Gap Prison Ministries

GAP is a ministry that seeks to establish prison ministry programs within the local church to bridge the divide separating itself and the incarcerated church body, as well as commission and support imprisoned Christians as missionaries to the incarcerated. HOW IS THIS ACCOMPLISHED? By encouraging personal fellowship-relationships between believers, we believe Christians on both sides of prison walls will be drawn together to build one another in the faith and bridge the gap. WHAT DOES FELLOWSHIP MEAN? Much as with the local church, a believer inside needs fellowship to grow spiritually. As believers outside form a bond of fellowship with a brother/sister in prison, spiritual growth is always the goal. This occurs through letter writing, Quiet Time Bible studies, sharing of personal testimonies, and prayer. As trust is built, arrangements for visits may become a possibility. HOW DOES FELLOWSHIP BEGIN WITH A BELIEVER IN PRISON? Friendship starts in much the same way as in the local church. An introduction is made by GAP or the church's ministry coordinator. Fellowship develops as the believers get to know each other. HOW DO I FIND SOMEONE TO PARTNER WITH? GAP will work through your local church to form teams to partner with a believer in prison who desires fellowship. Your church will be presented with the need, and then individuals who are interested will be trained to minister as part of your church's ministry. This should not be started outside your church. HOW DO I REMAIN SAFE WHILE INVOLVED? GAP's special fellowship opportunities encourage spiritual growth and friendship while also maintaining safety. This is done by: (1) identifying only those inmates for fellowship who profess faith in Jesus Christ; (2) forming ministry teams within the local church to be overseen and managed by a ministry coordinator: and (3) training ministry team members. WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP AFTER A FRIENDSHIP DEVELOPS? Believers who began writing letters and perhaps have studied God's Word together or have visited may want to continue the relationship at only that level of involvement, which is OK. The relationship grows only as the Lord leads each participant. If a continued relationship seems appropriate, or a deeper commitment is comfortable, then team members can continue by forming a ministry partnership with the BIP (Believer In Prison) to serve in a ministry capacity to others. WHAT IF A DEEPER FELLOWSHIP IS NOT DESIRED? It would be wonderful for a partnership to continue through all levels of involvement, but this is unrealistic to expect in every situation. Prayer and help from your ministry coordinator should always guide you, however don't give up early in the process. DO I HAVE TO STAY WITH ONLY ONE BELIEVER IN PRISON? The Holy Spirit should provide the leadership throughout these relationships. If God is calling you into fellowship with several individuals, then it is up to you to decide under the direction of the Lord. WHAT IS A GAP MISSIONARY? Traditionally, missionaries are equipped and sent out from the local church by mission boards or organizations. Similarly, GAP serves as a mission organization that commissions and supports incarcerated believers as missionaries to the imprisoned. It takes one who is especially called and is spiritually mature to become a missionary. Following the Lord Jesus as their perfect role model, the missionary must always be a servant in thought and deed, as the apostle Paul reminds in Philippians 2:3: "In humility consider others better than yourselves." WHAT DOES A MISSIONARY DO? A believer who is called as a missionary shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ with fellow inmates and disciples new believers. The missionary encourages their growth in the faith by teaching and living out the truths of God's Word in their midst. WHAT SUPPORT DOES THE MISSIONARY NEED? Missionaries need both spiritual and physical support. Prayer is very important for "holding up" the missionary in difficult times as he or she establishes his/her ministry contacts within the prison. Just as with missionaries on the foreign field, it helps to know that there are brothers and sisters who care about their ministry and are praying for them. Physical support may be needed in the form of Bible study materials, Bibles, tracks, Christian books or literature. Check with your pastor and ministry coordinator before sending any direct monetary assistance. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE AND CALL MISSIONARIES? Many imprisoned Christian men and women have answered the call to ministry. Each day they share their faith with those around them and disciple new believers--yet, without training, support, or direction. GAP's commitment to and support of each missionary accomplishes this and several other important things:Provides formal biblical trainingStrengthens the missionary's confidence in ministryGives a sense of purpose and contentment while servingKeeps one faithful Keeps one from being tempted to quit because the person feels aloneIS THE MISSIONARY SENT BY GAP OR THE LOCAL CHURCH? The local church becomes the sending body of the missionary, while GAP serves as the missions organization that assists the local church in its sending task and commissions each missionary. This is consistent with how most missionaries are sent out from the local assembly. GAP can also provide the local church and the missionary support in the form of biblical resource materials, training and guidance on how to maintain the missionary's ministry. In the absence of local church commitment, GAP will assist the missionary until a local assembly becomes involved. WHAT DIFFERENTIATES GAP FROM OTHER PRISON MINISTRIES? GAP believes genuine spiritual growth must take place in the context of personal godly relationships. So we encourage close personal relationships between believers, which is normally not encouraged by most other prison ministries. GAP's missionary component is also unique because it facilitates the commissioning of incarcerated believers to reach the lost and disciple new believers. DOES GAP NEED SUPPORT?