It made no sense that the God of all creation would desire to dwell in a depraved and dirty prisoner…

Between 1966 and 1987, Angel Aguirre was in and out of jail for stealing and trafficking drugs. During his last incarceration, a group of visitors arrived at García Moreno. A man smiled as he handed Angel a little book, the New Testament. Angel almost laughed at the thought of reading a Bible, but boredom practically forced him to focus his eyes on the tiny words.

A few weeks later, Angel asked the Christians if he could buy one of the study guides. He was given one for free.

Every week a gospel worker comes to the prison to conduct a Bible study for inmates who have trusted Christ as their Savior and want to receive instruction.

Angel read every word and filled in answers to every question. One night Angel's mind became quiet. He turned the last page in the study guide. There at the top of the page were the words: "The Sinner's Prayer." It was not hard for Angel to realize that he was the sinner, and the prayer was for him. He knelt on the ground as tears wet his hands. It made no sense that the God of all creation would desire to dwell in a depraved and dirty prisoner…but that night, Angel knew He had.

A group of Christians inside the jail started a church of 100 men. They met for prayer and teaching every day. Angel was always present at these meetings—as well as prisoners Felix Valencia (who would later become leader of a Christian Aid-assisted ministry that reaches the tribal children of the Anchayacu River) and Gilbert Tenorio (who would become leader of Christian Aid-assisted Rock of Salvation ministry that plants churches and operates a primary school in southern Ecuador).