American evangelist preaches to inmates

MUSANZE - An American evangelist, Arlene Tatum, has implored prisoners convicted of different crimes in the country to seek reconciliation with God and those they wronged in order to have peaceful minds. Tatum, who is the founder of International Reconciliation Ministries (IRM), is traversing different government prisons in the country preaching to inmates in a bid to encourage the rehabilitation process. 

Sunday, October 11, 2009
Inmates at Gitara Prison receive certificates after completing rehabilitation course. The course was organised by Criminon Africa last year. File photo

MUSANZE - An American evangelist, Arlene Tatum, has implored prisoners convicted of different crimes in the country to seek reconciliation with God and those they wronged in order to have peaceful minds. 

Tatum, who is the founder of International Reconciliation Ministries (IRM), is traversing different government prisons in the country preaching to inmates in a bid to encourage the rehabilitation process.

"Today is the time to start making good choices despite the bad choices you made in the past,” Tatum told inmates at Ruhengeri Prison recently, as thousands of prisoners declared their dedication to God.

In her testimony Tatum, 65, who was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour in her skull, recounts her journey from bitterness to freedom, arguing that people should not be held back by their past -but live by the choices they make at the moment.

Referring to the bible, Tatum said God reconciled people with Jesus Christ. 

"All this is done by God, who through Christ changed us from enemies into his friends and gave us the task of making others his friends too,” she said. 

At Rilima Prison, in Bugesera, some inmates confessed their crimes and expressed remorse.  

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