Our Mission
To love and serve inmates, ex-mates, and correctional officers with compassion, meeting their spiritual, mental and physical needs while advocating for positive change in the criminal justice system.
Our History
The CGCC Prison Ministry started in July 1990 as a mandate received by Pastor Tunde Bakare. He received the mandate in late 1989, but somehow forgot about it. Shortly, he was detained by the police for standing surety for someone who jumped bail. While. in detention, God reminded Pastor Bakare about the Prison Ministry mandate. After this wakeup call, he commissioned the Prison Ministry.
Programs
Advocacy
The advocacy unit focuses on reforming prison policies, raising public awareness about prison issues, supporting inmates' rights and needs, collaborating with government and NGOs, and facilitating access and other support services.
Rehabilitation Team
This team ensures choice souls won are economically and socially established when outside the correctional facilities by providing apprenticeship, business planning, establishment, and growth financial planning and management, mentoring and support.
Adult & Juveline correctional home ministrations
Our ministrations spans both adult and juvenile facilities, providing direct spiritual support and practical assistance. Through our Sunday and Special Ministration Team, we engage inmates in Bible Study, Prayers, worship, and revival services across various correctional centers. In partnership with Prison Fellowship Nigeria and the Lagos State Ministry of Youth & Social Development, we also serve the juvenile system-offering educational support, vocational training, and medical care to wards, including offenders, victims of crime, and wandering juveniles.
Onesimus Project
The Onesimus Project is an 18-Month mentoring program (6 months pre-release, 12 months post-release) for inmates nearing the end of their sentences. It provides a comprehensive support system, aiming to reduce recidivism and promote productivity and community safety by providing entrepreneurial and vocational skills, addressing spiritual, personality, and emotional challenges, and offering clinical counseling. Run by Prison Fellowship Nigeria, in partnership[ with CGCC Prison Ministry, SMEDAN (Small & Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria) and Covenant University
Sycamore Tree Project
This is an 8-Week course on victim/offender mediation and behaviour modification, based on Restorative Justice and the story of change. The curriculum includes Restorative Justice, Crime, Responsibility. Telling My Story, Forgiveness, Making Amends, Building Peace, and Graduation.
The Prisoner's Journey
An 8-Week course using the Gospel of Mark to introduce inmates to Jesus, focusing on three questions: Who0 is Jesus? Why did He come? What does it mean to follow Him? About 120 inmates participate yearly, some committing to Christ and others on a journey toward complete conversion.
