“Empowering Disciplemakers Affected by Incarceration”

Who We Are

Background

For decades, God’s people have been sowing the seeds of the Gospel among the incarcerated, and the fruit of their labor is cropping up all over, with thousands of mature believers discipling fellow prisoners. And while not every individual has been reached for Christ, there are now enough effective disciple-makers living inside prison that they are no longer dependent on the Outside-Church to do the work of evangelism and discipleship. For a long time, America’s prisons were an unreached mission field, but because of this development, we now have what is called an “indigenous church.”

One Network, Three communities

Prison Ministry as Cross-Cultural Mission

Mark Walker (May 2023), Summarized by Don Allsman

Main idea: Prison ministry is a cross-cultural ministry in the same way that historic overseas missions is cross-cultural. Understanding this reality will improve the effectiveness of those doing incarceration ministry.

Great Commission Recruitment from the Incarcerated

Don and Cathy Allsman

Completion Global, Inc. seeks to accelerate innovation for the Great Commission. We want to help the Church make disciples and plant indigenously-led, reproducing churches among every tribe, people, language, and nation (Rev. 7:9). We desire more than just the establishment of a single, growing church and prefer to see churches that are intentional about reproducing new churches every few years. For example, we would rather help one church of 50-75 people plant five new churches of 50-75 than see one church of 500. Our dream would be to see churches develop new leaders and new church plants every 3-5 years, spreading exponentially within each of the world’s people groups.

Facilitators Cohort: People who empower disciplemakers in prison for the strengthening of the indigenous church inside, by sharing ideas with other cohort members and producing new resources for the indigenous church.

Alumni Association: Graduates of formal in-prison disciplemaking programs of three years or more, such as TUMI’s Capstone Curriculum and Prison Seminaries Foundation, who interact with each other on the outside for mutual support, networking, and Christian spiritual growth.

Church Alliance: Churches who have received basic training to welcome effective disciplemakers coming from prison to find their place of service in their church community, are listed in a public-facing national directory, and who share ideas with other Alliance churches.

Statement of Faith

The Nicene Creed predates theological and denominational divisions and so represents an excellent basis for understanding historic orthodox Christian faith.

We believe in one God, The Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Begotten Son of God, Begotten of the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God, Begotten not created, of the same essence as the Father, through whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became human. Who for us too, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried. The third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his Kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and life-giver, Who proceeds from the Father and the Son. Who together with the Father and Son is worshiped and glorified. Who spoke by the prophets. We believe in one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sin, and we look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come