Prison Ministry

Kerobokan Bali, 2004 - ongoing

Jabez’s Prison Ministry started in 2004 after founder and director, Jerry Preston, received a clear dream from the Lord instructing him to go into the prisons in Bali, Indonesia, to encourage, feed and visit the inmates there.

We have been carrying out and executing this ministry, including implementing regular church service on a monthly basis, for over 20 years now, and we also execute one-off projects and events to help and support the prisoner community inside, such as Christmas parties, individual visits, and providing food and care packages over the years.

It’s been a mammoth journey over the last couple of decades serving within the Kerobokan prison in Bali, with so many instrumental people helping and partnering with us along the way. A couple key people in making this ministry fruitful are Pastor Isaiah Sinjal, our partner to get the church service started inside the prison, alongside a team of volunteers, and a prisoner named Matthew Norman, who has been an inmate for the last 18 years, and is now a good friend and dear brother of ours.

Matthew’s journey with Christ has been one that we have been honored to witness firsthand, to see him grow into a mighty man of God while he is serving his time in prison. We have seen the impact of the Gospel refreshing the weary souls of many other prisoners, and it is transformations such as Matthew’s that keep us going despite the struggles and occasional strife.

If you’d like to help or volunteer with Jabez Ministries or any of our partners, please contact us directly via our Contact page.

Philippians 4:13 NIV

13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Matthew 25:34-40 NIV

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’