Joao’s Journey of Faith and Freedom

God desires for all people to repent and be saved.
His mission is to use every opportunity, every channel, and every willing person to reconcile humanity to Himself. The Bible illustrates this in the life of Joseph. God used Joseph’s intended harm to display His power and draw his brothers to truth.

What Joseph’s brothers meant for evil, God used for good. He used Joseph’s suffering to bring forth His ultimate purpose and plan (Genesis 37; 38-50 ERV).

Joseph went from being his father’s favorite to his brothers’ foe.
He began in a pit, went to the palace, and was sent to prison for attempted rape.
He lost the comfort of a loving home and father, peace of mind, and credibility.
He had to rub shoulders with common criminals.

 But God was at work between the ups, downs, and uncertainties. And shaping His grand purpose.
Joseph left prison with God’s guidance, returned to the palace, and eventually reunited with his brothers. It all turned out for Joseph’s good and God’s glory.

God’s Hand

Like Joseph, Joao’s story is one orchestrated by God. He went from living a comfortable family life with an excellent job to being charged with theft and sent to prison. Joao lost everything: his family, career, and credibility. He also battled deadly HIV while incarcerated. But like Joseph, God wasn’t done; He was just beginning.

What might have crushed Joao brought him a deep sense of purpose and transformation. Joao unearthed profound resilience and a great conviction to change himself and others. Joao grew up in a Christian home but became rebellious and stopped attending church. Alcoholism and smoking bound him.

Ironically, he married a God-fearing wife and allowed his family to attend church.
“I was happy with it,” he says. He had everything he wanted: a good family, a decent job at a television company, and experience in teaching Portuguese. “I used to think that the devil took care of me. But I found out it was God who took care of me.”

In prison, Joao encountered Bible League and loved reading the Scriptures.
There was no entertainment to distract him, only sleeping, eating, and playing soccer.

After four months, Pastor Jaime Guite, Bible League Mozambique’s National Director, spoke to Joao about introducing the ministry’s Bible study program in his prison. Days later, the program commenced.

The prison didn’t allow inmates to own Bibles, but Joao was an exception. The prison leaders trusted him and allowed him to receive a Bible from Pastor Jaime.

He worked for eight months with Bible League, which aided his change.
After graduating from the program, he trained as a Bible study facilitator, an easy feat with his teaching background.

The Bible study booklet inspired him to change.
“I saw there was a need for transformation. That helped me to be born again and become who I am today.”
Christ’s redemptive love for Joao is prominent. When asked who Jesus is to him, he exhales with profundity and responds in a rumbling voice:

“Jesus is my Savior; He saved my life. Salvation is saving not just the body but the soul. Jesus is the one who lifts me. So, for me, Jesus is my redeemer. When I speak about Jesus to people, they must see Jesus in me.”

He draws inspiration from 2 Corinthians 5:17, “When anyone is in Christ, it is a whole new world. The old things are gone; suddenly, everything is new!”

The Need

Joao shares the vast need in prison and his community: “The poverty that we face in and after prison is dire. The prisons are full of sick people who lack access to good healthcare, and there’s only one meal a day in prison. Thus, young people engage in desperate schemes to survive. It’s critical to share the Gospel constantly in prison.”

His community needs study materials and seeks local-language Bibles. They appreciate Bible League for providing training and a free Bible after completing the Bible study program. Other organizations do similar work at a cost that doesn’t favor the people.

“Keep helping us with the booklets and the Bibles. We are no longer the same because of their provision. I desire to see my church (the congregants) involved and living as a church of Christ. That will make me so proud of our teachings,” says Joao.

Coming to prison led Joao to a loving Father who accepted him despite his sins. God began working in him and through him. “Now that I am a Christian, I understand, but before, I didn’t. They sent me to prison, but God wanted me there to evangelize. God used my gift to share His Word,” he explains.

