The scriptural verses that confirmed Jesus’ love for the children where He said “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” can best described the mood at the annual Christmas party for children of inmates in Oyo state held on Wednesday 27th December, 2023.
The party which had about forty children of the incarcerated, across the thirty-three Local government area of Oyo state, was an annual event under the Promise Path Initiative of the Prisons Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, Oyo state.
Newsarena.ng reports that the children who were of different age categories enjoyed food, drinks, games, song presentations, biblical Recitations and presentation of gift from Santa Claus.
Different speakers who admonished the children on the need to become good ambassadors of their families and the society, gave the children the confidence that they were unique and destined for greatness which God has predestined them to be.
The speakers advised them to shun immorality, indecent dressing and all forms of social vices, appealing to them to remain focused and determined.
Speaking with newsarena.ng, Oyo state coordinator, Promise Path Initiative of the Prisons Fellowship of Nigeria, International, Reverend Kayode Oluyombo said the purpose of the programme is to “build a new nation that fear God, that love to do the right thing, so that the hope that seems to have lost can return through this little children”
“We’re celebrating and showing them love during the yuletide, so that they can also feel the mood of the season.”
“The children cannot have this if they don’t have Jesus, Jesus is the hope and the light of the world and that is what we’re trying to inculcate into the lives of these children. Today, we have roughly eighty people we’re taking care of”
Also speaking, the vice president, Prison Fellowship of Nigeria, Oyo state, elder Daniel Abiodun Farinde said the fellowship has been footing the educational bills of the children for years, giving them school materials and other incentives to make them good ambassadors.
He said “We don’t want what had happened to their parents to continue in their families, that’s why PFN visit their homes, the genuine ones, especially those attending public schools, who cannot afford to go to private schools, we take care of them, so we decided that we would organize Christmas party for them”
“We follow them up, we have mentors among the fellowship members who continuously monitor them. Each of the family has someone who follow them up, we go to visit them, we monitor their progress, that was the assignment given to us by Prison Fellowship of Nigeria and we’re doing it judiciously” He said.
