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Posted by Celebrate Unity OKC on Thursday, March 1, 2018
Oklahoma nonprofit recognized for meeting the needs of the community’s vulnerable populations
OKLAHOMA CITY – Stand in the Gap Ministries was selected as one of 12 nonprofit award winners for the National Christian Foundation’s OKC Passion Awards sponsored by Hobby Lobby. The purpose of the Passion Awards is to identify and support effective, excellent ministries committed to advancing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Stand in the Gap is a state-wide initiative, founded in 1997, connecting people in need with people who care.
Stand in the Gap has three unique programs designed to serve orphans, widows and prisoners.
- Each year, approximately 300-500 young adults age out of the foster care system in Oklahoma. These young adults may or may not have a high school education, a job or a place to live. Stand in the Gap’s Life Launch program focuses on meeting the relational needs of at-risk young people, age 16-24. Each young person is partnered with 3-4 adult mentors, who help them on their journey to become independent and self-sufficient.
- Stand in the Gap for Widows empowers the community to care for widows through practical and emotional support. Many widows feel vulnerable after their loved one has passed. It’s important that they maintain a strong network of support for their emotional and physical health. Stand in the Gap for Widows provides a community bond to meets these needs.
- Oklahoma incarcerates more women per capita than any other state – 151 out of every 100,000 women, double the national average. Stand in the Gap’s Women in Transition program teaches curriculum inside nine Oklahoma prisons and jails. The program provides one-on-one mentoring while incarcerated and then small group support after a woman is released from prison for a minimum of one year. Since 1997, less than 10% of women who have completed the Women in Transition program have returned to incarceration, compared to the national average of 67% within three years.
“We are honored to be recognized among ministries who are making such a huge impact on our city. I am thankful for the opportunity for greater awareness of Stand in the Gap and our mission,” said Francois Cardinal, Stand in the Gap Executive Director.
Stand in the Gap Ministries was selected as an OKC Passion Award winner through a competitive grant process. The awards were presented at the 2018 OKC Passion Awards gala on March 1, at 6 p.m. at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City.
