While unlikely, a spiritual revival is coming out of a maximum-security prison in Guatemala during a pandemic. 

Before the pandemic, there was a Bible study program for inmates put on by Crossroads Prison Ministries. But once COVID-19 came, that was all shut down. 

El Boquerón Prison is one of three maximum-security prisons in Guatemala. This is where the prisoners are coming to faith in Jesus. 

According to Mission Network News, Byron Aguilar, the director of Crossroads Guatemala, says they were able to connect with El Boquerón Prison’s chaplain, Miguel Castellanos.

"The prisons opened for a brief time in about August 2020," Aguilar says. "So during that brief time…we went there and brought Crossroads materials and Bibles and food. And we trained Miguel on how to run the Crossroads Bible study program inside this new prison with the support of our church here locally and the support of Crossroads USA…. Then shortly afterward, the prisons closed again."

It wasn't until January, 2021, when the prison made the small exception of allowing a few more supplies in once again from the organization. 

"There were 30 new students, prisoners inside this prison that signed up for the Crossroads Bible Study Program," says Aguilar. "Out of these 30 new prisoners who signed up as new students for the Crossroads program, seven of them gave their lives to the Lord and decided that they wanted to be baptized!"

With the church's help, the chaplain purchased a small inflatable pool to perform the baptisms in. 

Initially Aguilar had seven inmates who got baptized. After that, five more asked to be baptized as well. 

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