CPMM-A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER

Fall 2023

Baptism and Transformation: Stories of Redemption at Tipton Correctional Facility

By Stephanie Cobian

Witnessing God's grace in action! Ten men at Tipton Correctional Facility were baptized, outwardly confessing their inward decision to follow Jesus. With God we find new beginnings, renewed hope, and new life!

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” - Romans 6:4

In a place often associated with confinement and despair, unexpected stories of transformation often emerge. At Tipton Correctional Facility, a place where barriers seem insurmountable, we witnessed a profound demonstration of the power of faith and the promise of a new life. Ten men, each carrying their own burdens and stories of mistakes, embraced a new beginning as they made the life-altering decision to be baptized.

As every other Tuesday, CPMM-A President Tom Hodges and Vice President Dan Woodell shared the gospel of Jesus with 35 inmates within the facility's walls. They sowed seeds of faith, knowing that even on a seemingly barren ground, the potential for growth and transformation exists with the message of hope and salvation. After sharing the message, ten inmates decided to be baptized—professing their inward commitment to follow the path of Jesus Christ—standing as living testaments to the

possibilities of redemption even in the most challenging circumstances.The passage from Romans 6:4 reminds us that baptism signifies the transformative journey from death to life, from darkness to light. As one emerges from the waters of baptism, it symbolizes leaving behind the old self and embracing the promise of a fresh start. It parallels the story of Christ's resurrection, emphasizing the power of divine grace to lift us from the depths of our struggles and grant us the gift of renewal. These ten men at Tipton Correctional Facility chose to publicly declare their faith, embarking on their personal journeys of resurrection and rebirth. It was an affirmation that regardless of past mistakes, every soul has the capacity to embrace a new life—a life guided by grace, mercy, and love.

As we reflect on the events that transpired within those walls, let’s be reminded that our own journeys are not defined by our past mistakes or current limitations. New beginnings are not limited by physical walls or circumstances. With God, every heart is capable of transformation, every life can be renewed, and every journey can have a fresh start.

Partnership Spotlight: Capital City Christian Church

By Kristin Mulligan

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22

Christian Prison Ministry of Mid-America (CPMMA) partners with churches of all sizes to fulfill the Great Commission by going and making disciples of all nations inside prisons and jails around mid-America. One of these partnerships is with Capital City Christian Church in Jefferson City, Missouri. I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Frank Goehringer, one of the pastors at Capital City Christian Church, to discuss the church’s partnership with CPMMA and his thoughts about it.

CPMMA has a rich history with Capital City. The idea for the ministry was born to a group of individuals who discussed the project with a previous lead pastor of Capital City, Gary Baker, back in the ‘80s. It was in the church’s offices that CPMMA leadership began the work to bring the gospel to those incarcerated in local prisons.

Today, Capital City leadership understands how intrinsically tied the work of the ministry and that of the gospel is. As Jesus proclaimed, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19). And CPMMA does just that.

As Pastor Frank shared, “ volunteers cross all kinds of boundaries to make sure that people are presented with the gospel. The heart of the gospel is freedom, and the heart of the gospel is meant for every single person, no matter what their life looks like, no matter where they've been, what they've done, no matter if they're incarcerated or not.”

Not only does the ministry proclaim freedom in the gospel but it shares the love of God in doing so. “The love of God . . . literally is about giving up of ourselves for somebody else.” Pastor Frank further explained, “ another part of it is that we are called to what Jesus said in Luke 6: if you love those who love you back, what good is it? We are called to love everyone. We are called to love those who are different from us. We are called to love those who are broken. We are called to love those who are hurting. We are called to love those who are hurting others and people who are incarcerated. Just because somebody is incarcerated–and we can fill in the blank for a whole bunch of things–doesn't make them any less made in the image of God.”

I was able to ask Pastor Frank one last question about what he would say to encourage a church if they were on the fence about partnering with the ministry, and his answer didn’t disappoint. “I would say they ought to consider this ministry highly because the values and the vision of this ministry align so beautifully with the values and the vision of what the heart of the local church should be.”

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Capital City Christian Church is a non-denominational congregation and its purpose is to be Jesus to all people, including to see all people encountering Jesus, becoming like Jesus, and loving like Jesus. To find out more about them, visit their website.

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