Zimbabwe project welcomes ex-prisoners
From the article from the United Methodist Church News: Denford Muliliwana, a 33-year-old man released from jail after serving a six-year sentence, walked in. He wore rumpled, dark-green trousers and a white shirt with the top button undone. The eyes of the congregation were glued on him as it murmured the song of a returning prodigal son.
Elbows turned inward and shoulders shrugged, Muliliwana took one step at a time to the beat of the song. It took ages for him to walk down the aisle to the front. Even though he often looked down and closed his eyes with his hands, he could not stop the tears running down his cheeks.
The Rev. Archiford Muchingami, pastor of Seke Central United Methodist Church, stood to welcome him with a big smile and open arms. Muliliwana’s knees wobbled. He fell in front of the pastor who helped him up and hugged him. He sobbed on the pastor’s shoulder for a time and later was led to the pastor’s office.
After 15 minutes, he came out of the office dressed in an immaculate black suit, white cotton shirt, black-and-white tie and shiny black shoes. Hand in hand with the pastor, he walked to the front of the church.
Red-eyed, Muliliwana whimpered, “I sinned against Seke community especially Mrs. (Primrose) Chigodara and Mrs. (Mary) Mhungu. “I was hired as a security guard at the time when they were building their houses. I stole their building and electric material and sold them,” he continued.
Shivering, he cried for forgiveness. “I come to you as a prodigal son. Please forgive me.”
The two women whose materials had been stolen emerged from the congregation and gave him a big hug. In tears, they both confirmed it was true. “We trusted Denford, and he betrayed us,” one said. “Because God forgave us, who are we to hold it against Denford? We forgive him, too.”
Sounds of joy filled the church, arms flailed upward, voices echoed in varying tones and the congregation sang songs of celebration.
Peter Mandianike, coordinator of the Prison Fellowship, facilitated this service, which was part of the project to integrate prisoners back into society.
“Prisoners are given an opportunity to interact with various churches, and ,in the end, they make a choice of their own,” Mandianike said. “It is our joy that prisoners who are released never come back again.”
“Seke Central United Methodist Church, we are giving you Denford. You are to look after him as his parents, assist him to stand by his decision to be a true United Methodist, get him a place to stay, look after his welfare, get him a job and see to it that he gets married,” said Mandianike in his speech.
Read the full article from the United Methodist Church news.
