The mission of In The Gap is to train and equip youth and young adults to effectively influence children to model integrity, be positive leaders, and passionately love Jesus Christ.

Since January 2019, In The Gap students and staff invested 2,560 hours of their time teaching, mentoring, and discipling elementary school children. God allowed In The Gap is currently working in 13 different schools, touching the lives of over 5,680 children across Oklahoma City.
Young leaders are being trained here in Oklahoma City and are serving in the public elementary schools. When the semester ends, Leaders In Training (LITs) will return home to invest in the families, communities, and countries that God has called them to.

The concept of being “in the gap” originates from Ezekiel 22:30 – “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.” God was looking for someone to turn the nation of Israel away from the destructive path they were on.

After working as the Internship Program Director for Character First Education (www.characterfirsteducation.com) for many years, Chad Christiansen saw first-hand the needs and struggles children were facing. His heart was moved to make a difference in the lives of children before they were caught up in the negative influences that surrounded them.
In early 2010, Character First had to make the difficult decision to close down their volunteer internship program. After consulting the Character First leadership about the future of the Internship and School programs, Chad sensed God leading him to use this opportunity to begin a new organization. The new program would continue teaching character lessons to children, but would also grow to work with children at after-school and community programs. In the summer of 2010, In The Gap was born.

Since its inception in 2010, In The Gap has continued to invest in the next generation of leaders by providing character education and free after school programs in local elementary schools. Thousands of children are given the opportunity to have vibrant and exciting lessons in a safe and healthy environment. In The Gap has also started a summer outreach to equip the local church to effectively minister to their community. While this ministry does directly serve children in Oklahoma City, it also empowers young people through the internship program to have a global impact. Alumni of the In The Gap internship program have gone on to serve with or start ministries around the globe.

Operation Impact: Operation Impact is a summer missions experience that allows Christian teens to bring the life-changing message of Christ to kids. Operation Impact is a 3-week summer missions experience in Oklahoma City. Teams are sent out with a mentor (“leader”) to conduct Bible Clubs in the inner city. Teens are trained in how to teach Bible lessons and share the gospel with elementary kids.

Leadership Academy: Training young people in leadership and communication through teaching elementary students. In The Gap’s Leadership Academy is a multi-session training program in Oklahoma City. Students are trained in leadership, communications, worldview, how to teach students, and sharing the gospel. Throughout the week students work in public schools teaching character to elementary school students. The experience is on-location at the In The Gap campus, mentored by Leadership Academy alumni who share life-on-life with the students.

Making a Difference in Your Neighborhood: Local Non Profit Invests in Thousands of Children Here in Oklahoma City

In The Gap is a local nonprofit that provides free character education and Bible Club programs to over 5,000 elementary students here in Oklahoma City. High School and college age young people come from across the country and around the world to attend In The Gap’s Leadership Academy. They learn communication, teaching, and leadership skills then serve as character coaches and mentors for students in Oklahoma City public schools. In The Gap Character Coach Joshua Morrison said, “We are changing the world by training those who will one day lead it.”

About In The Gap: In The Gap, is a faith based nonprofit organization here in Oklahoma City. Founded in 2010, In The Gap has been teaching character development to over 11,000 elementary age students here in Oklahoma City. In The Gap also invests in young people outside of the classroom through after school programming and community Bible Clubs in the summer.

Chad Christiansen, Executive Director: Chad serves as the Executive Director of In The Gap and works to maintain a Christ-centered culture, a learning environment and a spiritually vibrant atmosphere for the In The Gap staff and Leaders in Training. Chad worked with Character First! Education in Oklahoma City for over 6 years before founding his own organization. Chad also traveled to seven different countries serving with various children’s programs. Chad and his wife, Alissa, founded In The Gap, Inc. in the summer of 2010. Over the years, Chad has helped train 400+ young adults in communication, leadership, and teaching skills.

Victoria Howell
In The Gap
(405) 748-0712
[email protected]
www.inthegap.org