San Diego Ministries in Action

1200 BLANKETS HEAD TO AMERICAN INMATES IN MEXICAN PRISONS

Source: Christian Newswire

Missions on the Edge (MOTE) partnering with Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church in San Diego, California, delivered 1200 warm blankets to be distributed among American Christian inmates in Tijuana, Tecate, and Ensenada Mexican prisons. The blankets, accompanied with a New Testament Bible, are designated for Christian church members within the prison. However, to receive a blanket, the inmate must agree to use it as a tool to reach out to a non-believer and give it away. Pastor David Walden, known as “Chappy Dave,” president of MOTE and lead pastor of Iglesia Cristiano Americano Church in La Mesa Prison located in Tijuana says, “To give something as valuable as a new warm blanket in these prisons where they have absolutely nothing is a big deal.” The inmates distributing the blankets will be learning and acting upon the biblical truth that it is better to give than to receive; and they will be reaching out to 1200 inmates who desperately need Jesus. “It is our prayer that these blankets will double the church attendance in these three prisons and that thousands of souls will be won for Christ,” says Chappy Dave.

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La Mesa Prison Ministry
While visiting a Tijuana orphanage in 1995, Chappy learned that there was no pastoral care being provided for American inmates in La Mesa Prison. Trusting God and his walk by faith, Chappy opened the doors to one of the darkest prisons known. Now, seven years later, hundreds of American prisoners have been ministered to, the Word of God preached, many saved, fed, clothed, connections with families, and medical attention has been provided.

Hundreds of Americans are incarcerated in Mexico's prisons in a near hopeless situation. With limited access to legal counsel, these inmates live a life of sickness, hopelessness, and constant fear. Inmates ages range from 16 to 85 years old. Their crimes range from minor infractions to very violent, traffic violations and partying, innocent Rx purchases to trafficking drugs to murder! Long term sentences are common under Napoleonic Law, where you are guilty until you can prove your self innocent!

When we began ministering at La Mesa prison the prisoners only received soup twice a day, inmates had to pay for everything, including a place to sleep, clothes, medical treatment, adequate food and water, showers, and "reasonable toilet facilities." The desperation inside this prison forced many of the inmates to turn to illegal behavior, including drugs, extortion, and prostitution to support their basic needs.

MOTE began our ministry every week with a prayer walk around the prison walls, ten years later, and consistent prayer walks, has transformed this prison into what Mexico now calls it model prison. The video link above will show you what we began with. Look soon to see our new video how the active power of prayer has transformed the prison and the prisoners.

MOTE ministers to these inmates weekly by providing hope through the Gospel, Bibles, Bible Studies, food, clothes, and a link to their families. Weekly services and daily devotionals are provided to scores of English and Spanish speaking inmates.

SDCC has equipped the inmate believers to carry the Gospel to other parts of the prison by conducting Bible studies, teaching English classes and providing children's ministry programs to more than 150 children living inside the prison.