{"id":29624,"date":"2014-12-18T21:33:09","date_gmt":"2014-12-19T02:33:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/the_possibility_of_growth_and_transformation\/"},"modified":"2021-02-03T16:46:59","modified_gmt":"2021-02-03T21:46:59","slug":"the_possibility_of_growth_and_transformation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/the_possibility_of_growth_and_transformation\/","title":{"rendered":"The Possibility of Growth and Transformation"},"content":{"rendered":"

For these newsletters we are asked to reflect on times of growth and transformation.\u00a0 Since I last wrote, I have certainly gone through my own periods of growth and transformation.\u00a0 After all, I\u2019ve been spending my time learning a new language (French) and beginning a new role in a new country. However, that\u2019s not the story that I want to share today.\u00a0 Today I want to talk about the\u00a0<\/span>possibility<\/em>\u00a0of growth and transformation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Guadeloupe-Beth-Guy-Fall-2014-pic1-1.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Here in Guadeloupe, I am serving with the Reformed Protestant Church and their organization, Men a Leswpa (Hand of Hope). The RPC has a heart and passion for serving vulnerable populations, but they are particularly passionate about working with prisoners and those reintegrating into life outside prison walls. It is an exciting and interesting ministry.<\/span><\/p>\n

Because prison work and ministry is such a large focus for the church here, it is also a significant piece of my work and ministry as a Global Mission Intern.\u00a0 Currently, all of my work is meeting with English speaking prisoners. There are actually a significant number of English speaking prisoners (one of the two jails estimated that 25% of their prison population speaks English) and it tends to be an underserved group.\u00a0 These prisoners primarily come from Dominica and Saint Martin and some speak very, very little French.\u00a0 This can be a significant problem and frustration when almost all of the prison staff only speaks French and all of the activities offered at the prison are in French.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Guadeloupe-Beth-Guy-Fall-2014-pic2.jpg\"In learning about this reality, Jean-Pierre, the pastor of the RPC, suggested that we start a Bible Study for English speakers at the prison in Basse-Terre and the prison in Baie-Mahault.\u00a0 I excitedly agreed.\u00a0 It can be a long process starting a new program in the prison, but we both felt it would be worth the effort and it would definitely serve a population in the prison that is generally overlooked.\u00a0 We began planning and solidifying our ideas to implement the program.<\/span><\/p>\n

Recently, after determining a day and time for the Bible study with the prison staff at Basse-Terre, we met with a handful of prisoners to invite them to the gathering and to gauge what the interest level in the program would be.\u00a0 We knew that there would likely be some people who would be interested, but we also assumed that we would likely get some rejections.\u00a0 Instead, what we found was an overwhelmingly positive response and zero rejections.<\/span><\/p>\n

Each man that we spoke with declared a desire to participate in this English Bible-study.\u00a0 Each and every one.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m not certain why they said yes. It could be a curiosity about Christ. It could be because some are often bored and this would give them something to do each week. It could be out of a thirst for further Biblical knowledge.\u00a0 It could be due to a strong desire to speak English and connect with other English speakers. Or, it could be for some other unknown reason. Regardless, I was struck by the incredible notion that each and every one of these men would have an opportunity to learn about the grace and love of God each week.<\/span><\/p>\n

Each week there will be opportunities to learn about the life and ministry of Jesus.\u00a0 We\u2019ll have the opportunity to learn about forgiveness and hope.\u00a0 We\u2019ll learn that we were indeed made in the image of God and that God made us on purpose. And we\u2019ll learn about the joy and life that comes from following Christ. That is a beautiful, powerful thing.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m not sure what our time together will bring.\u00a0 I\u2019m not sure what transformations will come in the lives of these men and in my own life.\u00a0 What I do know, though, is that it is very difficult to spend much time in God\u2019s presence without being transformed.\u00a0 I am excited to see what God will do how God will move in our midst.<\/span><\/p>\n

Beth Guy serves with the Reformed Church of France as the Pastoral Assistant for Diaconal Ministries in Guadeloupe and Martinique.\u00a0His appointment is supported by Week of Compassion<\/a>, Our Churches Wider Mission, Disciples Mission Fund and your special gifts<\/a>.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For these newsletters we are asked to reflect on times of growth and transformation.\u00a0 Since I last wrote, I have certainly gone through my own periods of growth and transformation.\u00a0 After all, I\u2019ve been spending my time learning a new … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20003,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[],"topic":[20282,20301,20240,20322],"region":[20052,20015],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Possibility of Growth and Transformation - Global Ministries<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/the_possibility_of_growth_and_transformation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Possibility of Growth and Transformation - Global Ministries\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"For these newsletters we are asked to reflect on times of growth and transformation.\u00a0 Since I last wrote, I have certainly gone through my own periods of growth and transformation.\u00a0 After all, I\u2019ve been spending my time learning a new … Read more\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/the_possibility_of_growth_and_transformation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Global Ministries\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2014-12-19T02:33:09+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-02-03T21:46:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Beth Guy\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Beth Guy\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/the_possibility_of_growth_and_transformation\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/the_possibility_of_growth_and_transformation\/\",\"name\":\"The Possibility of Growth and Transformation - Global Ministries\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2014-12-19T02:33:09+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-02-03T21:46:59+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/#\/schema\/person\/10686fb627f6e0b1137f921b9822e613\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/the_possibility_of_growth_and_transformation\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/the_possibility_of_growth_and_transformation\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/the_possibility_of_growth_and_transformation\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"The Possibility of Growth and Transformation\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/\",\"name\":\"Global Ministries\",\"description\":\"Global Ministries is a common missional witness of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ. 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