The end of April 2024 marked my tenth month in detention at Makala Central Prison in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Each day passes, leaving the impression that I shall be free tomorrow. I do know the day I hope for will finally come, because I even have put my hope within the Master of times and circumstances. As he says in Matthew 25:31–46, he can also be detained with me here. When he is completed with detention, he’ll lead the option to my freedom. My hope is built on that rock.
I used to be arrested in a legally irregular process. During the time I used to be falsely accused of calling people in my Eastern DRC region to arms, I used to be on a video (which my lawyers have submitted) promoting the Nairobi Process’ call for a cease-fire. In fact, I used to be a part of that process and I even have long been dedicated to achieving peace and development.
After being shifted from prison to prison and at last to Makala, I joined an Assemblies of God chaplaincy and a team of ordained prisoners who minister here with the assistance of donations and resources that we’re in a position to receive.
Early on, I asked the committee about starting a literacy class within the prison as a consequence of the large number of people that don’t know find out how to read and write. The initiative caught the eye of authorities and plenty of individuals with a humane spirit.
About 100 people, men and ladies, girls and boys, at the moment are benefiting from this system, and over 50 have now learned to read, write, and calculate. One adult student said, “I never expected that I’d learn find out how to read and write in prison. Thank you for this initiative.” Many of people who haven’t had the chance to go to high school are from the Kinshasa region and grew up as kuluna (street children).
When someone in jail learns find out how to hold a pencil and reaches a stage of writing, reading, and calculating, I feel like singing to the Lord, the master of times and circumstances.
One child detainee asked the teacher, “Why can’t we have now this system run on daily basis? Learning is nice for us. It also helps me to stay busy.”
Another adult said, “Now I would like a Bible that I can read for myself.”
There are Bibles that we have now successfully distributed. They make an impact not only in Bible study groups but in addition on evangelism teams. I even have witnessed teams moving from cell to cell with Bibles, reading and sharing verses.
Besides the literacy classes, in April, we also initiated a skills training class on making soap, detergent, and disinfectant for 54 students. The teacher can also be a detainee. We are in a position to use these products to assist improve our own sanitary conditions.
Other initiatives include a tree planting project, a climate change course, and a category on making paint and pigment.
A program on the theology of labor, which I teach, has also prolonged outside of the prison. One of our detained students was released weeks ago and, surprisingly, secured a latest job in the federal government. He called me to request the syllabus, saying, “I need to make use of it to mobilize the provincial parliament members to learn and apply it.”
Another person said, “What I like about that is that you just don’t only teach about spiritual salvation; it also touches physical needs.”
I felt very much encouraged. There are so many things to discuss, as God never stops surprising us along with his “jokes.” He makes us smile.
On the chaplains’ committee, we confront problems to unravel every day, even when our own issues will not be yet resolved. There are those that lack means for basic needs akin to clothing, food, and drugs. I even have seen greater than a dozen individuals who needed money to resolve their legal cases. Once they were in a position to provide the cash, they were freed.
In particular, I remember how a family of 5, detained for over ten months, was released and went home after we donated the mandatory funds.
In one other example, the director of music here at our church in Makala sat in my little room and explained his financial problem. When an answer was found, he cried with joy and said, “I even have been singing to bless the church, and today I’m blessed too!”
Being a prisoner doesn’t make me less human. I proceed to dream, to be creative, and to be a one that can turn circumstances into opportunities. I’m made to positively impact my environment.
Grace has been mine; I even have nice roommates, which is a blessing—we share the whole lot, and that builds our faith, hope, and friendship.
Moreover, I pass time tending to my plant nursery within the room. I eat fruits and keep their seeds, which I put in plastic water bottles. This has also been an excellent way of procuring peace of mind.
As I tell my roommates and my theology of labor class, nature is our relative. My conversation with the environment dates way back to the Seventies with my small shamba (farm) of potatoes. The area still carries my name, “mukwa Lazaro” (at Lazare’s).
When I used to be arrested, my medicine was left behind. Later on, my medicine was brought and shown to me, but it surely was never given to me to make use of. Without that medicine, I even have still survived, although I experience many health issues with no appropriate medical attention. Through all these circumstances, God has been my healer and protector.
It is simple to be stressed with unbearable living conditions. I can think just like the apostle Paul, How come I minister to the needs of others, and yet my very own case is unresolved and my needs unmet? But my answer is already written:
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I’ll boast all of the more gladly about my weaknesses, in order that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Cor. 12:8–9)
I feel that the work of this ministry is firm, and that it’s now time to return home.
Lazare Sebitereko Rukundwa, an Assemblies of God member, founded Eben-Ezer University of Minembwe in South Kivu, DRC. He was a civil society delegate throughout the Inter-Congolese Peace Consultations in Nairobi. His family and the people of Minembwe await his release.
