‘REMEMBER THOSE IN PRISON’ (HEBREWS 13:3): AN EVALUATION OF THE IMPACT OF SDA’S CORNERSTONE PRISON MINISTRY IN MALAWI

Abstract

This study evaluated the impact of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Cornerstone Prison Ministry in Malawi. It examined the intersection between Hebrews 13:1-3 and Matthew 25:36, as biblical foundations of prison ministry emphasizing on compassion, solidarity, and spiritual care for prisoners. The research also explored prisoners' motives for participating in religious activities, assessing whether their involvement was driven by genuine spiritual conviction or external factors. Using Religious Coping Theory, the study also assessed how religious engagement supports inmates' mental health recovery, addressing issues like stress, depression, and anxiety linked to harsh prison conditions that characterize Malawian Prisons. Through an ethnographic qualitative approach, including observations and interviews with inmates and officers, the study found that religious activities provided inmates with spiritual growth, emotional coping mechanisms, and a sense of identity renewal. While some inmates participate in religious activities for manipulative purposes, the study established that Cornerstone SDA Prison ministry plays a crucial role in offering psycho-social support, fostering hope, community, and personal transformation. The study highlights how faith-based interventions can promote both spiritual and mental health recovery within the Malawian prison system.