What was Jesus’ response to the criminal offender who was crucified next to him? He had been given the same sentence of death. And yet, Jesus had compassion on him in the midst of his own agony. “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus still has that same love for those who society wants to put away and forget about.
In 1994 Nelson Coblentz, of Gospel Express, approached the Mennonite Churches in South Carolina with the idea of starting a support Chaplaincy program in the prisons of South Carolina. These men and women would be placed in prisons to assist the State Chaplain in ministering to inmates.
The challenge was taken and in June of that year the first board was made up of eight men from around the state. Pickens, Fairplay, Abbeville, Due West, Cross Hill, New Holland, Blackville, and Barnwell all took part of the new program. These men were responsible for overseeing the ministry and its functions as an arm of the church.
In 1994, the first chaplain was placed at Perry Correctional Center in Pelzer, SC. Later that grew to include Trenton. Today it reaches Abbeville, McCormick, Kirkland, Broad River and Leath.
STATEMENT OF FAITH
We believe in one God, uncaused, almighty, and eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (1 Cor. 8:6, Matt. 28:19)
We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father and in His personal return in power and glory. (John 17:5, Luke 1:30-31, 34-35, Mark 13:26)
We affirm and accept the doctrines of the Bible as expressed in the 1963 Mennonite Confession of Faith.
We believe in the person of the Holy Spirit who convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment; and who is actively present, personally manifested, and jealously operative in the life of every believer. He is the conveyor of God’s love, forgiveness, and His Will. (John 16:8-9)
We believe the Bible is God’s self-revelation to man, inspired, infallible, the final authority for truth and life. (2Tim 3:16)
We believe there is no hope for man’s eternal salvation apart from the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, demonstrated through faith in Jesus as Savior and submission to Jesus as Lord.
We believe that salvation is by grace alone through faith and not of works; that salvation is a gift, undeserved and unearned; and that saving faith is substantiated by spiritual fruit and works of righteousness.
We believe that heaven and hell are eternal realities; that an actual place of unrelenting torment exists for unrepentant sinners and that an actual place of uninterrupted bliss exists for the children of God.
We believe that God loves everyone; that His kingdom knows no national, racial, ethnic, cultural or denominational boundaries; and that all who call on the Name of the Lord shall be saved. We believe that our call/mission as followers of Jesus is to evangelize, disciple, encourage and promote a personal walk with the Lord Jesus and a commitment to a local body of Christ followers.
We believe that the biblical teaching of marriage is between one man and one woman for life. Any sexual relationship outside of this marriage bond is sin. Anyone involved in fornication, adultery, or homosexuality, needs to repent and be restored in fellowship with the body of Christ. (1 Cor. 6:9-10, Gal.5:19-21, Eph.5:3, Rom: 18-32)
We believe God has graced His church with spiritual gifts for the bonding, strengthening and ministering of the body of Christ.
We believe that the great commission, “Go ye into all the world” is incumbent upon all Christians; that each of us has a sacred responsibility to share the good news of salvation with everyone, especially those who have not heard or responded. (Matt. 28:19-20)
VISION STATEMENT
Advancing the Kingdom of Christ
Discipling Inmates
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of CCP is to promote the Gospel message by placing Christian personnel in prisons for the purpose of relating to the spiritual needs of the inmates on an ongoing basis. CCP will prayerfully search for and place individuals who demonstrate a Christian commitment and a willingness to work within the guidelines established by the Department of Correction, the Chaplain, and CCP.
CCP will offer moral, spiritual, and financial support to the volunteers working within this prison ministry.