Go Fish Ministries is a non-profit evangelical ministry, which seeks to aid victims of childhood sexual abuse, violent sexual assault, and domestic violence through it's various ministry efforts.
Go Fish Ministries
Tuesday, September 30, 2003
About Go Fish Ministries Contact Go Fish Ministries
Kimberly Hartfield ©2003
Go Fish Ministries is a nonprofit, Evangelical Christian based umbrella ministry, which covers several areas of ministry in conjunction with one another. Its primary purpose is to help in the healing process victims of violence and to encourage and help others in need. Go Fish Ministries sponsors the Joshua Mikel Memorial Fund for victims of sexual abuse/ assault and the Go Fish Safe Haven Ministry for victims of domestic violence through proceeds generated from Go Fish Books, along with the proceeds from the Attic Swap Program, Fundraising efforts, and donations from the public. Other specific ministries may be identified in the future. The Joshua Mikel Memorial Trail and the Go Fish Prayer Garden is in process of construction and will be located in Hattiesburg, MS. Victims of violence may visit the garden and trail by permission only of Go Fish Ministries as it is currently on private property. It is the vision of Go fish Ministries to sponsor in the near future events such as women’s retreats for personal recovery and group support, as well as children’s summer camps on request for victims of violence, such as childhood sexual abuse survivors and domestic violence survivors. We would also like to implement Christian based after-school camps with the program and curriculum geared toward the prevention of childhood sexual abuse by proving a safe place for children to go after school. The Go Fish Little Fishers Camps will be a scouting-like experience with a definite Christian emphasis. If there is demand we may begin weekly evening camps as well, for those who cannot participate after school. The Executors of Go Fish Ministries, along with “serving hands” volunteers will also hold mini seminars, speaking to Christian ladies groups, civic groups, and youth groups on topics such as childhood sexual abuse, violent sexual assault, domestic violence, and a number of other topics on request. We also plan to visit women at local jails to provide information on these topics as well as providing them with second hand Bibles. Speakers are knowledgeable of the topics through life experiences and personal study on the subjects. We have no credentials other than being Christian Women desiring the betterment of women and children in a society that sometimes dominates and abuses them. It must be clearly understood by all interested participants that we are not professional counselors, but simply Christian victims comforting other Christian victims. “Wonderful Counselor” Comforting is a Christian/Bible based tool we use in the healing process of those coping with offenses. Go Fish Ministries hopes to become incorporated within the year as funds become available and also to apply for official non-profit status.
Joshua Mikel Memorial Fund http://joshuamikelmemorialfund.safewebshop.com/
The Joshua Mikel Memorial Fund was established in memory of a premature infant born and lost to an undisclosed victim of a violent sexual assault. Joshua Mikel died from the fatal condition of Anencephaly. As long as moneys are available, funds will be distributed privately to a victim of childhood sexual abuse or a victim of a violent sexual assault once a year on March 26, the date of birth and death of baby Joshua Mikel. The executors of the funds strongly recommend that the moneys be used for educational, medical, legal, or counseling services, or any other worthy expenses deemed appropriate to the healing process by the executors of the funds and the recipient or guardian(s) of the recipient if under age. If an individual recipient cannot be located, available funds will be donated to a local Crisis Intervention Service for victims of sexual assault. Scholarship funds in increments of $25-$100 will also be available for the Go Fish JMMF summer camp program for child victims and for the Women retreats to be held for adult victims of violence, depending on availability of funds. The Go Fish JMMF summer camp program for child victims will be a 3 day summer camping experience intended for initiating the healing process in victims of childhood sexual abuse and domestic violence. The camp ministry is based on the words of Christ in John 8:32, “The truth will make you free.” The secret nature of childhood sexual abuse is often the very thing that perpetuates that abuse. When anything is done in secret, children often believe it is something they would get in trouble for, and so they experience guilt and shame where there should be none, and they instinctively keep the secret, sometimes believing it is their own fault. It is the hope and goal of Go Fish Ministries that the children will come to understand that they are not at fault for the offenses, and that they are not alone in their experiences. Children will be allowed the opportunity to tell their “secret” if they so choose, but it is never to be coerced from them. Children should be accompanied by an adult guardian, which is highly recommended due to the emotional nature of the camp experience. The Go Fish JMMF Women’s Retreats will be a day-long retreat based on the healing aspects of the Christian Scripture. It will include Bible study and reflection, prayer, discussions on sexual and domestic abuses and assaults, times of confession, etc. It is based on several Bible verses and principles, which tells us to “comfort others with the comfort we have been comforted with of God,” the words of Christ that states “the truth will make you free,” and to “confess our faults one to another and pray for one another that you may be healed”. Since victims often blame themselves for the violence, they must learn to distinguish from what are their own “faults” and what should be properly placed on the perpetrator. When the darkness of sin is brought into the light it has no power over its victims. The light of Christ overcomes the darkness of this world. *It must be clearly understood by all interested participants that we are not professional counselors, but simply Christian victims comforting other Christian victims. “Wonderful Counselor” Comforting is a Christian/Bible based tool we use in the healing process of those coping with offenses. It is simply a guide for opening up discussions, which may assist in the healing process.
