(Story compiled by Isaac Ngala)

Tom Juma (not real name) is a volunteer with the Kisumu the street children rehabilitation program. He is a dedicated worker drawing his strength from his newfound faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

“I am glad to serve our Lord Jesus whole heartedly, who has saved me and given me a reason to live” he narrates. Mr. Juma was a well known crook operating in Kisumu city. He was a gang leader of ruthless young men known for pickpocket ting mugging and shoplifting. His tough looks and scarred body display the type of lifestyle he lived.

Mr. Juma remembers on fateful Wednesday afternoon when he was attacked by a mob after his attempts to snatch a handbag from a lady backfired when the lady raised alarm. The police just came on time to save him from an irritate mob. He sustained deep wounds and a severe burn around his neck because of the vehicle tyre tied around his neck and lite. This mark is permanent scar on his body to date. He was taken to hospital and spent several months and later jailed for 7 years at Kibos Prison in Kisumu.

It was while serving his sentence that he came across fellow inmates doing our BCC lessons .He joined and a long the process gave his life to Christ. His character changed and he was transformed and well behaved and as a result he was paroled after serving 4 yrs.

Immediately after coming out of prisons he searched for a Lutheran church and joined he Kisumu cathedral. He felt a great burden to minister to the street children who normally meet every Wednesday at the Kisumu church.

Tom truly reflects the words of Christ when he said, “Who has been forgiven much will love much….”

FROM ISLAM TO CHRISTIANITY

(Story compiled by Isaac Ngala)

Mr. Rama Juma is a convicted prisoner at Kibos prison in the suburbs of Kisumu town. He found himself at wrong side of the law after involving himself in foiled robbery where he was convicted life imprisonment.

Life in the prison has been very hard with most prisoners scrambling over limited facilities whereby the basics things like soap and toothpaste became a luxury. In spite of the harsh realities of jail life Juma still found a deep void within his life, a deep longing for some thing he could not understand.

These feeing precipitated his long quest for fulfillment. He tried being a devout Muslim in jail and read his quran diligently. This was followed by his strict adherence to prayer (swala). The more he devout he was to his religion the more empty he felt.

One day he came across fellow inmates doing the Lutheran hour bible course and asked if he could join out of curiosity. “I just wanted to find more reasons and excuses to dismiss Christianity” He narrated. The more he progressed the more he they interested him. He saw the lives of his fellow Inmates being transformed that he longed to acquire the same. After thorough study and comparing the bible with the quran the Holy Spirit convicted and converted him. He narrated ”I have found peace and satisfaction that I cannot equate with anything else in the world”.

Mr. Juma represents many people whom God has touched through our bible correspondence courses. We give God the glory and honor for what He is doing to the prison community.