Prison Ministry - Egypt

For more than fourteen years, members of the Diocese of Egypt have travelled once a week to visit prisoners at El Kanater Prison on the outskirts of Cairo.

The prison authorities do not provide for all of the needs of the prisoners. Most of the inmates have their needs taken care of by their families. Therefore, the church ministry focuses on foreigners, and the church becomes their family.

The prisoners are in prison for a variety of charges. In some of the cases, they are imprisoned as they do not have a visa.

The Prison Ministry team helps to meet material needs through providing basic food supplies, medicine, clothes and blankets. They also provide friendship and a listening ear, helping to relieve the hopelessness that weighs heavily upon the shoulders of imprisoned expatriates.

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My name is Alberto Manuel Castro from Peru. I am 54 years old. I am in prison for theft. I have been stealing and going to jail since I was thirteen years old. I have been to prison in many countries of the world. I never had any remorse or guilt until I came to Egypt and found myself in Kanater Prison.

At Kanater Prison, I met people who have changed their lives. Among them are thieves like me, drug offenders, murderers etc. So I decided to join their fellowship. The pastor and other brothers taught me the Bible and I began to read and pray. Then I felt the guilt and remorse for my crimes. All my life I never felt the need to repent. But here in Kanater Prison, I repented and confessed my sins. I asked God to forgive me and change my life. He changed me and now I am a new born in Christ.

It is my wish to serve God. I wish to preach the gospel to those in prison in my country of Peru. I wish to win souls for God. Pray for me that God may find me worthy to serve Him. Amen.

How you can help

The Prison Ministry team values your support. You can support the prisoners
through praying for them. We also welcome volunteers to join our weekly visits.

Latest Prayer Requests

• Pray for the Easter service that Bishop Mouneer will lead in the prison on the 10th of Arpil. Pray the prisoners would know the hope that Jesus’ resurrection bring.

• In February, 62 refugees arrived at the prison, after being caught trying to cross the border from Egypt to Israel There is no space for them in the rooms where the men sleep, and they have been sleeping in the corridors. Pray that these men would be provided for, and they would be released soon.

• Give thanks to God for His provision to the Prison Ministry in 2011.

Weekly Costs

In 2012, a total of GB£6,595 / US$10,530 is needed for the Prison Ministry. We have a surplus of GB£1,772 / US$2,830 from last year, and we need to raise GB£4,822 / US$7,700 to cover our costs this year. Previously we were only able to provide very basic food supplies because we did not receive enough donations. In 2012, we hope to provide more supplies, as we want to be generous to those who have little.

Please click here to donate via Charity Giving.

The ministry relies on donations to provide for basic needs and for other needs such as air tickets.You can give direct to the Diocese of Egypt or through JMECA. 

It costs around £54 GBP to provide for the basic needs of 1 prisoner for 1 year.

In April 2011, the Diocese of Egypt launched an appeal to raise money to provide air tickets for prisoners who have been granted release for foreign prisoners following changes to the Prison System as a result of the revolution in Egypt.

The cost of an air ticket home is generally between £275-£300.

One of the leaders of the Kanater Men’s Prison Christian Fellowship who has been granted clemency says;

Join us in praising God for the marvellous work he has done for us.
At last we can now smell freedom.