The Prisoners Journey, a joint venture between Christianity Explored Ministries (CEM) and Prison Fellowship International (PFI) is based on the Christianity Explored course.
It was used in 326 prisons – an increase of 141 per cent on the previous year. Some 19 countries (up from eleven in 2015) hosted the courses in jails in Portugal, Honduras, Albania, Kenya and Burkina Faso.
The numbers of graduates rose 175 per cent in 2016, from 17,796 to 49,032. The total number of courses held worldwide showed a similar increase in the same period – 171 per cent, from 1,822 to 4,943.
The two month course is made up of three phases.
There are estimated to be ten million inmates in 22,000 jails across the world.
PFI was founded in 1979. Its volunteers currently undertake monthly prison ministry with about two million inmates in 3,700 prisons in over 120 countries.
The Prisoners Journey programme is at the heart of PFI's strategy to reach more than one million prisoners with the Gospel by 2020.
Ian Roberts, Chief Executive of CEM, comments:
"We are delighted that our partnership with PFI is bearing fruit in such a dramatic way.
"Not only are thousands coming to profess faith in Christ but also testimonies are being heard from around the world of transformation of entire prisons."
When speaking to Premier, Ian added that they will be 26 countries using the programme by the end of 2017.