VOCATIONAL AND ACADEMIC TRAINING - THE FIELD

Light of the Soul Ministries is presently doing prison ministry work in a juvenile prison at Abeokuta in the western part on Nigeria. What we have found out in the field are some of the reasons these young people end up in the prison. Many of these boys have high IQs and some from middle class families. We have built a computer learning skill and library in the juvenile prison in Nigeria. This kind of facility is a first in Nigeria. The inmates learn how to assemble and repair personal computers as well as use it. Information technology is a growing field in Nigeria. These boys are taught by our associate pastors who are very experienced in information technology infield. Bible doctrines are taught to the children even as they learn computers. We have installed bible software in some of the computers. Some of these boys are taking their high school examinations this year and plan to go to college as soon as their results are released. The computer room is also equipped with an air-conditioning system to facilitate learning. Temperature in Nigeria can be over 90 degrees for weeks in Nigeria. We supplied a power generator to the prison because of frequent power outages. We are presently working out an arrangement with a college in Nigeria which will give diplomas to the boys for their studies in computer skills.

The library is equipped with bibles and other scriptural books and video. Light of the Soul Ministries has supplied some text-books for use. One of our associate pastors, Pastor Adeoye is a lecturer at one of the Nigerian universities. He teaches them the English language as well as the bible. Another Brother-in-the-Lord teaches the boys mathematics, physics and biology and computer software.

PATMOS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY: VERMONT, USA.
We hope that by the early part of 2007, with the assistance of Pastor Pete Fiske and some of his associate pastors, a branch of Patmos Christian Academy (Church at Prison, Vermont) www.churchatprison.com will be established in the Nigeria prison. It is our plan to go to the northern part of Nigeria (where there is a juvenile prison) next year and duplicate what is being done in the western part of Nigeria. The northern part is mostly Muslim but we shall go. Please pray along with us. It is not by power or might but by the Spirit of God. Christian business ettiques will be one of the subjects will be part of the curriculum.

AFTER-RELEASE PROGRAMS
We encourage pastors in the locale of where the boys will be released to come into the prison before the boys are released. We work with these pastors who generally may not know who to deal with former inmates. There are most too often societal stigmas attached to these former inmates. Many pastors are not removed from this guilt also. We need housing for some of these former inmates.
Many of them are not wanted back into the home after serving their terms but God does not discard them. We offer pre and after release counseling at our office in Lagos, Nigeria. The counseling is for the parents/guardians as well as the inmates.