When the Apostle Paul was imprisoned for preaching Christ, he began teaching other prison inmates, adding many to God’s Kingdom. Clearly, the gospel can penetrate hearts inside prisons.
Prisoners for Christ (PFC) has provided a curriculum and training materials for Bible teachers in Nigeria. Don Szolomayer, Director of International Affairs at PFC, describes it as a Bible college inside a prison. The course is extensive; it requires 143 weekly lessons over a total of three to four years to train an inmate chaplain. With their Bible knowledge, prison chaplains are trained to evangelize, teach, and disciple inmates using the Scriptures.
Recently, they held a crusade led by all inmate chaplains who have graduated. After people commit to Christ, they begin the process of teaching and discipling other prisoners. By doing so, they are planting the seeds for a Disciple Making Movement, where one disciple makes another, who makes even more. Church services are also part of their efforts. In 2024, over two million attended these services, with an estimated 73,000 conversions. Prison guards are noting a positive difference when inmates accept Christ’s lordship, and they welcome more PFC work.
As one might expect, the limiting factor for growth is a lack of trained Bible teachers/disciplers. The more disciplers there are, the faster they can reach all prisons. When more disciplers are ready, they can extend the work. Some from PFC are hopeful of having the ministry expanded to countries outside Nigeria.
Pray Fervently for:
More inmate chaplains to step up, and prison officers to continue welcoming Gospel transformation inside Nigerian prisons (the Bible, Ephesians 3:1-3).
Ask God to multiply discipleship efforts through Nigeria’s prison churches, reaching Muslims as well as Christians (The Bible, Acts 10:44-47).
For repentant hearts that are willing to follow the Lamb of God (The Bible, Acts 2:37).
Sources
Mission Network News. From inmates to chaplains: How discipleship is transforming Nigeria’s prisons. September 25, 2025
