By Roberto Blauth
About once a week, Arturo Gaspar travels 35 kilometers from his home in Guadalajara, Mexico to a large penitentiary that houses 5000 men. He meets with a few prisoners face-to-face in the visiting area, which he says is clean, orderly, and comfortable. To those individuals, he delivers homemade meals prepared weekly by his wife, Ruth.
Arturo and Ruth have been discipling prisoners and supporting their families on the outside for the past 17 years. Their highly personal approach to discipleship opens the door for God to address the prisoners’ deepest inner needs. The men, many of whom never receive another visitor, see that there is someone who cares.
Including Jesus. Through the Scriptures, they see that Christ has given them unconditional dignity and grace, despite their past errors. They discover that through faith they can gain internal liberty and hope for the future, even though they are in prison.
As one ex-prisoner told Arturo, “Without Christ, we have three possible paths in life: drugs, death, or prison. But now that I know Christ, I see a fourth option, and I know that is the best way.”
The Gospel Advancing Prisoner to Prisoner
Prison might not be where you would expect to find disciple-makers, but over the years, God has used Arturo to equip and financially support disciple-makers within the prison. As a result of his efforts, these men are equipped to share their faith with other prisoners inside the walls of the penitentiary. As a result, God is advancing his grace through spiritual generations among people who are extremely difficult to reach.
One example is a man named Fabián. While imprisoned from 2006 to 2014, Arturo and Ruth discipled and supported him and his family. As he matured in the faith, he reached many other prisoners for Christ.
Some of the ex-prisoners that Arturo has discipled have teamed up with him to continue serving inside the penitentiary. They go with Arturo to meet one-to-one with more prisoners than Arturo could reach on his own. And because the ex-prisoners have a deep understanding of those still incarcerated, they can develop a strong rapport.
Supporting the Families of Prisoners
Incarceration imposes a terrible toll on the families. So Arturo and Ruth have for many years offered economic, emotional and spiritual support to the wives, children and relatives of the prisoners. Ruth gives personal attention to the women. She delivers food and household supplies. Arturo and Ruth help them set up small ways to generate an income, sometimes through microenterprises. When needed, they provide direct financial assistance.
Arturo and Ruth, who have been married for 33 years, continue to support Fabián and his family. Ruth has been discipling three of Fabián's daughters. As a couple, they have been leading Bible studies on marriage, including with others who have been released from prison.
Helping prisoners find work is also vital for their families. Through Arturo’s connections, Fabián in 2016 started working with GENERA, a Navigator entrepreneurship group that helps to launch and support missional enterprises in the region. Through this collaboration, Fabián was able to start a business selling electronic devices. Today the whole family is working in that business.
Another disciple Arturo has helped is Manuel, who still has a few years left in prison. Arturo and his team are providing the capital so that Manuel can make durable carry-all bags in prison each day. Arturo gathers the finished bags during personal visits in the prison and then delivers them to a couple with whom Arturo studies the Bible. That couple sells and markets the bags. When Manuel leaves the prison, he will already have a business. Knowing that, Manuel sees hope for his economic future. Please pray that God would bless this endeavor.
Arturo and Ruth, who have three adult sons, embarked on this work among prisoners because of one verse: Hebrews 13:3. It says, “Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Arturo says that’s all the theology he has needed to persevere in this effort.
Please pray that God would continue to equip more prisoners through the work of Arturo and Ruth, so that many more prisoners can find new life, identity and dignity in Christ.
Roberto Blauth is the regional director for Latin America.