Gift of Faith & Inspiration Safe Haven gfsafehaven@jesuslovesu2.every1.com
Gift of Faith & Inspiration Safe Haven is a program designed for helping women and children who may need assistance getting out of abusive situations. The Go FISH program seeks to help them remove themselves from dependent relationships, which they believe are abusive, by raising self-esteem through education, inspiration, and modification of physical circumstances. Go Fish Ministries does not necessarily encourage divorce, only removal from the abusive situation. We will attempt to educate women to her options with the possibilities of seeking a higher education, or resume preparation for those who do not choose to go further in their education and need to reenter the work force. We will attempt to inspire women with godly principles of faith and lifestyle examples. We will modify physical circumstances by encouraging the victim to remove herself from abusive conditions of the relationship in order to stop enabling the abuser to continue the abusive behavior. Physical circumstances will also be modified by providing food, clothing, and self-esteem building makeovers when necessary or requested either free or at minimum costs. Donations from sponsors of services, money, food, shelter, and clothing will be solicited for these purposes. If available, rooms will be provided for women and their children in a non-disclosed location for temporary shelter until other arrangements can be made when there is imminent danger or at the discretion of the executors. 35 days is the maximum stay in same home. Women who leave abusive relationships are most at risk during this time. Women will be required to keep locations secret from friends and family, or any other person not directly involved with the program. Christians with an unused room in their home who feel led to make it available to these women could make a huge difference in the life of someone hurting and afraid to move on. It must be clearly understood that these volunteers do so at their own risk, though Go Fish Ministries will make every effort to keep the location secret. Reputable reading material will be made available for self-counsel, while recommendations will be made for those wishing to seek professional psychological help or legal counsel. We will provide loans of various self-help educational and inspirational books and we offer a series of life focused tracts written from a Christian perspective, which will be made available to women in the program free of charge. We will also offer a support group consisting of women who are seeking to remove themselves from abusive conditions along with mentors who have successfully removed themselves from abusive situations.
Go Fish Books 4 Jesus gofishbooks@jesuslovesu2.every1.com
Gifts of Faith & Inspiration Second Hand
http://www.stores.ebay.com/gofishbooks4jesus
Go Fish Books 4 Jesus is a primarily Christian based Literature and Gift Consignment service that seeks to make Christian products affordable for all segments of the Christian community. We take any previously owned good condition Christian based literature, art, music, whatnots, gift items, T-shirts, Jewelry, etc. on consignment to be resold on our store website. Individual consignments are done on a 60/40% basis with bookstore fee extracted at the sale. There is no upfront fee for individual consignment services and Go Fish Books will be responsible for shipping merchandise or giving you the shipping info if you are not local. Profit from sales will be donated to the Joshusha Mikel Memorial Fund or the Go Fish Safe Haven program. Tracts are also free with any purchase or donation. Available on request. If anyone is in need of a general subject matter but cannot afford a listed price, please feel free to contact us and we'll see what we can do to help. We want our products to be affordable to those in need. Shipping may still apply.
Attic Swap attic@jesuslovesu2.every1.net
All Things Together In Common
Acts 5:32And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things in common....Neither was there any among them that lacked...
This service is sponsored by Go Fish Books 4 Jesus primarily for those low to middle income Christian families who may be falling between the cracks of other services and need help finding clothing for their children at an affordable cost. We list donated women’s and children's wardrobes of 3-5 good used outfits (No mending required, no stains unless minimal and explicitly stated for item description) of the approximate same size at $2.00 per outfit with the proceeds to be donated to the Joshua Mikel Memorial Fund. These items are donated to the cause by anonymous senders, (unless they choose not to be), who will be responsible for laundering and mailing the items to the purchaser at their own expense, unless designated for local pickup only. This program insures no middleman abuses. The purchaser will incur no shipping costs for their purchase and all proceeds from their purchase will be donated to the JMMF (with the exception of listing fees). Go Fish Books would like to extend the Attic Swap program in the future to include children's toys for birthdays and Christmas, sporting goods, household items, etc. These will be local pickups only.
