After many months of in-prison Bible studies, Hakim was ready to accept Jesus as his Lord.  Soon after this, he asked to be baptised. This was not automatic and straightforward like in a regular, local church, and it took 2 months to arrange. Eventually baptism day arrived.

No formal stone, bronze, tiled, or carved wooden font was present. No! The baptismal font was a wheelie bin! This is probably not the start of a new church trend.

Other Christian detainees had organised music and printed copies of the order of service for the occasion, and Pastor Bruce gave a powerful message and personal testimony which resonated with many attendees, including officers who were on duty.

Pastor Bruce recalls:

“Hakim told me that Jesus appeared to him very clearly in a dream. The Prison Fellowship volunteers had spent a lot of time with him and he was really enjoying studying the Bible. Other detainees had reacted badly to Hakim’s decision to follow Jesus, so when I was baptising him I told him that he was making a public declaration that he was now a disciple of Jesus and that life could get more difficult for him. I asked him if he was willing for this to happen, to which he replied with a resounding “Yes!” Another detainee who witnessed the baptism subsequently made a commitment to Christ that day.”

After this very blessed and exciting service a morning tea was served and attendees mingled, chatting with Pastor Bruce and the Prison Fellowship volunteers – another opportunity to develop and cement positive relationships with those in detention.

*Name has been changed

Lorraine – Detention Centre Ministry team member