Evangelical Released from Prison

Evangelical Released from Prison

Wuille Ruiz Figueroa’s long wait for freedom ended June 6 when Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori granted him a full pardon. Ruiz, an evangelical Christian, served more than five years in Lima’s maximum security Castro Castro prison (CT, Feb. 9, 1998, p. 94).

Ruiz, a Methodist and law-school graduate, had been arrested in February 1993 for possessing subversive propaganda, an accusation he firmly denied. Six months later, a “faceless” judge found him guilty and sentenced him to 20 years.

His first action as a free man involved visiting the graves of his mother and mother-in-law, both of whom died during his imprisonment. Ruiz also took a long walk with his daughter, Esteli, who was an infant at the time of his arrest.

Open Doors, a ministry that provides Bibles, training, and encouragement to persecuted Christians, launched several prayer and awareness campaigns for Ruiz, who organized a church inside his cellblock.

Eleven other Christians also received pardons on June 6.

Many Peruvian Christians have become outspoken critics of the Fujimori government’s pursuit of terrorists at the expense of constitutionally guaranteed freedoms. According to some estimates, since 1992 Peru’s courts have sent more than 4,000 men and women to prison for terrorist crimes. Experts estimate that as many as a quarter of those in prison are innocent of the crimes of which they are accused. About 90 of these prisoners are evangelical Christians.

Copyright © 1998 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also in this issue

China's Changing Church: Eyewitnesses report looser regulation, ongoing repression, and booming revival. What does this mixed picture mean for the future?

Cover Story

China's Dynamic Church

Lutherans, Episcopalians Revive Talks

Brimstone for the Broadminded

Bad Things Still Happen

What the Hands Reveal

Miracle Monument

Classic & Contemporary Excerpts from July 13, 1998

Fear and Faith in the Middle East

Church Nearly Closed After Lawsuit

One-Year Mission Changes Lives

Market Gobbles Up Veggie Tales

Comic Relief: Dear John the Evangelist

House Rejects Prayer Amendment

West Bank: Persecution Reports Unfounded

New Bill Threatens Freedom of Speech Religion

Vote for Peace No Panacea

Riots Traumatize Chinese Christians

Clinton Names Seiple to New Post

First Protestant Church Dedicated

Editorial

Lies We’ve Heard Before

News

News Briefs: July 13, 1998

If Christ Be Not Risen...

The Journalist in the Sedan Chair

LETTERS

Winding Paths Meet—Healing and Faith Find Connection

Patterson's Election Seals Conservative Control

Missiology: Uncovering Christianity's Hidden History

Fraud: Faithful Lose Millions in Ponzi Scheme

Sex Allegations: Megachurch Pastor Quits, Denies Wrongdoing

News

News Briefs: July 13, 1998

Editorial

Discerning the Healing Spirits

China Mission: More than 'Ping-Pong Diplomacy'

Playing the Grace Card

Karla Faye's Final Stop

In the Word: What's Wrong with Spirituality?

Do Demons Have Zip Codes?

Whatever Happened to Middle-Class Hypocrisy?

View issue

Our Latest

Latino Churches’ Vibrant Testimony

Hispanic American congregations tend to be young, vibrant, and intergenerational. The wider church has much to learn with and from them.

Review

Modern ‘Technoculture’ Makes the World Feel Unnaturally Godless

By changing our experience of reality, it tempts those who don’t perceive God to conclude that he doesn’t exist.

The Bulletin

A Brief Word from Our Sponsor

The Bulletin recaps the 2024 vice presidential debate, discusses global religious persecution, and explores the dynamics of celebrity Christianity.

News

Evangelicals Struggle to Preach Life in the Top Country for Assisted Death

Canadian pastors are lagging behind a national push to expand MAID to those with disabilities and mental health conditions.

Excerpt

The Chinese Christian Who Helped Overcome Illiteracy in Asia

Yan Yangchu taught thousands of peasants to read and write in the early 20th century.

What Would Lecrae Do?

Why Kendrick Lamar’s question matters.

No More Sundays on the Couch

COVID got us used to staying home. But it’s the work of God’s people to lift up the name of Christ and receive God’s Word—together.

Review

Safety Shouldn’t Come First

A theologian questions our habit of elevating this goal above all others.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube