I have read the Bible stories but I have never encounter one until now. A story of how a man was sent to prison by God!
Rev. Charles Mulemena just finished up his seminary degree at a local college then his world was rocked. One day he was alone in the word of God, praying, writing in his journal, and seeking God when a policeman found him. The policeman meant no harm at all but just wanted to show Charles a drug bust that was happening a block over. Once at the scene the Drug Authority took over the scene and hauled Charles off along with 3 other men that were doing the drugs.
Once at the jail, Charles and the 3 men were put in a cell. Not a typical American cell, but instead a dark sewage 10’by10’ room with at least 40 other captives. The 3 men were literally thrown in by the police….but they saw something different in Charles. They saw a man of God and couldn’t believe he was in this situation. One guard recognized him as a local pastor and made provision in the cell to keep Charles protect. He said it was a hard time to show the joy of the Lord because at the time he was angry at God for putting him in this place. God’s favor shined through and began a to work in Charles life.
He spent about a week in jail before going to court and eventually to prison. When checking into prison, the guard couldn’t believe it either that Charles was in this place. Charles said it was God’s will and has God’s provision. He said it was night time so all the prisoners were laying on the ground on their side stacked in extremely tight. There wasn’t even enough room for someone to lay on your back. God provided for Charles again and the guard gave him not one but TWO mattresses to sleep on.
It all began there, Charles started prison ministry!
Over the next 4 months Charles preached the Gospel, sometimes 6-7 times a day. He met with the worst of the worst criminals and loved on them like Christ loves him. Through God’s plan he allowed Charles to see people as they truly are and not what society says they are.
Before Charles was in prison, he worked at New Life Center, a ministry of the United Methodist Church. Once out he started a prison ministry called New Life Prison Ministry. Now he partners with other churches to go and serve at the prison. They provide Bibles, food, clothes, and other necessities to prisoners. Overall they love on people that society has cast out. Charles vision is to develop a 200 acre piece of land near the prison that Lord has provided and transform it into a halfway house for prisoners. Once they are free, a place for them to live, to learn a craft, to learn the Gospel more, and to help integrate them back in society.
Charles was telling us that some of his “best” most passionate people that he has disciple are in prison. Their love, passion, and dependence on God is unreal.
Check out Charles’s story here to learn more http://www.newlifezambia.com/Charles_Prison_Story.html
And here is a link to New Life Center http://www.newlifezambia.com/Home.html
