBSI. He enthusiastically supports job training and character building. He sees CBSI as an important part of building inmate’s character.
Seeing inmates in regular Scripture study, Dominican authorities also notice behavior change. Inmates come to the Lord. They study the Word eagerly and with rigor. They get their lives going in the right direction. They step into CBSI leadership roles as Core Leaders and Teaching Leaders.
In one “cell church,” inmates are doing the CBSI study If You Will Pray with fervent hope of starting the 14th class. When God supplies His called leaders, it will be an English-speaking CBSI class—for U.S. citizens imprisoned in Dominican Republic.
Many government officials and observers of society have no way of knowing the Word’s potency to address wrongdoing until they see it happen. But God does. And as always, He is out front leading the way.
Chaplain David Walden of Ministry on the Edge and I worked in partnership with Dominican officials to bring CBSI to La Victoria Prison. Within the prison were 13 “cell churches.” These “cell churches” were formed as men congregated in various locations of the prison. Each of these has become a CBSI class—complete with inmate Teaching Leaders and Small Group Leaders.
During a trip to Santo Domingo last July, I met with the Teaching Leaders of these 13 CBSI classes. These men are shepherding approximately 1,660 inmates who love the Lord!
Results are remarkable. During the past six years more than 2,000 inmates have been engaged in CBSI, and in the past two years 400 of them, who had also completed character and job training, achieved early release. To date, none has returned!
Dominican Judge Rafael Baez was personally responsible for the early release of many of these 400 inmates. He has seen inmates transformed by God through the study of His Word in CBSI. He enthusiastically supports job training and character building. He sees CBSI as an important part of building inmate’s character.
Seeing inmates in regular Scripture study, Dominican authorities also notice behavior change. Inmates come to the Lord. They study the Word eagerly and with rigor. They get their lives going in the right direction. They step into CBSI leadership roles as Core Leaders and Teaching Leaders.
In one “cell church,” inmates are doing the CBSI study If You Will Pray with fervent hope of starting the 14th class. When God supplies His called leaders, it will be an English-speaking CBSI class—for U.S. citizens imprisoned in Dominican Republic.
Many government officials and observers of society have no way of knowing the Word’s potency to address wrongdoing until they see it happen. But God does. And as always, He is out front leading the way.