Need income? gofishbooks@jesuslovesu2.every1.net
Join Go Fish Books 4 Jesus in a Christian business venture as an independent representative!!
This is a great business opportunity for Christian moms with young children and single moms or any one who loves Christian products and desires a little extra income.
Here's how it works.
Go Fish Books 4 Jesus will contract with you for listing services of merchandise that you will take on consignment from a third party consignor on behalf of Go Fish Books, in order to resale it on the Go Fish Books 4 Jesus website. You agree to pay Go Fish Books an initial contract fee of $10 (unless fee is waived or deferred) in return for listing services and business related products and services, and to provide initial shipping costs at shipping (paypal account required for immediate reimbusment). Merchandise made available by you should be Christian in nature, with literature, music and video media, whatnots, clothing, jewelry, etc., being acceptable to take on consignment. You will be responsible for the care of and timely shipping of merchandise to the final consumer or purchaser. Go Fish Books pays you 30% of the actual sale price plus reimbursement of shipping and insurance fees incurred for all merchandise sold and shipped under your contract and in which you provide postage receipts for. Go Fish Books pays consignor 40% of actual sale price for merchandise placed on consignment with you. Go Fish Books keeps 30% of the sale price, which includes all business related listing and payment fees, with the exception of a 5% recoupment fee for unsold or undeliverable merchandise. If merchandise is not picked up by the consignor and the 5% recoupment fee paid, the unsold and uncollected merchandise will be forfeited on the 8th day to Go Fish Books. Go Fish Books will provide listing services on the storefront website, trade secrets for higher profits, 1 template page of Go Fish Books 4 Jesus business cards with your name and business information, 1 template page of mailing labels, invoices of each sale, payment to you and your customers checks directly to them. All you need is a camera, a computer with internet and printing capabilities, a little work space, and a desire to work with a Christian business owner and operator. You may put in as little or as many hours as necessary to achieve your desired amount of income.
Available 2002-2003 Tracts Titles: gofishbooks@jesuslovesu2.every1.net
1. Abuse in the Marital Relationship
2. Adolescence
3. Anger and the Golden Rule for Kids
4. Behavioral Change of People
5. Breast or Bottle Issue
6. Childhood Sexual Abuse
7. Contraception and Birth-control
8. A Co-sleeping Arrangement: Sharing the Family Bed
9. Discipline
10. Incest, the Family, and the Church
11. Sexuality
12. Sexuality and Pornography
13. Understanding and Resolving Anger and Depression
14. Working Mothers
15. A Woman’s Role in the Church
16. Joshua Mikel Memorial Fund
17. Go Fish Safe Haven for Victims of Domestic Violence
$1.00 donation per tract, 10 for $5, 25 for $10, 50 for $15, or 100 for $25 Single tracts may be reproduced in its entirety including copyright and authorship information with permission of author and any donation to the Go Fish Ministries. Tracts are free on request with any purchase or donation.
About Me
My name is Kimberly Marie Hartfield, and Go Fish Ministries was my inspiration. I am a 39-year-old mother of eight children and a full time senior student at William Carey College in Hattiesburg, MS. I have studied primarily in the areas of Religion and Psychology. I have personally experienced the healing hand of God in facing many of the issues discussed in my series of tracts, which are offered by Go Fish Books for any donation to the Go Fish Ministries. I believe that God has brought me through diverse tribulations during the course of my lifetime, including being a victim of sexual, physical, and mental abuse, a drunk driving accident, pornography addiction, adultery, divorce, remarriage, incarceration, and having experienced two miscarriages and various other trials. Through God’s merciful forgiveness of my own sins and His grace given to me to forgive those who have been stumbling blocks in my path, I have overcome these adversities. I believe that God has blessed me with the boldness to confront and relate important life issues to the Christian community in the writing of these tracts. I have been called to the homeland mission field of North America and hope to be able to use these tracts as a tool for my ministry. I claim II Corinthians 3 & 4 as my calling, which states: “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” As I, myself have received the gift of God’s healing, I hope to be able to bring the peace beyond understanding to others in God’s Kingdom. My greatest desire is to serve God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength and to serve others in His Kingdom. It is my heart’s desire to help victims of violence, especially women and children, in their time of healing. I also hope to make Christian Literature and products available and affordable to all socioeconomic segments of the Christian community through the Go Fish Books Ministry. My love for the Lord, along with my passion for writing has drawn me to explore some commonly experienced crisis issues from the perspective of my own experience in the hope that I might bring an empathetic and compassionate insight to God’s people. The views expressed in my series of tracts are strictly my own insights acquired from personal experience and diligent study of the related topics and God’s word concerning them. My views should not under any circumstance be considered authoritative. I believe that the Christian community’s ultimate authority is the guidance of the human heart by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God in the texts of the Holy Scripture.
