Taking a stand
Stand in The Gap Ministeries is offering information sessions for people interested in becoming involved in the nonprofit’s programs.
BETHANY — Tammy Franklin gave her heart to Christ after attending Bible study sessions at Eddie Warrior Correctional Center in Taft.
Franklin described that moment as a “miracle,” but then came the practical lessons needed to transform her wayward life.
She got that practical advice from women who taught Stand In The Gap’s Bible-based Women in Transition program in the prison.
Franklin shared memories of that critical time in her life at a recent Stand In The Gap Lunch & Learn session in the Oklahoma City metro area. “I began to hold on to every word that they spoke,” she said of her Stand In The Gap mentors. “They walked the journey with me.”
These days, Franklin teaches classes at several correctional centers and also serves as executive director of Branch15, an organization started by Amy Groeschel, of Life.Church, that provided Christ-centered transitional living and support to women on the path to recovery and independent living. The recent Stand In The Gap lunch information session was at Branch15’s Hope House in Bethany.
The ministry’s leaders will be offering several similar sessions in Oklahoma City and Tulsa in June. Francois Cardinal, the organization’s executive director, said the free sessions feature information shared by the ministry’s leaders, as well as testimonies from people like Franklin, whose lives have been transformed by Stand In The Gap.
The Tulsa-based ministry was founded by Buddy Stone and includes three programs: Women In Transition, Life Launch and Stand In The Gap for Widows.
Women in Transition has a threepronged approach that includes formerly incarcerated women teaching a curriculum to women in seven Oklahoma prisons and jails. Once course graduates are released from prison, they are paired with a mentor, and then they are connected to a small group of volunteers to help them as they pursue a productive life after incarceration.
Life Launch is geared toward youths and young adults aging out of the state’s foster care program or community youths and young adults who face similar challenges as those aging out of foster care, primarily the lack of care and support from positive adult role models. Through the program, these individuals are each linked with a small group of people from the community to come alongside them as they transition from foster care. Life Launch volunteers have given first-time birthday parties for their young mentees and taught them how to drive a car, among other life lessons.
Stand In The Gap for Widows helps churches connect with widows in their community through small groups aimed at bringing the women together for fellowship and support.
Cardinal said the information sessions are designed to help Stand In The Gap connect with people he called “VIP’s” — volunteers, investors and prayer warriors. He said the organization has offices in Oklahoma City and Tulsa so the sessions will be in both cities.
Cardinal said the organization is privately supported by generous individuals and depends heavily on community volunteers who wish to give their time and talents to help transform people’s lives.
“You don’t need any special skills to be a volunteer, you just need to care,” he said.
Franklin echoed those sentiments. She said she knows Stand In The Gap’s Women in Transition program works not only from her own experience but also from seeing others go through it.
“They’ve learned addiction, dysfunction, abuse in their life. They want to be part of world they have never known — but they don’t know how,” she said.
“This is about people who care connecting with people in need. I don’t think there’s any bigger honor than that.”