Inmates make a public confession of their faith in the baptism ceremony in the prison yard.

Four years passed and Angel completed a correspondence course and received his degree through the mail. In 1987 Angel was released—early. His wife was amazed by the change in Angel’s life. She requested to attend church with him, and before long she, too, gave her life to Christ. Angel will never forget the experience of personally baptizing her and two of his children.

Angel knew that his days at the prison were not over. Only this time he would be the one bringing the gospel to others. Daily he visited the inmates in Quito’s four prisons, using the same literature that taught him the gospel. The prisoners’ responses to his visits were often positive. He was the only person visiting some of the inmates.

The need for pastoral care inside the prisons became evident. Gradually, Angel recruited a group of men to join his prison ministry. He made sure that a gospel worker visited each jail every day to lead Bible studies with the inmates. Thus began Prison Outreach of Ecuador.

The Ecuadorian government, which recognizes Angel as a chaplain for his extensive work in the prison system, has been agreeable to his work. In some prisons the government has even allowed the building of a small chapel. Christian Aid has helped fund most of these projects.