A Christian Response to
Childhood Sexual Abuse and Violent Sexual Assault JMMF
©2002 Kimberly Hartfield
http://joshuamikelmemorialfund.safewebshop.com/
The secrecy surrounding childhood sexual abuse and violent sexual assault is most often the perpetuating factor in these types of events. When victims keep the secret, it enables the abuser to repeat the crime sometimes on the original victim, as well as on numerous other victims. In order to stop the abusive behavior, victims must be willing to speak out and reveal the identity of their abusers. Telling the secret is the most vital aspect in a victim’s healing process. Scripture tells us that the truth will set us free. Once this ground is broken, the seeds of restoration can emerge from every survivor of C.S.A. or V.S.A. Another integral part of the healing process is taking the victim’s self-blame and placing that blame on the abuser where it truthfully belongs. Finding forgiveness for that abuser through the mercy and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ is also a key point in that process.
The first step in recovery is for the abused person to discern the violation and to tell the secret. The response to the divulgence of sexual abuse or assault is critical to the victim’s ability to recover from the ordeal. A compassionate response is vital to re-establishing trust and getting help for the victim. Christians must never minimize abuse, blame the victim, or tell a child to “keep the secret”. It is imperative that victims receive the assurance that it is not any fault of their own. Counsel should be sought for the victim, and often for the victim’s family members as well. The emotional damage of sexual abuse or assault can be devastating to the victim and to the whole family. Many victims display an outward happy-go-lucky disposition, while others display clear signals of distress. We should not assume that victims are “over it”, just because they appear to be moving on with their life. Most victims commonly experience sexual guilt and with sexuality being integral to the total person, abuse or assault inevitably affects one’s total self-concept. C.S.A. and V.S.A. often interferes with the development of attitudes toward self, sexuality, and relationships. The victim often develops distressing emotions, ideologies, and demeanors. The effects of sexual abuse and assault include low self-esteem, fear, depression, anger, suicidal behaviors, promiscuous sexual behavior, sexual disorders, substance abuse, eating disorders, and difficulty in relationships with a tendency toward involvement with relationships reminiscent of the abusive situation. These are usually characterized by feelings of mistrust, indifference, and/or hatred.
Sexual abuse of a child is considered to be any inappropriate exposing of a child to sexual stimuli by anyone who has influence on the child, in order to erotically arouse that person, without concern for its effects on the child. The abuser must always be held accountable when abuse occurs, because of his or her obvious awareness of sexuality. No child can emotionally contend with this kind of abuse. Even a child who is too young to know that the abuse is wrong will likely develop problems from the inability to cope with this type of stimulation. The secret nature of childhood sexual abuse is often the very thing that perpetuates that abuse. When anything is done in secret, children often believe it is something they would get in trouble for, and so they experience guilt and shame where there should be none, and they instinctively keep the secret, often believing it is their own fault. The victim almost always feels that “I’m different,” “Something’s wrong with me,” or that the abuse is somehow “my fault.” Sexually abused children often mentally withdraw from a conscious awareness of the abuse. The victim may have unclear memories, but certain experiences may trigger intensely distressing feelings. Sexual abuse is clearly a betrayal of the child’s trust, especially when the abuser is known to the child. The child often develops a pronounced inability to trust anyone, which prohibits revealing the abuse, sometimes for years. In a child’s eyes, the exposure and consequences of telling may be worse than the abuse itself.
