Harare — Please allow me space in your noble and widely-read paper to further encourage all churches which are doing a commendable job of actively supporting and participating in prison ministry.

I had the opportunity to work with Prison Fellowship Zimbabwe (PFZ) while on attachment from April to June this year.

I was particularly impressed by the activities of many churches which are fostering prison ministry through PFZ.

PFZ is a Christian organisation whose vision is to be a reconciling community of restoration for all those involved in and affected by crime, thereby demonstrating the redemptive power and transforming love of Jesus Christ.

Indeed, the Church has been commissioned by Jesus Christ to preach the Gospel to all people (Mathew 28:19; Acts 1:8), yet many a time the Church has forgotten those in prison.

The Church should, thus, team up with prison chaplains in spreading God's Word in jails.

I thank God for the many churches which are working together with PFZ through preaching in prisons and in other programmes which have a rehabilitative thrust.

Churches working with PFZ are able to carry out these programmes with the support of the Zimbabwe Prison Service (ZPS), and here credit goes to the Commissioner of Prisons and his entire team for their immense support of these programmes.

This reminds me of 1 Timothy 2:1-2 which says that those in authority should be prayed for.

Thank you, ZPS, for your support and may the Lord God bless you.

Hebrews 13:3 teaches the Church to remember those in prison.

I also urge the body of Christ to meditate on Mathew 25:31-40 where Jesus teaches that we should visit the sick, feed the hungry and visit those in prison.

The Bible clearly teaches that when we do these acts, we will be doing them for God (Mathew 25:40).

It is, therefore, vital for the Church to focus on its key missions as God's Word promises a reward for this.

Lamentably, some men of the cloth have come up with their missions of demonising the Government and Head of State, yet God's Word teaches that prayers, supplications and intercessions are to be the order of the day.

One thing stands clear: those who condemn the Government are doing so at their own peril as 2 Peter 2 reveals that swift destruction will come upon them.

God is calling for such leaders to repent and begin to visit the sick and those in prison.

The Church should, therefore, focus on its key missions so that more and more people hear God's Word.

Reading through the book of Acts will certainly enlighten the Church on her key missions.

To PFS, ZPS and the churches and individuals supporting prison ministry, I dedicate Galatians 6:9 to you which says: "And let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap, if faint not."