Although it’s a tough time of year to be behind bars, the prisoners

at jails across the globe always stun Martin Tuson with their generosity.

As well as handmade cards, Martin, of County Antrim, receives

paintings and artwork from jailbirds who want to show their appreciation for his work throughout the year.

M artin is a regular visitor to HMP Maghaberry, near Lisburn, Northern Ireland, where he talks about his faith in Jesus Christ and writes poetry to inspire inmates.

And he also writes to Third World prisoners and visits other jails around the world as part of his ministry.

He said: “I get contacted by prisoners all the time and get lots of beautiful handmade Christmas cards, especially from the prisoners I write to in Thailand and Africa.

“From prisoners in the British Isles, I get a lot of proper paintings

on canvasses and it means I get to put them up in work.

“The guys at work ask me about them and it’s just another chance to share the gospel.”

M artin, who is a toolroom machinist, hopes to one day to be able to work full-time on prison ministry.

But until then he will continue

to visit prisons to give hope to the inmates and tell them about his Christian faith.

D uring his nine years as a prison visitor he has seen many miracles, including seeing one prisoner who was healed after suffering problems with his elbow. Martin said: “I was confronted

by a man who said, ‘I’m one of those who has to see it to believe it.’ I answered, ‘you’ll see it now’ and prayed for him, his elbow was healed.”

The prisoner then spoke about his healing to other inmates

who asked when Martin would be visiting.

And prison warders have also seen their ailments healed after being prayed for by Martin.

He said: “I had been praying for some prisoners who weren’t Christians but had shoulder and neck problems, when a prison officer called Roy heard about them getting healed.

“Roy had a misaligned spine and no belief in God, let alone in his power to heal.

“When I prayed for him, his spine was straightened right in front of me! He broke down into tears.”

Martin has written a book and produced a DVD about his ministry, Set Free Prison Ministries.

For details, visit www.setfreebangor.co.uk