Prison Fellowship

  • DONATE
    • One-Time
    • Monthly
    • Angel Tree
    • Other Ways to Give
  • GET INVOLVED
    • All Options
    • Subscribe
    • Angel Tree Christmas
    • Start a Fundraiser
    • Pray With Us
    • Justice Action Center
    • Share on Social
Search
  • STORIES
    • Stories
    • Blog
    • Videos
    • The Restoration Series [Videos]
  • WHAT WE DO
    • Why Help Prisoners?
    • What We Do
    • In-Prison
      • Prison Fellowship Academy
      • In-Prison Programs
      • Hope Events
      • Inside Journal
      • Women’s Ministry
      • Create: New Beginnings
    • Angel Tree
      • Register your church or group for Angel Tree
      • Prison Fellowship Angel Tree
      • Angel Tree Christmas
      • Angel Tree Camping
      • Angel Tree Sports Camp
    • Justice Reform
      • Justice Reform
      • Second Chance Month
      • News & Updates
      • Sign the Justice Declaration
      • Get a Copy of Outrageous Justice
    • Warden Exchange
    • Church Partners
    • Corporate Partnerships
    • Preparing Prisoners for Reentry
    • Research and Evaluation
      • Good Citizenship Model®
  • RESOURCES
    • Subscribe to Our Email
    • Support for Friends and Family of Prisoners
      • Resources for Friends and Family of Prisoners
      • Coping with Incarceration
      • Resources for Prisoners
      • Resources for Children of Prisoners
      • Supporting Successful Prisoner Reentry
      • Subscribe To The Hope Connection
    • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • In-Prison Ministry
      • Reentry Ministry
      • Family Ministry
      • Justice Reform
      • Mentoring Ministry
    • Angel Tree Coordinator Training
    • Resources for Chaplains
    • Resources for D.O.C.
    • Justice Reform Resources
    • Create: New Beginnings Book
    • Share on Social
  • ABOUT US
    • Our Beliefs
    • Mission & Vision
    • Financials
      • Financials
      • 2024 Annual Report
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
    • In The News
    • Leadership
    • Chuck Colson
      • About Chuck Colson
      • The Charles Colson Hope Awards

Working Together for Prisoners in Zambia

July 11, 2016 by Lindsey A. Frederick

The year was 1990. Bishop Enocent Silwamba was a new Prison Fellowship Zambia staff member. He was eager to make a difference, and his mission was clear: engage the Zambian church to help “transform criminal offenders, reconcile broken relationships, and restore wounded communities.” But it did not take long for him to encounter the unseen obstacles of his mission.

Silwamba poses with children of prisoners

Bishop Enocent Silwamba poses with children of prisoners in Zambia.

Silwamba joined Prison Fellowship Zambia during an exciting time of rapid growth. The ministry was successfully mobilizing local church volunteers and witnessing many heart-level transformations in prisoners. They watched just a few care groups, which reached only a few prisons at the time, grow to more than 40 care groups, reaching more than 83 percent of Zambia’s prisons in less than 10 years. Prisoners’ and ex-prisoners’ testimonies aired on radio and were printed in the media. They ran skills-training programs for ex-prisoners, and many churches participated in prayer vigils and collected clothes, food, and toiletries to distribute to prisoners.

But there was a problem.

In the midst of their success, prison authorities began to feel threatened by Prison Fellowship’s work, and grew increasingly hostile toward the ministry. Media articles published about issues of justice, rehabilitation, and the ministry’s stance on the death penalty only heightened the tension.

“Authorities felt the publicity was a criticism on their ability to do their job effectively,” says Silwamba. “They threatened to close prison doors to our ministry. We knew we needed to make a change.”

After several ineffective attempts to ease tensions and smooth over relationships, Silwamba and his team realized the ministry needed a stronger defense and turned to the Bible.

“We believed our opposition was spiritual, and required spiritual weapons,” says Silwamba. “Our enemy’s agenda is different from God’s. God desires justice, healing, transformation, reconciliation, and restoration, and the enemy will do everything to stop this work.”

Silwamba took Paul’s instruction seriously to “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11), calling volunteers across the country to pray and fast with them.

Working Together for Prisoners in Zambia

Bishop Silwamba with the Executive Director of Prison Fellowship Swaziland, during coordinator training for The Prisoner’s Jourmey evangelism and discipleship training.

Through their fight, God remained faithful. The walls of hostility weakened. Prison authorities willingly worked through differences with Prison Fellowship, coming together for a common goal.

“They began to understand we were not a threat, but a partner in prisoner rehabilitation,” says Silwamba, as the working relationship between the two parties grew strong.

These relationships continue to propel the work of Prison Fellowship Zambia. Today, Silwamba is helping expand that reach beyond Zambian borders. He now serves as Prison Fellowship International’s director over Anglophone Africa, facilitating national ministries in that region in building their capacity through programs, such as Sycamore Tree Project®, the child sponsorship program, and The Prisoner’s Journey® in-prison evangelism and discipleship program—each of which Zambia embraces in their restorative mission.

Silwamba says he uses this story to remind himself—and encourage his team members—that the work of worldwide Prison Fellowship affiliates was founded on prayer and will be sustained by prayer.

“Whatever schemes Satan may use, I encourage you to take a stand—we are on the winning side!”

Prison Fellowship International works in 119 countries outside the United States. To learn more, visit pfi.org.

Filed Under: Prison Fellowship International, Feature Stories Tagged With: Zambia

SELECT A TOPIC

  • Advocacy & Reentry
  • Angel Tree
  • Families of Prisoners
  • Feature Stories
  • From the CEO
  • Hope Events
  • Inside Journal
  • Press Releases
  • Prison & Prisoners
  • Prison Fellowship Academy
  • Prison Fellowship International
  • Prison Fellowship News & Updates
  • Reentry
  • Second Chance Month
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • Warden Exchange

MOST POPULAR

The Secret to Staying in the Fight

May 28, 2025

Update: Helen Graduates From the Academy!

May 14, 2025

My Story: Tina

May 7, 2025

LATEST VIDEOS

WATCH ALL VIDEOS

Join our online community

Facebook Facebook X (Twitter) X (Twitter) Instagram Instagram YouTube YouTube LinkedIn LinkedIn
PF®
PFM®

RECOMMENDED LINKS

  • Ways to Donate
  • Inspirational Stories
  • Angel Tree
  • Prison Fellowship Academy
  • Justice Reform

RESOURCES

  • For Families & Friends of Prisoners
  • For Churches & Angel Tree Volunteers
  • Warden Exchange

JOIN RESTORATION PARTNERS AND WITNESS GOD RESTORE LIVES

Restoration Partners give monthly to bring life-changing prison ministry programs to incarcerated men and women across the country.

 

JOIN NOW
  • CONTACT US
  • EMPLOYMENT
  • PRIVACY
  • FINANCIALS
© 2025 PRISON FELLOWSHIP®

Angel Tree®, Angel Tree Camping®, Angel Tree Sports CampTM, and Warden Exchange® are programs of Prison Fellowship®.