WHY ANOTHER PRISON MINISTRY?
WHO WE ARE
STATEMENT OF
FAITH
MISSIONARY PARTNERSHIPS
HOW YOUR CHURCH CAN GET INVOLVED
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Daily Quiet Time Series
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Shared Bible Studies
FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
GAP & YOU
WHO WE ARE
OUR MANDATE
I was in prison and you came to visit me.
--Matthew 25:36
Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners.
--Hebrews 13:3
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Visiting
Christian men and women in prison requires a significant commitment. To
identify with them in a personal way involves laying aside one's
preconceived ideas and prejudices and seeing them through the eyes of
Christ--it requires a relationship.
OUR MISSION
TO ASSIST
the ministry of the local church with bridging the gap between itself and
the church body behind prison walls through the establishment of Godly
relationships for the purpose of disciplemaking.
AND
TO SERVE as a mission organization that commissions and supports imprisoned
Christian men and women as missionary representatives to the incarcerated.
OUR METHOD
To prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ
may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge
of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the
fullness of Christ. --Ephesians 4:12-13
Christians grow to spiritual maturity and unity by edifying one another in
the context of godly relationships. With this biblical example in mind, GAP
Prison Ministries believes relationships built on spiritual growth must
serve as bridges between the two estranged bodies.
We will accomplish this by introducing members from both believing
bodies--believers in church (BICs) and believers in prison (BIPs)--to GAP's
fellowship programs which are based upon the apostle Paul's example of unity
to the church in Ephesus (Ephesians 4:12-16)--that Christians work to edify
each other to spiritual maturity.
KOINONIA ADVENTURE
Getting To Know You
The Greek word Koinonia means "fellowship," or "partnership." Paul uses
Koinonia in his letter to the Philippians to describe the special fellowship-
relationship he shares with them in their partnership to advance the Gospel
(Phil. 1:5).
The KOINONIA ADVENTURE is a spiritual partnership formed between
volunteer team members from the local church with one or more believer
in prison (BIP). The goals here are to acquaint believers in the local
church with a believer in prison, establish a fellowship-relationship
between the two which results in mutual spiritual growth.
Just as when people begin attending a local church, the KOINONIA
relationship begins with the believers getting to know each other and
advances as they share their burdens and victories. It grows spiritually
through the fellowship opportunities of letter writing, prayer, telephone
calls, Bible study and quiet time devotionals. As the relationship
develops, a partnership established by a bond of common purpose of
mutual spiritual growth develops--binding each one to another and to
Christ.
TIMOTHY TRAVELS
Progressing Into a Ministry Partnership
The TIMOTHY TRAVELS ministry track is more advanced than
KOINONIA ADVENTURE, with an expanded focus to include developing
a ministry-partnership. Instead of focusing solely on the inward spiritual
growth of the believing partners, the partnership expands its focus
outward by taking on a servant role to meet the spiritual and physical
needs of others.
The goal here is to develop the relationship into one of deeper trust and
commitment through spiritual edification while serving the needs of others.
As each believer builds upon a common desire of mutual spiritual
growth and service, their relationship will mature into one of greater trust
and commitment as each conforms to the likeness of Christ. Fellowship and
service to others can include discipleship, joint Bible studies, telephone
calls, visits, and Bible courses.
The Bible lists many specific methods for believers to edify each other and
serve in the context of their relationships:
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Honor one another (Rom. 12:10).
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Admonish one another (Rom. 15:14).
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Accept one another (Rom. 15:7).
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Serve one another (Gal. 5:13).
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Bear one another's burdens (Gal. 6:2).
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Submit to one another (Eph. 5:21).
Growth between the BICs and BIPs continues as they strengthen their common
bond by assisting and building one another up in the context of serving as
did Paul and Timothy.
In John chapter 13 Jesus teaches the disciples a valuable lesson in
humility by washing their feet. His example reveals an important
characteristic of a mature follower of Christ: one having a servant's
heart. The TIMOTHY TRAVELS ministry provides an opportunity for the
believing partners to develop this level of commitment to others.
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-Mr. & Mrs. Leo, Pennsylvania |
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