For the past three years or so, we have been holding Bible studies with inmates in one of the prisons here in Johannesburg, in an effort to help them lead better lives once they are released. One of the most important things we have taught them is how to hear from the Lord themselves, through the gift of prophecy--and they are. Here are a couple of their many testimonies:

Sipho is an inmate in the Medium B juvenile section, whom we have known for over a year. Recently one of his cellmates was very discouraged because he hadn't had any visits from his family for a very long time. Sipho prayed and asked the Lord about the situation, and the Lord told Sipho to tell his friend not to worry, that his family would visit him that coming Saturday. It took a lot of faith for Sipho to give the other boy such a specific message, but the Lord had spoken to Sipho and He kept His word. That Saturday the other boy's family did visit him. Now the other boy wants to come to our Bible classes and learn more.

Francis was recently transferred to the Medium A section of the prison, as he had become too old for the juvenile section. Shortly thereafter, he was sitting on his bed reading his Bible when he noticed a group of five inmates at the other end of the large communal cell. The Lord told Francis that they were planning to kill him, but that he should go and witness to them. Francis is not very big, and is much younger than most of the men in that section, but he gathered his courage and went over to them. "I know you're planning to kill me," he said, "but before you do, I want you to know that Jesus loves you, and I do too." Then he went back and sat on his bed. That evening three of the gang that had been plotting to kill Francis came to him and asked to know about Jesus. They were so impressed that he could tell them what they were planning to do that they prayed and received Jesus that same night! Prophecy not only won these tough men to the Lord, but probably saved Francis' life.