Gospel in Chains: El Salvador’s Prison Ministry Struggles Amid Gang Crackdown

In El Salvador, a country with the world’s highest proportion of people behind bars, a fragile prison ministry is struggling to survive. Since President Nayib Bukele’s zero-tolerance policy toward gangs, over 80,000 people have been sent to prison, leading to a surge in incarceration. While some see this as an opportunity for evangelism, others are deterred by the dangers and restrictions. Raúl Orellana, a regional ministry leader, says, “Most of them know they need a physical transformation. Evangelism may show them they need a spiritual transformation too.” However, with few Christians willing to participate in prison ministry, the work of spreading the gospel is becoming increasingly difficult.

Despite the challenges, some are finding ways to witness to the gospel. Kenton Moody, an American missionary, recently organized a Mother’s Day event in a women’s prison, where 295 inmates raised their hands in response to a conversion call. However, with the government’s increasing restrictions on civilian visits and face-to-face interactions between pastors and inmates, the ministry is facing an uncertain future. As Lucas Suriano, Latin America coordinator at Prison Alliance, says, “A disciple in prison can bring the gospel to many others.” But with the government’s strong-arm policy against gangs, even converted gang members are being dragged back to prison, making the work of evangelism even more perilous.