TEN people were baptized during the official opening of the first dedicated baptism pool at Barawagi Correctional Institution on 5 August 2026, marking a milestone in the prison’s rehabilitation program.
The opening ceremony was marked by the baptism of eight male prisoners, one female prisoner, and one correctional sergeant, highlighting the role of faith-based rehabilitation within the correctional system.
The baptism pool was funded through a partnership between the Simbu Adventist Church, Simbu Provincial Authority and the Simbu Provincial Health Authority (SPHA) at a cost of K17, 500. The project also included the installation of a 900L-Tuffa water tank.
Barawagi Correctional Institution Operations Manager Inspector Peter Boli thanked the Simbu Provincial Authority and SPHA for supporting the initiative, describing it as a milestone for the prison.
“This is the first time Barawagi Correctional Institution has had a baptism pool built specifically for inmates. It is a significant achievement, and we are grateful to our partners for making it possible,”Inspector Boli said.
He said the baptism pool would be available to all Christian denominations conducting prison ministry at the institution.
Inspector Boli added that the facility would improve prison security by allowing baptisms to take place within the correctional institution rather than transporting inmates to rivers or other locations outside the prison, reducing the risk of escape.
He said the initiative reflects the importance of rehabilitation, offering inmates the opportunity to strengthen their spiritual lives and make positive changes while serving their sentences.
Adventist church representatives said the baptism pool would support ongoing prison ministry programs and provide prisoners with greater access to Christian worship and baptism services in a safe and secure environment.
The assist detainees Baptism Pool built by SDA Church for all Church denomination to use for detainees rehabilitation.
The project demonstrates the shared commitment of the church, government, and health sector to promoting rehabilitation, hope, and positive transformation among inmates in Simbu Province.