Meet Me at the Gate

Koinonia House National Ministries (KHNM) have created a program for churches that want to be a part of welcoming ex-offenders back into communities and fostering their growth in the Christian life.  Meet Me at the Gate is ideal for a church that wants to “adopt” an ex-prisoner into their church body and does not have the resources to start a Koinonia House for several ex-prisoners.

The Meet Me at the Gate program involves forming a Post-Prison Ministry committee that will include one or more mentors for the ex-prisoner and a church liaison.  These individuals will work more closely with the ex-prisoner (or “Christian Neighbor” as he or she is referred to in KHNM literature).  he whole congregation, however, accepts the responsibility of welcoming and loving the Christian Neighbor, and the program begins before the prisoner’s release.  The committee works with KHNM to select a Christian Neighbor and, once selected, the committee and church members begin correspondence with the Christian Neighbor.  KHNM recommends visits as well, if at all possible.  When the prisoner is released, his or her Primary Mentor and others from the church meet him or her “at the gate” – literally.  The committee will have arranged for all the Christian Neighbor’s basic needs – housing, food, clothing, etc. 

The program calls for a three-month orientation period in which the Christian Neighbor spends time in daily bible study with his or her Primary Mentor, following the curriculum from KHNM.  He or she does not yet apply for a job but spends time everyday volunteering.  Sundays are spent with host families, families chosen from the church body to welcome the Christian Neighbor into their homes for the day.  KHNM provides strict guidelines for the Christian Neighbor, prohibiting him or her from owning or borrowing a car, using alcohol or tobacco products, accepting any gifts or money directly from church members, engaging in long distance communication without permission from his or her Primary Mentor, and other guidelines.  After the orientation period, the Christian Neighbor’s process is evaluated and, if he or she is deemed ready to move on, the Christian Neighbor is assisted in finding a job, and moves into the discipleship phase of the program.

KHNM provides the curriculum, specific steps for each of the stages of the program, program guidelines, and profiles for the Christian Neighbor, the committee, the mentor(s), the church liaison, the host church, and the host families.  Also provided are the application to the program, evaluation sheets, and the Financial Freedom plan the Christian Neighbor will work through with his or her mentor(s). 

This program is an ideal way for an entire church to be involved in a ministry that is intense and life-changing for all involved.  It gives many in the church ways to be involved and welcomes the ex-prisoner into a loving and Godly community where he or she is treated not as a project or a celebrity but as a new fellow believer.  KHNM helps the church with each step of the program, through their prepared literature and also with personal support in each church where the program is being carried out.