Adeboye takes message of hope to prison inmates

The Liberty Chapel of the Maximum Security Prison, Kirikiri, Lagos, was packed full with inmates, mostly youths, who had gathered for the End of Year Service and Medical Outreach of Pastor Enoch Adeboye of Redeemed Christian Church of God. The bi-annual event, which has become a major part of the prison calendar forms part of the church’s ‘2016 Lets Go Fishing’ programme with the theme, Great Expectations. Though the Redeemed Choir was on ground to render songs during the short service, the Liberty Choir, made up of mostly young inmates, was the main attraction.

From Dick Tunney’s How Excellent to Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah, the choir held their own, as they delivered their special numbers to the visitors.

In his welcome speech, pastor of the chapel, Tunwashe Kabiru, thanked Pastor Adeboye for finding time to visit the ‘students’ and for his intervention projects, which include renovation of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Prisons Special Study Centre, Lagos and equipping it with computers; scholarship for the students; renovation and equipping of the computer class and payment of medical bills of inmates, among others.

In his remarks, the Deputy Comptroller, Maximum Prison Kirikiri, Oduntan Seye Olukoya, described the opportunity to host Adeboye as a great privilege.

“He’s not someone you see any time. Every two years that Baba steps into this place, our testimonies are usually uncountable. Just recently, one of our ‘students,’ who has been on death row, was released; he celebrated his Christmas in Ado Ekiti. I’m sure we are going to have mass release this year,” he said.

Oduntan commended the church for the level of support they provide for the prison service.

“Responding, Adeboye said: “I thank God for what He has done in the past. I’ve taken down your requests and I will ensure it’s done. I will personally take up the case of those condemned; you have to pray always. We will accelerate work at the hospital and what we can do, we will do that as quickly as possible.”

In his sermon that centred on ‘Better the end of a thing than the beginning,’ Adeboye urged the inmates never to lose hope, not minding their present condition.