In The Gap Club Volunteer Application

At In The Gap, we prioritize the safety of the children we interact with. Your initials under each category tell us that you have read and agree to the following. If you have any questions or concerns regarding these Child Protection Policies, please email us at [email protected]

Abuse means “harm or threatened harm to the health, safety, or welfare of a child by a person responsible for the child's health, safety, or welfare, including but not limited to nonaccidental physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation . . . neglect, or dependency.” Citation: Okla. Stat Ann. tit. 10A, § 1-1-105

In The Gap is committed to taking extra care to avoid any appearance of misconduct and to operate with the highest level of integrity in all of our dealings with children. In an effort to protect the children we work with and also to protect our volunteers and staff from false accusations, In The Gap has outlined the following course of action to prevent and properly deal with child abuse issues. Every In The Gap volunteer shall: (1) be in a personal and growing relationship with Jesus Christ, (2) complete Child Protection training and Handling Abuse training from In The Gap; and (3) be fully screened before participating in Bible Club. The screening process includes a background check, this application, and three references.

Never be alone with a child, whether in a room or outside. Leave doors wide open. Do not go somewhere that could appear to be isolated. Always be within sight and in close proximity to others. Do not initiate physical contact with the children. Pray, and be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s promptings and cautions in specific situations.

All child neglect and child abuse-related matters must be reported immediately. Under no circumstances should 24 hours pass before notifying a higher authority. Write down what you observed or heard as soon as possible. If you observe or have reasonable suspicion that an In The Gap staff member or volunteer is abusing a child, inform your Bible Club Coordinator. If you observe or have reasonable suspicion that a parent, guardian, neighbor, relative, or any other person is abusing a child, report directly to Oklahoma Department of Human Services (1-800-522-3511). If you are witnessing an emergency, call 911 immediately. If you are accused of abusing a child, inform your Bible Club Coordinator immediately. If you are unsure of what to do in a situation, call the In The Gap Director, Chad Christiansen (405-420-9583) or the In The Gap office (405-420-9583). In The Gap is required by law to report suspected abuse to the Child Protective Services agency (CPS). Anyone who is suspected or accused of child abuse will voluntarily relinquish or be removed from all involvement with children until the director of In The Gap considers the matter to be resolved.

At In The Gap, we prioritize the quality of biblical teaching that children receive. Nothing contradicting the following Statement of Faith should be taught at an In The Gap Bible Club. Your initials under each category tell us that you have read and agree to the following. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this Statement of Faith, please email us at [email protected]

We believe that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God” by which we understand the whole book called THE BIBLE; that it is inerrant in the original writing and that it’s teaching and authority are absolute, supreme and final. That the Holy Spirit guided the holy men of old in all that they wrote. That the 66 books of the Bible are the written Word of God and that the Bible is divinely inspired and that its assertions are factually true in all the original autographs. That it is the supreme and final authority in all matters of belief and conduct and that its authority is not limited to spiritual, religious, or redemptive themes but includes its assertions in such fields as history and science. We believe that the final guide to the interpretation of Scripture is Scripture itself. (II Timothy 3:16; Deuteronomy 4:2, 5-6; II Peter 1:20-21)

We believe in the one true God, having no beginning and no end, as revealed in the Word of God. He manifests Himself in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit – each equal and of the same essence and fullness, yet unique in their workings and ministry. (Romans 1:20; Matthew 28:19; Deuteronomy 4:35; Deuteronomy 6:4; Deuteronomy 33:27; John 17:5)

We believe that Jesus Christ is the Living Word of God, existing from eternity to eternity, fully God and fully man. In the fullness of time, He was sent of the Father, born of a virgin, lived a sinless perfect life, died on the cross as the vicarious substitute for the sinner, was buried, and on the third day rose bodily from the dead, the work of salvation complete in Him. He is now seated at the right hand of the Father where He makes intercession for the saints, and shall return in person to this earth as Judge of the living and the dead. (John 1:1; Matthew 1:18-24; 28:18-19; John 17:5; 1 John 2:2; Galatians 3:13; Hebrews 2:9; 5:9)

We believe the Holy Spirit convicts men of sin, calls them to the Savior, regenerates the dead in spirit, sanctifies and indwells the believer, and empowers the Christian to produce the fruits of righteousness and to live not for themselves but to the glory of God. (Galatians 3:14; Luke 12:11-12; John 14:25-26)

