Being arrested and imprisoned can change the way your family and community treat you. You are often judged and family members may find it hard to forgive what you have done.
Thobeka*, a 25- year old from Germiston, had to raise her six siblings after her mother was sentenced to 20 years in prison for murder and kidnapping. She became angry and bitter at having to take over her mother’s role. She shared her story with Universal News.
“Things were very difficult in the beginning, having to explain to my siblings that our mother was in prison. Taking care of them alone was the biggest challenge and it caused me a lot of emotional strain. I found it hard to visit her in prison as I felt betrayed and burdened at a young age. However things changed after the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God’s (UCKG) prison ministry started to visit my mother. She wrote letters to us. Her letters inspired me and helped me to heal,” said Thobeka.
Regardless of all the difficulties Thobeka has experienced, she believes that her mother will be a different person when she returns home. She is also confident that her mother’s presence will make a big difference in her life. “Now things have changed. I visit her more often. I have forgiven her and myself. God has given me peace within. My mother’s attitude and views on life have changed. She inspires me and most importantly she is always reminding me of God’s love,” she said.
The prison ministry has managed to reach out, changing attitudes and the stigma attached to people who are behind bars. It has promoted positive thinking and changed inmates’ ideas about belittling themselves because of the situations they find themselves in. Volunteers in prison ministry groups travel all over the country to visit people in correctional facilities.
* Not a real name.
By: Nikiwe Titus