God’s Purpose

One night, Joao heard a voice in his cell saying, “Start doing the work today.” The next day, he moved to the central prison. There, he started doing God’s work. When he arrived, he no longer wanted to continue smoking and became a prayer warrior and teacher. He believes that his call that day was from God, who prepared him for the work.

At the central prison, inmates treated him like the boss. The prison director chose him to teach Portuguese studies in grades 9 and 10.  He was busy from morning to 10 pm. He was assigned a room and an inmate to cater to him—and afforded time to study Bible League materials and prepare lessons.
Guards even gave him medicine for his HIV. “I share my testimony because I have the disease, but I am still alive. Other inmates died in prison.”

Joao mused about the favor upon his life. He thought ‘doing the work’ meant teaching Portuguese but realized it was imparting God’s Word. “God calls us not because of our abilities; the Holy Spirit is our teacher,” he affirms.

Everywhere Joao goes, he radiates God’s light despite spending two weeks in the hospital from a blood clot in his leg. While there, he prayed for the sick and most were healed, including himself.

Today, he visits the hospital, and nurses ask him to pray with them. They believe in his God and his prayers.

God’s Goodness

After four years in prison, Joao was proven innocent and freed. The items he was accused of stealing were recovered at the port. Joao was a changed man; he realized that his imprisonment was to draw him back to God.

He notes, “Many people go to prison as bad people but become worse after learning unhealthy habits. But I left everything in prison: cigars, drinking, and philandering. I believe God baptized me.”

Thankfully, his family welcomed him home. One thing he did right was to improve his understanding of Jesus. He enrolled in Bible school, and his church ordained him as a pastor.
He also trained in the Bible League’s Church Planter Training program. He continued facilitating Bible studies for the inmates.

“I never stopped being a Bible study facilitator because I believe God’s Word is powerful. People who have never had the opportunity to read and study God’s Word still need salvation. Thus, I am thankful to the Bible League and all the programs they provide, for they positively impact lives.”

He launched Bible League’s Bible study program for 300 people in Zion Church. Later, he taught his community, where he now has a church. All that took place because of Bible League’s work in prison. He also started Bible studies at home and later at the church. As people delved into God’s Word, many turned their backs on their former religions. The Holy Spirit began to transform their lives.

Joao affirms that Bible League material has been so valuable in his life. He gushes, “Thank you for providing us with Bible study materials. I use them to teach about the transformation of minds. I like that the Bible League material is straightforward, incorporating the Bible, and it helps to bring about greater changes.”

He has trained pastors and prison officers to prepare the inmates.

Those who heard the Gospel have been converted.

Three of his friends saw his transformation and changed. Similarly, many of the inmates he ministered to in the central prison were freed. His prayer is for the prison administrators to be more open to the Gospel.

Though out of prison, Joao grapples with post-prison effects, trying to assimilate back into society.
He struggles how to balance serving God with being available for his family. “Sometimes, I don’t attend family events because I do God’s work. I leave for work early in the morning and attend Bible studies late at night. My children and grandchildren hardly see me.”

“Bible League is doing an excellent job. You’re always welcome in Mozambique because of your excellent work,” he ends.

Pastor Joao’s redemption story is remarkable.

He lives with daily hope, serving the God who saved him.

He desires to write a book about his prison experience and impart the hope of the Gospel to the world.

It is true that you planned to do something bad to me. But really, God was planning good things. God’s plan was to use me to save the lives of many people. And that is what happened. Genesis 50:20 ERV

Those in Zion who mourn. I will take away the ashes on their heads, and I will give them a crown. I will take away their sadness, and I will give them the oil of happiness. I will take away their sorrow, and I will give them celebration clothes. He sent me to name them ‘Good Trees’ and ‘The LORD’s Wonderful Plant.’ Isaiah 61:3 ERV

Yes, I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not death, life, angels, or ruling spirits. I am sure that nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us, or nothing below us—nothing in the whole created world—will ever be able to separate us from the love God has shown us in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 ERV

“That is why we never give up. Our physical body is becoming older and weaker, but our spirit inside us is made new every day.”2 Corinthians 4:16 ERV