LAGOS, NIGERIA (ANS) --   Steve Pelemo is known for his evangelistic drive. Fishing men for Christ puts a shine on his face. Ask him any day about the latest in terms of reaching the lost for Christ, and he will reel off a long list of places visited, crusades launched and lives changed. Steve is an evangelist by calling. He presides over The World Overcomers Church, at Abule-Egba, Lagos, Nigeria.

Presently, Pelemo has decided on a new approach to soul winning by floating Neighborhood Football Academy, an avenue for reaching the unreached for Christ in the metropolitan of Lagos. Why Neighborhood Football Academy when many churches and para-church ministries are scattered all over the city of Lagos?

The chartered accountant turned minister of the gospel explains that the move of God in just one crusade could out pace activities within the confines of a church building. According to him, the place to witness God’s miraculous move is the crusade ground as territorial forces resistant to the gospel are contended with and defeated.

Neighborhood Football Academy is coming at a time when a growing army of youths would rather gather together in designated areas around the city and play football than go to church on Sundays. The proprietor of the Academy holds meeting with the trainees on Saturday mornings and Sunday evenings while they practice on Wednesdays. He explained that “The essence is… to ensure that trainees make a difference through Christ wherever they go.” His watch-ward for the Academy is “Character plus talent plus Christ equals good success.”

The evangelist said he gave his trainees the example of some football stars who though they have talent but have no Christ and character. Ultimately, they cannot be counted among the successful except they commit their lives Christ. Pelemo evangelistic efforts will go down the memory lane of previous evangelistic exploits within and outside Lagos. He enthused that “Foot- balling is easier if one is educated, can express oneself and meet important people.”

In the year 2002, this man of God organized a crusade for hoodlums, otherwise known as “Area Boys” in Lagos. Today, James Olorunsola who was touched by Christ in that crusade has been transformed from a hooligan to a gainfully employed auto- mechanic and also married contrary to all expectation. That is not all. In the year 2004, Pelemo held another crusade for “Area Boys” at Oshodi, a place that Lagosians dread because of the preponderance of criminals in that area. That day was his 48th birthday and God honored his faith with many converts who were all given T-shirts and caps that depicted their new camp as they left their former camp as “Area Boys.”

Apart from the fact that a permanent church has been opened for “Area Boys” at a place called Pleasure in Lagos, plans are underway to hold a national conference at the national stadium for the “Area Boys.” Pelemo revealed that this aimed at reaching street urchins and even armed robbers with the gospel.

On the arrival of Evangelist Pelemo’s crusade team to Ibillo in Edo State, Nigeria, an 84 year old traditional ruler said, “If I die today, I will go to heaven because my eyes have seen the day I am waiting for.” Consequently, he dedicated the town to Christ.

Aiyegunle, a community in Akoka-Edo, Edo State, Nigeria was empowered with two computer sets to enable them get on-line. On the other hand, Somorika, another community will remember for a long time, the day a harlot gave her life to Christ because the gospel found its way into a place that was hitherto regarded as impenetrable because of high level idolatry.

Come November 2006, Steve Pelemo’s crusade team will storm the city of Sakete, a border town in Benin Republic where the Oro Fetish worship is said to have taken over, to the extent that some pastors are afraid to speak out in the name of Jesus.