We believe that man was created in the image of God, after His likeness, as stated in the Word of God, but the whole human race fell into sin after the first man, Adam, and the first woman, Eve, sinned against God. Death (both physical and spiritual) and bloodshed entered into this world subsequent to and as a direct consequence of man’s sin. Not only was his moral nature grievously injured by the fall but he totally lost all spiritual life, becoming dead in trespasses and sins, and subject to the power of the devil. “The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then, they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:7-8). Therefore, he cannot see nor enter the kingdom of God until he is born again by the Holy Spirit. That no degree of reformation however great, no attainment in morality however high, no culture however attractive, no humanitarian and philanthropic schemes and societies however useful, no baptism or other ordinance however administered, can help the sinner to take even one step toward Heaven; but a new nature imparted from above, a new life implanted by the Holy Spirit through the Word is absolutely essential to salvation. (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3; John 3:3,6-7; Titus 3:5)

We believe that all people are separated from God because of their sins and as a result cannot see the kingdom of God, except through the new birth which takes place through repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ. We believe that the salvation of man comes only through grace by faith in the Person and completed work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is expressed in the individual’s recognition of their personal sin against God and of recognition of the death of Jesus Christ, and the blood He shed, as full payment for sin, and acceptance of the risen Christ as Savior, Lord, and God. Salvation is the free gift of the Father to those who believe and cannot be earned or merited by man’s works. Jesus Christ became the sinner’s substitute before God, and died as a propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. That He was made a curse for the sinner, dying for his sins according to the Scriptures; that no repentance, no feeling, no faith, no good resolutions, no sincere efforts, no submission to the rules and regulations of any church can add in the very least to the value of the precious blood or to the merit of that finished work wrought for us by Him, who tasted death for every man. That His body was raised from the dead according to the Scriptures, and that He ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God as the believer’s high priest and advocate. (Luke 24:39; Acts 1:10-11; John 3:3,6-7, 16; Ephesians 2:7-9; I John 2:1; 5:13; Ephesians 4:10; Hebrews 1:3) That Christ in the fullness of the blessings He has secured by His death and resurrection is received by faith alone and that the moment we trust in Him as our Savior we pass out of death into everlasting life, justified from all things, accepted before the Father according to the measure of His acceptance, loved as He is loved and made one with Him. At the time of acceptance of Christ as Savior, He comes to dwell within the believer and to live out His life of holiness and power through him. (Hebrews 9:15; John 5:24; Romans 3:28; 4:3, 23-25; Ephesians 1:3; John 17:23; Galatians 2:20; 4:6-7; 5:16; Acts 1:8)

We believe that the souls of those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation do at death immediately pass into His presence, and there remain in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the body at His coming, when soul and body reunited shall be with Him forever in glory. We believe that the souls of the lost remain after death in misery until the final judgment of the great white throne, when soul and body reunited at the resurrection shall be cast “into the lake of fire” which is “the second death,” to be “punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power” (Matthew 5:41; Luke 16:22-28; 23:43; Romans 6:23; II Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; I Thessalonians 4:15-18; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:5,11-15

We believe that the Church is composed of all those who truly believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. It is the body and bride of Christ. That every believer, whether Jew or Gentile, is baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit, and having thus become members of one another we are responsible to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, rising above all sectarian prejudices and denominational bigotry and loving one another with a pure heart fervently. That Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church which is made up of people from all people groups around the world who truly believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, and that locally the church is a group of believers who are organized to worship God and to do His will. As a body of believers our calling is to worship God and witness concerning its Head, Jesus Christ. Preaching the gospel among all nations and demonstrating our commitment by compassionate service to the needs of human beings and by promoting righteousness and justice. (Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 1Corinthians 12:22-27; 1:10-13; Romans 12:4-5; Ephesians 4:3-6; 5:32; Philippians 2:1-5; Galatians 5:13-15)

We believe that all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ are called into a life of separation from worldly and sinful practices, and should abstain from such amusements and habits as will cause others to stumble, or bring reproach upon the cross of Christ. Believers are created in Christ Jesus unto good works. “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:10; I John 2:15-16; Romans 13:14; 14:13; I Corinthians 10:31; Ephesians 2:10)

We believe that the supreme mission of the people of God is to obey the command of Jesus Christ to preach the Gospel to every creature and to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all the things that He has commanded us. (Mark 16:15; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Matthew 28:18-20)

We believe in the reality and personality of Satan, “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world…” and that he is the adversary of both God and mankind. As Believers in Jesus Christ we also believe that we are able to resist, stand strong, and be victorious over Satan and his schemes, work, and attacks. (Genesis 3:1-5; Revelation 12:7-10; Ephesians 6:10-18; 1 Peter 5:8-9; Revelation 20:10)

Please provide three references. They must be over the age of 18 and not a member of your family. We will send each of them an email. Please provide their real email address so as not to delay the screening process. Please reach out to each of them to make sure they receive the email and can respond to it in a timely manner.