{"id":6664,"date":"2006-12-31T23:09:22","date_gmt":"2007-01-01T04:09:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/newswire\/?p=6664"},"modified":"2011-07-06T08:37:01","modified_gmt":"2011-07-06T13:37:01","slug":"5342","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/newswire\/2006\/12\/31\/5342\/","title":{"rendered":"Pastor Frustrated at Delays in Prisoners\u2019 Release"},"content":{"rendered":"

HILMAR, CA (December 31, 2006) \u2013 The associate pastor of Hilmar Covenant Church hopes Christmas cards might finally lead to the release of two inmates from an Egyptian prison.
\n
\nDan Johnson admits he is angry that Christians Martin Emeto, 48, and Jacob Oky, 40, still sit in prison, despite having served their 20-year sentences and having paid their exit fines. They were to have been released by mid-October.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen prison officials see a lot of mail coming, they know that the guys’ situation is known to many people, and it often makes them move ahead and release the prisoners,\u201d Johnson says.<\/p>\n

Emeto, Oky and 16 other men – all Christians – were to have been released, but their documents have not been finalized. Johnson says the men are discouraged and frustrated. Winter has set in and the cells are cold, making their situation even more difficult, he adds.<\/p>\n

Inspired by an International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church eight years ago, Johnson began writing prisoners, but never received any replies until two years ago, when Emeto and Oky sent four large boxes of intricate beadwork, paintings, and cards from Kanater Men\u2019s Prison outside of Cairo, Egypt.<\/p>\n

Since then, the Hilmar congregation also has supported the prisoners buy selling goods the men have made. Prisoners in Egypt must pay for much of their food and other necessities. Johnson finally met the men in August after several years of correspondence.<\/p>\n

Emeto and Oky are Nigerians who became Christians shortly after they were arrested on drug charges. Since then, they have ministered to other Christians at the prison and hope to become evangelists after their release.<\/p>\n

Their ministry has reached to the United States. Johnson recently delivered a 7-foot-by-30-inch beaded wall hanging made by Oky to Covenant offices in Chicago. The wall hanging will be displayed with the story of how the Hilmar congregation became involved with the inmates.<\/p>\n

The prisoners\u2019 story and relationship with Johnson were featured in an earlier online story, Warm Welcome in Prison<\/a>, and the November issue of The Covenant Companion<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Emeto told Johnson that the pastor would be the first person he calls when he is released and will then be able to declare, \u201cI\u2019m free!\u201d Johnson still hopes the call will come soon.<\/p>\n

The church has since begun helping a third prisoner and has added the name – Nestor Tamisen – to the list of inmates they support. The address for these three is: Jacob Oky, Martin Emeto, and Nestor Tamisen; Kanater Men’s Prison; Kanater Al-Kharia; Qualyobeya \u2014 13621; EGYPT.<\/p>\n

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Copyright \u00a9 2011 The Evangelical Covenant Church.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Report This Post<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

HILMAR, CA (December 31, 2006) \u2013 The associate pastor of Hilmar Covenant Church hopes Christmas cards might finally lead to the release of two inmates from an Egyptian prison. 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