“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all that mourn.”
Isaiah 61:1-2
It is often in inconsequential places, that God’s wonders are often revealed. Though many of these stories remain unwritten to this day, and many among our godly heroes unknown. Still there is underlying power behind these testimonies that express a thousand words…and silently testify to the truth that GOD IS WITH US.
In Libertad, Antique prison cells are empty; attesting to the power of God to transform. What started as a simple prison ministry by Rev. Roger Roquina in 2003, no sooner revealed God miraculously moving in their midst. Walking the dusty pavement one day, alongside of which was the Municipal Jail. He would glimpse peering through the jail’s lattices, prisoners without a hope and a future. Deeply burdened by this sight, he was led to open a prison ministry. Through constant Bible Study and Prayer meetings behind prisoned bars, criminals convicted of murder and rape, calloused as they were, experienced God’s power to save. There was such a spiritual renewal in these inmates, that in the end, they were miraculously released from their sentences.
It was not long after when the Jail warden himself, personally escorted these prisoners to Evangel Libertad each Sunday to attend their worship service. Eventually, various high-ranking officials came to know the Lord, along with the surrounding community. The extent of this revival was far reaching, that Evangel Libertad was proposed to handle a Day Care Center, directly supervised by Rev. Rosemarie Roquina. She quickly became the town custodian, entrusted by government officials to manage the dispensing of educational information as well as medical aid to this locality.
By 2004, the last prisoner walked out this prisoned hall…which remains empty up to this day.
Such is the timeless story of salvation told all over again…may we forever live to tell the tale, of His eternal love and abounding grace!