ABOUT THE PRISON FELLOWSHIP AND ITS DEDICATED PEOPLE

2009-02-07T15:26:00.000-08:00

It all started with Ken Riegert, a former youth worker with the Dresden Community Church, 1990 to 1995. Ken and his wife Nancy were called to move to East Africa to serve and assist with a specific group of people. They have been making remarkable missionary inroads ever since.
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As their outreach ministry developed, Ken was helpful in the growth of Prison Fellowship Ethiopia, supporting building projects for dormitories, latrines and chapels in the prisons, all the while nurturing chaplaincy and justice advocacy ministries. Ken and Nancy have established many personal contacts in the famine-ravaged country and have been extremely well-received. They continue to work as development consultants with the Friendship Support Asssociation.
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Ken was recently named regional co-ordinator for the eastern region of Ethiopia and has found it necessary to step away from some of his commitments to the Prison Fellowship. As a result he has appointed his friend Bob Wilmott of Dresden to be "point" person for Prison Fellowship Ethiopia in Canada.
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In 2005 Ken challenged Bob, a semi-retired truck driver and life-long resident of Dresden, to take on a unique role among a group of supporters to mobilize financial and physical support for the Prison Fellowship Ethiopia ministry. With Bob doing most of the leg work in the past couple of years, the group has helped to raise funds for construction of facilities in the prisons, as well as supplying bible study materials for the inmates.
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Bob made his first trip to Ethiopia in 2005 and the experience has had a profound impact on his life. Since then he has visited dozens of churches and local groups back in Canada, sharing how the love of God is making a difference in the lives of the Ethiopian prisoners. "I just fell in love with all the people I met and think about them and pray for them every day."
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Bob is seen in the above photo (back to camera), talking to a group of prisoners during one of his visits to Ethiopia.
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A recovering alcoholic who has fought many personal demon's in a troubled past, Bob's testimony is particularly meaningful and encouraging for the prisoners he meets. In the words of a Dresden friend who was one of 200 people to attend a recent mission benefit dinner for Bob at the Community Church: "Hearing him speak is a humbling yet inspirational experience."
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"I am not a preacher," he explains, "and I just tell them about what God has done in my life and they seem to relate and have a lot of questions. Some of the stories from the prisoners in Ethiopia are unbelievable. They are in such desperate need of help in every aspect of their life."
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"Little did I know a few years ago that I would be going to Ethiopia to do this work," Bob says in reflecting on his life for the better part of his 73 years. "I was reluctant at first because I had little education and no experience, but Ken seemed to have confidence in me and before I knew it I was on my way."
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Ethiopia is probably the most destitute country in the world and many crimes are as a result of desperate measures just to keep alive. "Some of the people I met in prison didn't even know what they were serving time for," Bob stated. The country is completely devoid of modern conveniences. There is a tremendous shortage of basic necessities such as pure water, sanitation facilities, clothing, medication, and education on various alarming issues such as HIV/AIDS. It is well known that prisoners reside in a high security environment that is very controlled and they are in need of care and counselling in a lot of areas. They are also in desperate need of compassionate treatment with an eye to successful reintegration into an Ethiopian society that can be quite hostile to ex-prisoners. Trial programs are underway to re-establish communication between prisoners, their families and victims of their crimes.
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Bob has established close contact with a number of people involved with the ministry, including director Dr. Daniel Gebra-Selassie and several prison chaplains. His ease in communicating and his openness in sharing his own story of faith, has opened many doors both in Ethiopia and on the home front.
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Meantime, Bob has been working diligently and faithfully spreading the word and gaining prayer and financial support for his third journey back to Ethiopia, March 16. The cost for Bob to make the trip will be about $3,000, most of it in air fare. He will be in Ethiopia a total of 21 days visiting as many prisons as time and circumstances allow.
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Offerings in support of Bob and the PFE ministry may be made through the Into All the World organization. An appeal letter on Bob's behalf from Bill Lewis, executive officer of IATW, appears below. IATW is a mission-enabling agency "for individuals and churches in fulfilling God's call on their lives."

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If you want to stand with Bob and support his ministry in Ethiopia, you may make a donation: c/o Into All The World, 51 Bond Court, Guelph, ON. N1H 8N6. (Cheques payable to Into All The World). A receipt will be issued.
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Further information regarding donations may be directed to Bill Lewis, 1-(519) 763-6147 or by email: bill@iatw.ca. web site - http://www.iatw.ca/. Just mention Bob Wilmott!
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An excerpt from the above SIM newsletter:

.."A place of quiet shame" is how Ken Riegert describes Welkitei Prison in Ethiopia. About 130 km. from Addis Ababa, it is where 450 men, 12 women and a few children spend their days in meaningless drudgery. Disease and dehydration ravage the prison population. Dry pit latrines fill quickly and become unsanitary. Each inmate receives only 1.5 litres of water per day -- for drinking, cooking, bathing and laundry. Most inmates are convicted murders, jailed together with petty thieves. Female prisoners with their children are housed in their own part of Welkitei Prison.

.A place to avoid? Not for Ken and Prison Fellowship Ethiopia! They are finding prison to be an ideal seedbed for the church -- despite the miserable conditions and broken lives behind the walls.
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Prison Fellowship Ethiopia began ministry in 1992. Now it is reaching 88 of Ethiopia's 120 prisons, and has built chapels in 44 of them. Last year 5,000 prisoners committed their lives to Christ. The Ethiopian Ministry of Justice relies on PFE to conduct training conferences and workshops for prison officials, police, prosecutors and judges. PFE staff also conduct workshops on violence and abuse, HIV/AIDS awareness, and offer vocational training and literacy for inmates...
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...Upon their release from prison, local churches are welcoming them as leaders. Pastors report that newly-released ex-convicts are more spiritually mature than other church members and are ready for leadership roles."

The need continues...The work continues...God's blessing continues.

BOB'S ETHIOPIAN MISSION

ABOUT THE PRISON FELLOWSHIP AND ITS DEDICATED PEOPLE