For over eight years, the Oaxaca Prison Ministry has been building Christian Community inside the Tehuantepec Prison in Oaxaca, in southern Mexico. In the spirit of the early church, we have organized the community around a “Servants’ Council” made up of inmates each of whom takes responsibility for a specific area of ministry: worship, music, cultural activities, fellowship, legal assistance, health, children’s activities, etc. Each year on Pentecost a new Council is elected.
Through this organization we are developing leadership, promoting self-esteem and community service. When they leave the prison, former Servants’ Council members take valuable experience with them that they can put to work in service to their communities. Some people may ask, “Can anything good come out of a prison?” (People in Jesus’ day asked the same question regarding Nazareth.) We answer with a resounding “Yes!” These ex-inmates are a blessing to the world!
Un abrazo,
Paul Riek
P. S.: Please consider a contribution to help us move forward in service to the prison population. Please make your check out to The Tequio Foundation and mail the check to the Tequio Foundation, P.O. Box 31574, Walnut Creek, CA 94598. Don’t forget to write me and let me know of your contribution.
