Summit Conference By Catherine Fletcher

Hi Everybody,
For sometime I have been carrying this burden for the prisoner. Prisons fascinate me really! Every time I pass a prison (by the way there is a prison in Alor Star ) my mind wanders over the walls into the cells ........ what are they doing...... what are they feeling...... what are they thinking......how does time pass.....etc. For the rest of the day these thoughts linger. For this reason I also avoid passing the prison always taking another route.

I am claustrophobic and will stop breathing if I were put in a cell ( God forbid ). I don't know how I will react when I do enter a prison (visitation lah) and hear the metal doors closing behind me.....but if God needs me to go get the lost then by His Grace I will.
When we applied to go into the women's prison in 2008 I was all fired up but waiting for
our application to be approved (to date no news) that fire died. But coming for this
Summit and meeting up with Bro Mark Matthew that fire is raging once again.
At the summit we had 2 group discussions. One was for the specific champions and the
other was the small groups. I was in the Growth Champions and the Prison Small Group
discussions.

We were given 4 questions to discuss at the first discussion :
1. What are your roles & key responsibilities as a 'Growth" Champion? (i) to assist the leader in all aspects regarding the small group matters.
(ii) To monitor the spiritual growth of the members of the group.
(iii) to encourage an pray with a member whenever required.
(iv ) to organise activities to help spiritual growth.
( v ) to encourage the mentor / mentee concept so that there is individual growth at
one's own pace.
2. In what Ways do you think the other champions can contribute to your role as a G. Champion.
(i ) The Connect Camp.: to pass on info regarding good reading material and books
available in book stores. Titles, cost and store that they are available. Also personal
reviews of such material and testimonies as a result of reading these articles and
books.
(ii) Pray Champ: passing on prayer items from members as well as getting info on
members who need to be visited or encouraged
(iii) Women's and Men"s Champ: to inform them reg visitation of members who
require and accompanying them if necessary.
3. In what ways can you contribute to the effectiveness of the other champions?
(i) To give encouragement and Godly advice and counsel
(ii ) to remind each other and keep the group together and focused.
4. What support tools/resource would you need for you to serve effectively in your role?
(i) Bible and other Christian literature
(ii) multi media
(iii) other electronic media......CD"S>»DVD'S etc.


Small Group Discussion:
Before we started the case study. We listened to two testimonies given by a young girl and a young man. The young girl told us how she and her family accepted Christ through her uncle who was in prison. Her uncle came in contact with Bro Mark through his prison visitation. The young man was in detention and he told us how not only did he accept Christ but how he brought 20 others to the saving grace of Christ when he came out.

That got me thinking:
1. In an environment like the prison God can mould faster and the person responds faster because he has no where to go and nothing else to do. He is now exposed to this thing called HOPE and for the first time they see a FUTURE. So it is very important for us to touch them at this point.
2. When they come out they are 100% for God and their testimonies give the
greatest value to God's kingdom because they become the harvesters! .....and we can also ride on this because we planted the seeds! ( after thought lah )
3. The prison is one harvest field that is being neglected and the labourers are fewer than few
Finally let me just say I enjoyed the Summit and I now have a clearer picture of my role and the function of my small group. I am looking forward to our first meeting as a group. I pray to God I will live up to His standard and will be faithful to my role.

BY CATHERINE FLETCHER