My name is Cuibus Gabriel, I am 24 years old, and together with my wife, 5 other wonderful young people from Elim Church in Cluj and our minister Nicu Cristea we have gone to Aiud Penitentiary to visit the prisoners and to preach them the gospel of salvation.

We have passed all the controls of the guards and in the court yard of the prison we were recognized by the people who had spent months and even years in prison. We were lead through the court yard toward the church inside where approximately 50 people had been waiting for us. We got in and all those men were saluting us happily because we visited them.

It took a while until we started our program with a song or two, and all the prisoners were singing with us: “a clean heart is all I want from you oh, Lord”. Between the songs brother Nutu had always something to say to encourage them.

Then it was time for me to say a few words of encouragement. I introduced myself and I told them load and clear: “I’m talking today in front of you from the point of view of a man, who, if God hadn’t touched my life, would have been in here today or maybe dead.” I saw their looks fixing me. Confessing in front of them how and who I was before meeting God, I identified myself with them. I didn’t see them anymore as prisoners, but as 50 Gabi Cuibus before meeting God, I saw them as boys who, in a bad moment of their lives, made a mistake and wanted to show off or out of misery they stole so they could have something to put on the table for their kids. They were young like me, only that they were caught and arrested for their actions. I have paid another price, a price with many days of hospital and many days of recovery. God works in many ways; some of the people turn to God just like that, without passing through suffering, others must pass through suffering and even death, so that they could be saved and an example for the others and for others God passes them through prison so that they as well could be an example.

I finished my confession and we sang some more songs, and after that brother Nicu Cristea, our minister, started telling them about family. After all that, I have talked to some of them about their life and I am glad they understood that without God they will always be weak.

We walked together to the other room to have some cookies and some jus, brought by us especially for them. We remained a while with them, until we were asked to leave by a guard, since our meeting ended.

I am looking forward for a new meeting with them, to tell them more about Lord Jesus.

Praised be the Lord for all things.

Cuibus Gabriel