Where prevention of C.S.A. is concerned, parents should talk to their children on several occassions about the difference between good and bad touching, while telling them that they can and must say “no” to any touching or behavior that makes them feel uncomfortable; and that they should tell a trusted adult as soon as possible if this occurs. Parents should never tell a child to do everything an adult tells them to do, while explaining that showing respect does not always mean doing whatever a person in authority says to do. Parents should also be aware that C.S.A. is not invariably perpetrated by a stranger or an adult. Sometimes close friends of the family, family members and other children close to the same age, can be sexually abusive. Children sleeping at home, either alone or with others, and spend-the-nights should always be properly supervised, but even this cannot ensure a child’s safety. Providing a safe, caring, and open environment, so children feel able to talk freely, is vital in both the prevention and the resolution of C.S.A. While children often do not seek help at the time of the abuse, until it is properly dealt with, its damaging effects will likely continue to assault the victim in many areas of the personality and lifestyle.
Christians can help victims find the seeds of healing by encouraging them to use godly means of overcoming the abuse and helping them to grow into the tree of life that God intended them to be. Christians must be made aware of the extent of C.S.A. and V.S.A. and that many of our sisters and brothers need help in dealing with the conflicts of its aftermath, sometimes even years after the abuse or assault occurred. Those Christians who have experienced C.S.A. or V.S.A. themselves and found hope in Jesus, if they are sufficiently healed to be stable enough, should try to comfort others with the consolations they have been comforted with of God. Christian survivors can make other victims aware, not only that they are survivors of the ordeal, but that they can be over-comers in Christ Jesus. Christian comforters can tell other victims that they can be clean from any defilement that they may be feeling as a result of their victimization, and that they too can become a new creation if they have not yet begun that process.
Christians who comfort should pray for victims, while also encouraging them to seek help in dealing with any unresolved issues. Christians should also pray for abusers, because many of them were victims themselves. It is believed that approximately 1/3 of all victims become abusers. The abusers can be told that God’s judgment is sure for the unrepentant and be shown how to seek forgiveness in God’s mercy. Though statistics say that most abusers never stop abusing, some Christians believe that all things are possible with God and that abusers can heal if they are truly repentant, while also seeking professional help. Keeping the abusive patterns secret only perpetuates those patterns. An abuser must be willing to seek help and be held accountable for the misdeeds. Victims should never be coerced into staying in a situation of abuse in the hope that an abuser will change. The abuser may change with the help and healing of Jesus, and the victim may forgive the abuser by the grace of God, but the victim must not be compelled to prove forgiveness by remaining in an atmosphere of repeated exposure to abuse. Victims can find true forgiveness for their abusers and experience the grace and healing that goes with it; but this usually happens only after years of a healing process that begins with a safe atmosphere of self-discovery. This environment, along with therapeutic and spiritual counseling with a knowledgeable and compassionate comforter, whether that person be a professional Christian counselor, pastoral counselor, or a lay person survivor, can facilitate the metamorphosis of the new creation in Christ Jesus that every Christian sexual abuse or assault survivor can become.
Domestic Violence gfsafehaven@jesuslovesu2.every1.net
Most abused women, along with their children, are caught up in or have been in a codependent cycle of abuse that enables the abuser to continue in the abusive behavior patterns. These women usually make several attempts to leave the relationship before they are successfully freed from the strongholds of the codependent rhythms. One reason for this is that these women have unusually low self-esteems often stemming from earlier abuses such as child abuse, childhood sexual abuse, rape, or other traumatic events. Another reason is that the men in their lives exhibit such a powerful psychological influence on them due to various forms of abuse such as mental, physical, or sexual abuse. One more reason women choose to remain in abusive relationships is a strong religious background which seemingly discourages or prohibits divorce, even under intolerable circumstances.
Mental abuse often includes intimidation tactics such as hitting or kicking the air or surfaces near the victim, and any threat of harm to the victim, or the victims’ loved ones, personal belongings, pets, etc. Physical abuse includes behaviors that often, but not always, leave marks and bruises like pressure holds, slapping, hitting, biting, pinching, kicking, burning, etc. Sexual abuse includes any sexual behavior that coerces or forces the victim to do or be exposed to unwanted sexual conduct or materials used for sexual stimuli such as pornography and sex toys. While pornography may be used to lower inhibitions of women to uncommon and deviant sex acts, abused women are often coerced or forced to perform deviant sex acts against their will by their partners. Loving relationships do not seek to control or manipulate, but is mutually agreeable to both partners.
For Salvation in Christ Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto Salvation to every one who believes. 3:24-25 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of past sins, through the forbearance of God. 5:10 For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 6:4-5 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like Christ was raised up from the dead, by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection . . .
