APAC - Offering Hope for the Burdened

Ten years ago, Roberto was burdened by despair and hopelessness.  The source of his misery, however, wasn‘t the 25-year prison sentence he was serving, or even having to share a cell with 30 other prisoners in a space built for just six.  His anguish came from a place within him that felt utterly unloved.  “I began to believe that people didn‘t love me, that my family no longer loved me, that even God didn‘t love me anymore,” he now recalls.  “I believed I was the trash of society, with no value,” he adds.

Because of his past behaviours, Roberto had hurt those close to him and severed many of his relationships.  But his lack of self-worth was further fuelled by the prison system itself.  “The guards would often use ugly words with us,” he explains, “telling us we were useless and good for nothing.”

Six years into his sentence Roberto was transferred to the APAC (faith-based) unit at the São Jose dos Campos prison in Brasil.  He arrived with a negative and sceptical attitude, but was surprised when the young man at the gate removed his handcuffs and welcomed him to the unit.  Soon, volunteers were making visits to his cell and he was invited to APAC meetings run by Dr. Mario Ottoboni, the APAC-methodology founder.  But despite the kindness of the volunteers and the improved conditions, Roberto remained a staunch challenger of the APAC system.  “I thought what they said wasn‘t true,” he comments, “I told them ‘God doesn‘t exist for me because he doesn‘t love me.‘”

Roberto remained defiant and critical while in the APAC unit, even causing skirmishes within his cell that required police action.  He spread his pain and hatred to all he encountered and seemed incapable of changing his attitude or his behaviour.  Still the volunteers treated him with love and respect, and to Roberto‘s shock they always warmly welcomed him back when he returned from disciplinary action.

After living in the APAC system for six months, Roberto reluctantly attended a meeting in which Dr. Ottoboni spoke of the importance of mothers and how they can be hurt by the actions of their children.  His words deeply touched Roberto, who for the first time began to think of the pain he had caused his mother.  He recalled the image of his mother on her knees in prayer, and he knew she had been praying for him.  He grieved over the pain he had caused her and suddenly he had an overwhelming need to change his behaviour.  Realising that he would need God‘s help, he began to pray.  “I asked God to care for me,” he says, “so that I could be something in life.”

The next step in his journey of transformation was to ask his mother for forgiveness.  “This was one of the hardest things I had to do,” he recalls, “because I didn‘t believe forgiveness would make up for the bad things I had done to her.”  To his relief and astonishment, his mother did forgive him and assured him that his damaging behaviour was now just part of the past.

A few months later, Roberto developed a vision problem that threatened to blind him.  He was seized by fear and wanted to escape from the prison, thinking he would not receive proper medical treatment for his condition.  His fears were assuaged when a Bishop visited him and assured him he‘d recover.  “Do not worry,” he said, “God is going to help you.”  An operation later restored his eyesight.  The experience taught him to trust the Lord.  “God once again touched me,” Roberto recalls.  “It was as if He was saying ‘I‘ve been with you since you first entered prison, when you thought you were alone.‘  I realised that God never abandoned me.”

Roberto continues to serve his prison term in the APAC unit; exhibiting little of the rebellious personality he began his sentence with.  He has a new burden now--a need to help others.  “I am going to help the people who helped me,” he says.  “I would like to do much for them.”

APAC‘s revolutionary approach to prison management has successfully reduced recidivism in its graduates.  APAC faith-based prisons are now running in Brasil, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Estonia, USA, New Zealand, and Germany.  Others are in development in Norway, England, and Wales.  According to APAC statistics, nearly 92% of those released from the Ituana/APAC prison unit in Brasil did not commit another offence.  That is true of only 15% of prisoners released in the standard prison system.  For more information on APAC faith-based prison systems, visit www.pfi.org and click on “Programmes.”