Launching CLI’s outreach in the Philippines has been nothing short of a divine “shove” from behind to move. Through a partnership with a missions agency, CLI made contact with a local Filipino pastor named Jonnel Suyat. Among his church, there was a former inmate who was burdened about reaching the men and women in the nearby jails. He had been inside. He knew the despondency and hopelessness that one feels behind bars. His burden had been placed on him by God, and many in the church shared the burden as well. The church was looking for the right tools and program in order to be effective in their new outreach. That’s when God yoked our ministries together.
After receiving permission to enter a local jail, members of the church presented the gospel at each cell and led 156 men to receive Jesus as their Savior! This dedicated group of Filipino Christians saw what God did that day and wondered if it would work in other jails as well. Before they knew it, they were holding services and teaching the CLI Bible study lessons in 12 jails. Nearly 700 men and women in these jails had come to know Jesus and were now being discipled. Lives were being changed by the power of God’s word.
Catherine, a young lady in the women’s jail, accepted Christ on the first visit from the CLI Team. As she began to grow in her new-found faith, she wrote:
“Dear CLI Prison Alliance, first of all I want to thank you for bringing Jesus Christ into our lives, hearts, spirits and souls. Thank you for finding us here in prison and giving us courage. I have learned how to read the Bible and appreciate what I have. I now know that God loves us so much that he gave His only Son to us.”
Catherine has since been released from jail and desires to join the prison ministry team to continue the work of discipling other inmates.
Ramon was an addict and by his own admission had many different vices that landed him in jail. Awaiting his trial, he heard the good news of the gospel and repented to be saved. The next week, when the ministry team arrived to teach the discipleship lesson, Ramon presented them with letters he had written for his family members. He wanted to make sure he had the message of salvation clearly written so that when they visited him, he could show them how they, too, could know the saving power of Jesus.
As word spread of the work God was doing in those local jails, other pastors from nearby provinces desired to see how they could reach into their jails as well. An alliance within the Philippines was beginning to form. Pastor Jonnel has hosted meetings for interested pastors to meet with him for a one-day conference, where he could cast the vision of CLI. We are excited to continue working with our partners in the Philippines to see more inmates reached for Christ!
