The vision of the University City Church of Christ is to equip God’s family to seek and save the lost, and to live holy lives by His Word.
The Men’s Prison Ministry
University City has been ministering to men in prison in the Gainesville and North Central Florida area since 1984, when men of the congregation began holding Bible studies at the Gainesville Road Prison.
UCCC’s participation in this prison ministry is now offered primarily through financial support to the prison-based ministry supervised by the Lake Butler Church of Christ in Lake Butler, Fla. This work, begun in 1957, has seen more than 100 men brought into a relationship with the Lord every year.
The ministry is centered in Union County and includes a weekly Bible study, one-on-one counseling, and a Bible-based 12-step class at the Reception Center in Lake Butler. Each Sunday, the churches of Christ conduct worship services at Union Correctional Facility in Raiford, at the Florida State Prison at Starke, Cross City Correctional, Lancaster Correctional in Trenton, and at the Lawtey Correctional Facility. Church members also visit the Gainesville Correctional Institution twice a week.
The Women’s Jail Ministry – The “Jail Doves”
UCCC’s women’s jail ministry at the Alachua County Jail began in 2000. Volunteers – known as the “Jail Doves,” conducts Bible studies at the jail three times each week.
The women’s jail ministry expanded to the Lowell Correctional Institution in 2013. Volunteers teach weekly Bible and life-lesson classes.
For the men’s ministry information, contact: Gary Wyder, garywyder@cox.net
For the women’s ministry information, contact: Oretha Walker, orthwal@aol.com
