Related Ministries

Prison Ministry in Bamako, Mali

For the last ten years, the prison has become one of the top priorities of the evangelical Christian authorities. This social ministry of the AGEMPEM is recognized by the Malian government as an institution of public utility. Twenty pastors (chaplains) from different Protestant church dominations work in this ministry all over Mali and meet once a year together for sharing and prayer. In Bamako, the group meets once a month for prayer and evaluation.

The main part of the work of this ministry consists in showing the love of Jesus Christ to prisoners by taking in charge their well being-material, physical, moral, spiritual and especially for their rehabilitation.

That’s why the team of Bamako—RDC refugee Anatole, pastor Isaka Koeta, docter Ibrahima Cisse, ex-prisoner Aya Doukoure and C&MA Missionary Carina—go and visit weekly different prisons. To bring moral, dietary (food), medical and clothing assistance and spiritual and emotional support where necessary. We find it very important to demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ through social, spiritual and material actions.

Here is one example of changed life:

Musa Keita, a prisoner serving a three-year term in the Kati prison came to the Lord in November 2003. He heard the gospel from lay-preacher Anatole Seke, who himself is a refugee from Congo but has chosen to minister in the prisons.

Two days after Musa’s conversion he was suddenly released from prison. Afterwards his comment was “That’s the hand of the God of the Christians.” He has returned twice to the prison to tell the other prisoners to give their hearts to Jesus who can set them truly free!

• Literacy
• Masonry
• Gardening
• Breeding
• Painting
• Bogolan (Malian clothes painting with mud)

Isaiah 55:9 says “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Several years ago people may have had thoughts like these—the work in Mali is finished, it’s time for the Church to be the Church and finish the job, Africa is reached and so on. However, over the last three and half years God has continually reminded us that the job is not finished here. Mali was not at the top of anyone’s priority list, candidates were searching for the more exciting and exotic places to go and serve God, not realizing that Mali is a place to do “extreme missions.” Why do I say “extreme missions?” Because Mali is a hot, dry, dusty land, filled with over 11 million people, most of whom have yet to be reached with the Gospel.

It may mean living in places that are difficult to reach—no access to electric or telephone. It will mean working among people who believe that animal sacrifices, charms, praying five times a day and doing good works are practical ways to work out what hope of eternal life they may earn.

The majority of evangelical visitors to Mali say, “This is an exciting time to work here!” Never has that statement been as true as now. Our field team is growing and we are sure that in partnership with Malian Christians, we will give everyone in this country a relevant opportunity to follow Christ.