César Ceballos (left) and Hans Daza (right) in September 2023
César Ceballos started his career in corrections as a warden over a small compound housing seventy people. His competence and leadership qualities soon led to responsibilities in larger facilities, including a role at La Modelo, a prison in Bogotá where more than five thousand people are incarcerated.
At La Modelo, César implemented rehabilitation programs and opened doors to various churches and ministries, including Crossroads. He believed true change could only come through faith and a personal relationship with God.
“Crossroads was giving happiness to many people,” he said. “When they finished their courses, there was happiness, and it wasn’t just those who finished their courses that were happy but also their families. Their mothers were especially proud. They wanted a chance for their children, and Crossroads gave it to them. Their happiness gave me joy as well.”
After serving as a warden for twenty-three years, César found himself caught in legal troubles in 2019 and faced the harshness of living behind bars himself.
Upon his arrest, César confronted a new reality: the social circle that once surrounded him disappeared.
“When I was a warden, I had about four thousand contacts in my phone,” he said. “I was usually never alone, but this was as if I had snapped my fingers and everything changed.”
Many friends and acquaintances distanced themselves, and he was left with only his wife and daughter by his side. As he reflected on his life, he realized he needed to turn to Christ.
“All that remained for me was [my family] and my Lord Jesus, who gave me peace,” César said. “I went from being someone who helped with Crossroads to starting their courses myself.”
Hans Daza, regional director of Crossroads Latin America, told us that, behind bars, César became his top recruiter for students in Colombia.
“It was impressive to me that he had been a warden and became a student,” Hans said. “I know that César was a professional in his job area, but he showed great appreciation for the letters he received from the mentors. He cares about others and wants them to be well. Even though he went through many years of darkness, today, God is at work in him.”
After thirteen months, César was released, and he discovered he would need to adapt to a new lifestyle. “I always was in a luxury car with four men who took care of me,” he said. “When I was released, I had to drive a vehicle and use public transportation, which, before prison, I had not used. Through this, I was taught to value every day what I have. I didn’t ever want to be the person I was before again. Even when I served my Lord, I think that I was being blinded by power.”
Today, by God’s grace, César holds a government position. He views this role as a platform to effect positive change in his community.
“God took me down from a high position with too much power to be an inmate, to always receive orders and not to give them as I had always done. He put me back in an authority position but with a humbler heart, full of love, and with a big need to serve and help,” César said.
“In those difficult moments, we need to know that we are better with God,” he continued. “The Church needs to show that they are really there for someone, that they won’t judge you; they will support you and surround you with love.”
Tearing up, he said, “I think the Church is well represented by people like Pastor Hans who help provide God’s hand. The Church is absolutely essential. . . . I think what motivates you the most is the feeling that the Church is right there with you.”
We believe that the efforts we have made over the past year to invest in our leaders will have a ripple effect on people in prisons and churches around the world. As we engage churches to participate in the Crossroads program, we pray that more people will answer the call to care for incarcerated people. We want to see people in prison become agents of positive change in their communities, as César has, because of the hope they have found in Christ.
Did you know that Crossroads’ program is utilized by ministry leaders in more than twenty countries around the world? With your support, they can continue to bring hope to people incarcerated around the world.