Applicants may contact us at:
joshuamikelmemorial@email.com
or
gofishbooks@jesuslovesu2.every1.net
or see our website @
http://joshuamikelmemorialfund.
safewebshop.com/
Please include name, address, phone #, and/or e-mail address along with the general circumstances and needs to be met with the funds.
Donations to the fund may be made at any
Bancorp South Branch
to the
Joshua Mikel Memorial Fund
or in care of:
Go Fish Ministries
76 Mims Road
Hattiesburg MS 39401
601- 544-0500 or email: gofishbooks@jesuslovesu2.every1.net
or visit the websites at www.stores.ebay.com/gofishbooks4jesus
www.cafeshops.com/gofishbooks4him
We also accept donations of near perfect conditioned used clothing for the attic swap program and the Go Fish Safe Haven program. Monetary, food, services, and other donations are also helpful for these ministries. Rooms are also needed for the Safe Haven Program for victims of domestic violence.
Founders and Executors of Go Fish Ministries:
President of Go Fish Ministries
Kimberly Marie Hartfield
Vice President over the Joshua Mikel Memorial Fund Glenda Sue Hartfield
Director of Art
Kacey Ingram
Technical Advisors Rose Hartfield Wilson
David Wilson
Director of Dramatic and Musical Missions
Sunny Hartfield
Business & Financial Advisor
Jackie Bryant
Board of Supervisors
To be Announced
Go Fish Ministries Articles of Faith
1. I believe that there is one true God, who is the Creator of all things, and the only appropriate entity of religious worship.
2. I believe that there is a tri-fold Consciousness in the Godhead - the Father, the Son Jesus, and the Holy Ghost - indivisible in essence and equal in power and glory.
3. I believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the Divine and human natures are unified, so that He is wholly God, while also fully complete in His humanity.
4. I believe that mankind was created in the image of the Godhead with a tri-fold consciousness (Heart-natural emotions, Soul-spiritual essence, and Mind-acquired knowledge, as well as a physical body-Strength) based on Mark 12:30, and that God breathed the breath of life into man and he became a living soul.
5. I believe that humanity was created in a state of innocence, but by our ancestral disobedience we lost our purity of heart; and that in consequence of the fall, all have become sinners, and as such are rightly deserving of God’s justice and wrath.
6. I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has, by His suffering and death on the cross of Calvary, made atonement for the sins of the whole world, so that whoever believes in Him may be saved.
7. I believe that repentance towards God for sanctification, faith in the justification of sinners by our Lord Jesus Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit are necessary to the process of salvation.
8. I believe that we are justified by grace, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ; and that all who believe have the witness of the Holy Spirit within their own spirit.
9. I believe that the state of salvation depends upon the grace of God and is eternally given at the moment of justification in Christ, though sanctification (to be set apart for God’s Service) and regeneration (new and abundant life through the Holy Spirit) is contingent on continued obedience and faith in Christ.
10. I believe that it is the privilege and duty of all believers to become consecrated toward God and Jesus, His Son, that their whole heart, soul, mind, and body may be preserved blameless unto the day of His coming.
11. I believe in the immortality of the soul; in the resurrection of the body; in the judgment of souls at the end of the world as we know it; in the eternal joy of the righteous; and in the separation of the wicked from God and their eternal punishment in Hell.
12. I believe that the precepts of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God; and that they are the Divine rule of Christian faith and principles.
13. I believe that the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s supper set forth by Christ in the Holy Scripture, though not necessary for salvation, should be kept whenever and however possible in remembrance of the death and resurrection of Christ.
14. I believe that human life is sacred to God and humanity and should be preserved whenever and however possible,.
15. I believe in the Holy Spirit’s dispensation of Prophecy and Preaching to Women, spoken of by the prophet Joel in 2:28-29, and attested to by Peter in Acts 2:14-21.
16. I believe that Christians should let no one judge them in meat, drink, or in respect of Holy and Sabbath days (Colossians 2: 16), though we should not let our customs be a snare to others, refraining from the appearance of evil whenever possible.
I will make a conscious effort to be responsive to the Holy Spirit's work and obedient to His leading in my life, growing in God’s grace through worship, prayer, service and the reading of the Bible. I will make the Kingdom of God my priority, setting aside the goals of this world.
I will seek to uphold Christian integrity in every area of my life, allowing no thought, word or deed that is profane, dishonest, or immoral to take root in my heart.
