Louisiana prison offers ministry degree to inmates

ANGOLA, La. (AP) - Inmates in one of the toughest prisons in the South are finding redemption through a college seminary program.

By: By MARY FOSTER Associated Press Writer | WNCT
Published: January 06, 2010

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ANGOLA, La. (AP) - Inmates in one of the toughest prisons in the South are finding redemption through a college seminary program.
Convicted murderer Jerome Derricks was among the first graduates of the program in 2005. The program offered by the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary allows inmates to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in ministry.
Warden Burl Cain says the program offers hope at a prison where many inmates are serving life sentences and is also home to Louisiana's death row.
Graduates officiate at the prison's 18 inmate churches and also do one-on-one ministry and grief counseling.
There are 23 graduates of the seminary who act as missionaries in eight satellite prisons in Louisiana.
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New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary: http://www.nobts.edu/
Louisiana State Penitentiary: http://www.doc.louisiana.gov/LSP/

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