THE BAPTIST PRISON MINISTRY DIVISION
Rev. AKANDE
Baptist Prison Ministry is a division of the Social/Health Division of The Nigerian Baptist Convention. It ministers to the total needs of the prisoners and all the people related to them. The Division endeavours to create right environment, sympathy, and cares for the oppressed, afflicted, prisoners and others. We bring joy, freedom and salvation to them, as we minister in the power of the Holy Spirit.
MISSION
The Division leads the Nigerian Baptist in mission to the urchins, in-mates, ex-mates and officers through evangelism and discipleship; so that in prisons they would become better citizens of the society and obedient followers of Jesus Christ. All these are achieved by the common efforts of the members of the division at all levels of the Convention.
VISION
The Division leads members of the Nigerian Baptist Convention in "Setting captives free, transforming lives, restoring hope for better tomorrow".
GOALS
Our main goal is to win the prisoners to the Lord; we also desire to help them become better citizens of the society and fruitful Christians.
OUR OTHER GOALS ARE TO:
• Win people into the kingdom of God and make them active members of our churches,
• Have "Baptist Witness" in Nigerian prisons,
• Have worship service in Nigerian prisons,
• Have a National Rehabilitation Centre,
• Encourage Conferences and Associations to have rehabilitation centre (facilities),
• Encourage Conferences to have full-time prison Chaplains,
• Encourage churches to have fellowships and all effort should be coordinated on Associational levels,
• Relate with prison officers and officials,
- Relate with government at all levels, NGOS, and societies to complement the efforts of one another to fight crimes.
OBJECTIVES
OUR OBJECTIVES ARE:
- To depopulate the kingdom of the devil and create a society free of crimes and corruption.
- Take the gospel to the prisons in obedience to Christ in order to create opportunities for prisoners to hear and accept the gospel.
- To make prisons and the officers of the prison to be proud members of Baptist churches.
- To prevent crimes.
- To help decongest the Nigerian prisons.
- Minister in caring for prisoners (including disabled, mentally ill prisoners, women and their peculiar problems, children in the prisons and the juvenile prisons).
- To be involved in the Government's reformatory prison programmes
• To provide counselling and necessary links with their family members.
- To take care of the discharged one
- To ease their integration into the society.
THE BLESSED MERCIFUL
It is a common knowledge among true Christians that John was in the Isle of Patmos, a lone, rocky, dark and unhospitable prison for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Under such adverse circumstances, separated from all types of enjoyments, the loved ones and things of Ephesus , debarred from the Christian fellowship in the church, condemned to the companionship of uncongenial fellow captives, the most glorious and important revelation to all Christians was given to him.
There are numberless prisoners and captives, constant sufferers bound by iron chains, separated from their father's houses, who know only tears, sorrow and grief's expectantly waiting for the miracles of God. You can be the agent of that miracle today if you act immediately by faith.