I will maintain Christian ideals in all my relationships with others; my family, neighbors, and fellow Servants, those I am responsible to and for, and the worldwide community at large.
I will uphold the sanctity of heterosexual marriage and family life as exampled in Scripture.
I will be a faithful steward of my time, money, and possessions, my body, mind, and spirit, knowing that my soul is ultimately accountable to God.
I will abstain from the appearance of evil, including, but not limited to, alcohol, tobacco, addictive drugs, gambling, pornography, the occult or anything else that could ensnare the body or spirit.
Having accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and desiring to join in the fellowship of His earthly Church as a Go Fish Servant and Minister, I now by God's grace enter into a covenant of faith and fellowship with Go Fish Ministries, (Gifts of Faith Inspiring Serving Hands). I believe and will seek to live by the truths of the word of God as expressed in the Go Fish Articles of Faith.
I will be faithful to the purposes of the Go Fish Ministries, endeavoring to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and in His name comforting victims of violence and caring for others in need. I will be actively involved, as I am able, in the life, work, worship and witness of the ministry, giving as large a portion of my income as possible to support its ministries, whether it be out of sacrifice (the widow’s mite) or abundance (the tithe and gifts). I will be true to the principles and practices of the Go Fish Ministries, loyal to its leaders as long as they are clearly under the direction of God, and I will show the spirit of faith and fellowship to the ministry, whether in times of acceptance or persecution.
I now enter into this covenant of faith and fellowship of my own free will, convinced that the love of Jesus, who died and now lives to give all who believe in Him eternal security, requires the devotion of my life and person to His service; and therefore do here declare my full conviction, by God's help, to be a true Servant of the Go Fish Ministries.
_________________________
Signature
_________________________ _________________________
Witness Go Fish Ministries Witness Go Fish Ministries
Articles of Incorporation
Articles of Incorporation of the undersigned, a majority of whom are citizens of the United States, desiring to form a Non-Profit Incorporation, under the Non-Profit Corporation Law of 501(C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, do hereby certify:
First: The name of the Incorporation shall be Go Fish Ministries
(Gifts of Faith Inspiring Serving Hands).
Second: The place of location of the principle office of the Incorporation will be Hattiesburg,
Mississippi, in Forrest County.
Third: Said Incorporation is organized as an umbrella Ministry exclusively for charitable,
religious, educational, scientific and literary purposes related to the prevention of cruelty
to women and children, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to the Joshua Mikel Memorial Fund for victims of sexual abuse and assault and the Go Fish Safe Haven for victims of domestic violence. The Umbrella Incorporation of Go Fish Ministries, which includes the Joshua Mikel Memorial Fund, Go Fish Safe Haven, Go Fish Little Fishers Camps, Go Fish Books 4 Jesus, the Attic Swap Program, and other ministerial efforts will be supported by proceeds from the sales of Go Fish Books along with fundraising efforts and public donations, which may be accepted for a specific area of the Ministry or the Ministry as a whole.
Fourth: The Names and Addresses of the initial trustees of the Incorporation are as follows:
Kimberly Marie Hartfield 76 Mims Road, Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Glenda Hartfield 420 Old Richton Road, Petal, MS 39465
Kacey Ingram 420 Old Richton Road, Petal, MS 39465
Fifth: No part of the net earnings of the Incorporation shall inure to the benefit of, or be
distributable to its members, trustees, or officers except that the Incorporation shall be
authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set fourth in the Article Third hereof. No substantial part of the activities of the Incorporation shall be attempting to influence legislation, and the Incorporation shall not participate in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, this Incorporation shall not, except to an insubstantial degree, carry on any other activities or exercise any other powers that are not in furtherance of the purposes of this Incorporation.
Sixth: Upon the Dissolution of the Incorporation, assets shall be distributed equally to the local
governments of the Cities of Hattiesburg and Petal, MS. for the purpose of distribution to
a Christian advocate group for victims of sexual assault or abuse. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by a Court of Competent Jurisdiction of the county in which the principle office of the Incorporation is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization(s), as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes that the Incorporation was originally organized for.
