Inmates’ lives are changing through Samaritan’s Purse agriculture and sanitation training in prisons around Monrovia. God is at work.

William couldn’t remember a time, even before his arrest, when he had felt free. Now he languished in loneliness and guilt in an overcrowded Liberian prison. The crime, he said, was committed to protect his sister—at least that’s how he remembers it—but not even she would visit him.

Inmates in Liberia’s prison system are often responsible for maintaining the property and living quarters.

“My family has abandoned me,” he said, recalling the years since the trial and the years yet to go until he might see anyone again from his life outside. Yet a part of him understood that his own hands delivered him here “with all of the wicked things I have done.”

Until recently, he spent almost all of this time alone, with only his thoughts keeping him company.

“I’d wonder if God could ever forgive me or if I could ever be a different person,” he said.

He had no answer.

Helping Them Experience Freedom Behind Bars

Our teams met William this year through the Hope for a Brighter Future programme developed by Samaritan’s Purse Liberia to address food, water, and sanitation problems at the request of Liberia’s prison system.

Through water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) training and the teaching of agricultural skills and systems, the programme has helped inmates to improve the prison’s health and living conditions. They learned how to filter their own water and how to treat wastewater.

The training programmes we provide at the prison are launched with an outreach event that includes a Gospel presentation, live music, and a hot meal to enjoy.

They also developed the skills they needed to convert small plots of ground into fertile soil.

This programme opened up opportunities for a spiritual harvest.

“If we give them a water pump or ways to grow food, but we haven’t told them about Jesus Christ, then we have really given them nothing,” said Samaritan’s Purse Liberia programme Manager Love Gibson. “Of course we are here to help meet needs, but ultimately we want these prisoners to encounter love, forgiveness, and purpose that He offers them.”

Since the beginning of the programme, inmates have been openly wrestling with their sin and the haunting question of whether God’s forgiveness could extend to them. These are the questions that kept William awake and night and searching for distractions during the day.

Growing Toward a New Life in Christ

The programme is launched at each location with a Hope Concert that features musicians and preachers who encourage inmates and share with them the hope of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Everyone also shares a meal together. That launch event is followed by training opportunities over several weeks.

High-yield agricultural practices are among the many life-changing skills we provide inmates during training.

During training sessions, teams provide materials, supplies, and instruction in water, sanitation, and hygiene; livestock training to raise pigs for meat; high-yield gardening techniques; and even baking.

Each training visit provides one-on-one opportunities to minister to inmates and prison personnel, all of whom struggle to thrive within the vastly overcrowded facilities.

It was during these visits for a WASH training that William began to express what he knew was a lifelong need—to turn ownership of his life over to Jesus Christ. William finally admitted that the burden was too much. He prayed that day to receive Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour.

“I’ve been blaming God for what has happened to me,” William said. “When I was out there, I didn’t want to give my life to anyone. I was master of my life. I was aggressive and angry.”

The programme’s message changed William’s view of God and his purpose in life. His behaviour changed as his perspective was transformed by the Word of God. He even began to learn how to forgive his family for not visiting him in prison.

After receiving Jesus, prison authorities noticed the change that came over him and he was called on to serve in the prison kitchen. William used this opportunity to encourage other inmates who were plagued by the same kind of hopelessness that he had experienced.

“I thank God that I experienced Him behind bars,” he said. “With all my wickedness, God still loves me. Even if no one loves me, God loves me. I’m grateful that I have accepted Jesus Christ.”

Through mentorship and livelihoods training, our teams are giving inmates skills to improve their lives. They are also invited into a relationship with Jesus Christ. We praise God that many have come to faith.

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