9/13/2003
Kimberly Hartfield
76 Mims Rd
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Dear Prospective Board Member,
Subject: Go Fish Ministries
Go Fish Ministries
Gifts of Faith Inspiring Serving Hands
Some of you I know well, others of you, I do not. Most of you at least know who I am and the general circumstances of my life. Most of you know that I have a background of childhood sexual abuse and domestic violence as an adult. I have long felt a call to help others in those types of situations, but not until I saw the results of these types of things happening to others and particularly to someone very dear to me, did I understand completely that desire. I claim II Corinthians 3-4 as my calling, which says that we are to comfort others with the comfort we have received from God. God has brought me through a good many trials in my life and it has driven me to push myself beyond my own feeble limits to seek to do something great in my life for others who are now, where I have been. I have learned through many days and nights of Bible study and prayer that God takes some very ordinary and sinful people and does extraordinary things in and through them when they humbly seek Him in faith. I believe I have that kind of faith and that God can and will do something great in my life if I take this leap of faith that I believe He’s asking me to take.
In the past year or so, God has planted the seeds of this ministry in my mind and heart. I have put a lot of time and effort, as well as prayer into my efforts to begin this ministry, which partially began as a high school community service project for my daughter, Sunny, who is now at Meredith Christian College for Women in North Carolina. My oldest daughter, Rose, who was admitted to Meredith the year before, has been my technical advisor for the web sites from the beginning of the Joshua Mikel Memorial Fund and the Go Fish Books 4 Jesus Ministries. My opinions on some aspects of the ministry and hers are not necessarily the same, but she has been a Godsend, nevertheless. My sister, Glenda, who shared some traumatic life events with me, has also been one of my greatest supports, as well as one of my greatest critics. They have all pushed me to clarify my ideas, change my wording, and modify my heart where need be. Glenda has come along side me in this ministry and will be the Vice President of the Joshua Mikel Memorial Division of the Ministry in the soon to be Corporation. I have invested a good deal of my personal time and moneys into this ministry to get it started, believing that God will bless my faith and efforts. I will soon be finished with my undergraduate studies at William Carey College, expecting to graduate in May, so I hope to be able to put my whole heart into this ministry, thereafter.
I am fervently seeking those who would be willing to serve as advisors on the Go Fish Ministries Board of Directors, who the corporation will be held accountable to, both financially and ministerially. I am seeking those Christians to become members of the Board of Directors, who are experienced in ministry, in law enforcement, in medicine, in psychology, in education, in finances, in beauty consulting, in missions, and of course those who have experienced like crises in their own lives and have overcome those tribulations. I would like to have at least 12 members of the board, in addition to the cabinet members. I will serve as President for all of my natural life or as long as I am able, or until the ministry ceases to function. My sister, Glenda, as I stated before, will be my Vice President until she resigns as such. Rose Hartfield and David Wilson are my Technical Advisors, and Jackie Bryant has agreed to be our financial advisor as well. Sunny has agreed to be the Drama and Music Director and Kacey Ingram is our Art Director and Assistant Editor of the JMM Newsletter. Board Members will hold 10-year terms, unless circumstances do not allow for continuation. Any lifestyle activity that would be an embarrassment to Go Fish Ministries, could be grounds for dismissal if voted on by the remaining Board Members. Board Members, as well as Cabinet members will hold one vote each on matters brought up for a vote; with the president having the final say on any contested matters. The current members of the board will have the responsibility of voting on the positions of the President and Vice President when the need arises. The President will hold the right to suggest her successor when she is no longer able to serve in that capacity, which will then be brought up for a vote by the members of the board. To insure that the best interests of women and children will continue to be served by Go Fish Ministries, The Presidential Position will need to remain a female. Other officers and board members may be male. All officers and board members must be Evangelical Christians, to insure the continuation of a Christian Ministry. Board members will be provided with a financial statement of all donations and expenditures at least once a year, as well as a ministerial statement of mission related activities. Board Members will be expected to attend a yearly board meeting and dinner for this purpose, as well as any called emergency meetings during the year, but may vote by absentee ballot if they cannot attend for some personal reason or geographical distance.
If you are interested in one of these positions, please contact me as soon as possible. If you are not interested in a board member position, but know someone who would be, please feel free to pass this information on to him or her; or contact me with their contact information. Also contact me if you would like to offer an available room in your home for the Go Fish Safe Haven Ministry or any other contributory donation of time, money, goods, or services. I will not be offended if you decline this offer, as I want only those who are truly led to join me in this effort. God Bless to all and Go Fish 4 Jesus!!
Sincerely yours,
Kimberly Hartfield
President
Go Fish Ministries
gofish@jesuslovesu2.every1.net
