Path to Learning: Creating a Regional LAB Environment

Table of Contents

Getting Started 

Your Profile

Regional Role 

Creating a Zone 

Creating a Circuit 

Creating a Congregation 

Administration 

Adding an Applicant 

Volunteers 

Facilities

My Ministry

Getting Started

How To Log In

This article outlines the steps to take the first time you log into Gate Access. After following these steps, your account setup will be complete and you will be ready to use the website. 

Your Profile

How To Update Your Profile 

This article will teach you how to create and update your profile. If you have regional permissions, you will be able to edit all fields in your profile. 

In the LAB environment, you will have to create your own profile. However, when accessing the production version of Gate Access, the profile fields for most users will already be completed by the Regional Office.

Regional Role

Overview of Regional Role 

This article provides a general overview of the features of the Gate Access website that are accessible when you log in with a regional role. More detailed instructions for creating zones, circuits, and congregations can be found below. 

In the LAB environment, you will have to create zones, circuits, and congregations. However, when accessing the production version of Gate Access, many facets of the region will have been created already.

Creating a Zone

Sequential Steps for Creating a Zone

This article will help you create a new zone in Gate Access. 

Creating a Circuit

Sequential Steps for Adding a Circuit

This article will teach you how to add circuits within a zone. 

Creating a Congregation

Sequential Steps for Adding a Congregation 

This article contains instructions on how to add congregations to a circuit. 

Administration 

Now you are ready to set up the modules that are used most often in a regional office administrative role.

Adding an Applicant 

Overview and Sequential Steps - Applicant Module 

This comprehensive article will teach you how to use the Applicant module to enter application data into the website. 

Volunteers

The steps found under Adding an Applicant (see above) taught you how to approve an applicant. Once approved, an applicant automatically becomes a volunteer. This is the only way to add volunteers in Gate Access. 

Facilities

Overview and Sequential Steps of the Facilities Module

This article contains a comprehensive overview of what you can see and do in the Facilities module. First, you will learn how to search for, add, edit, and delete facilities.

In the LAB environment, each user will have to create facilities. However, when accessing the production version of Gate Access, many facilities in your zone will have already been created.  Also, the seven subheadings listed below correspond to tabs in the Facility module and include concise articles on how to use each one.

Facility Info Tab

This article shows you how to add and edit information for a given facility.

Directory Tab

In this article, you will learn how to add and edit contact information for the personnel (facility contact, contact congregations, and staff) assigned to a facility.

Volunteers Tab

This article describes how to view and edit information for volunteers who have already been assigned to a particular facility.  

You will not be able to assign volunteers to a facility in this tab. Assigning facilities to a volunteer is done from within the volunteer’s profile.

Inmates Tab

This article describes how to view and edit information for inmates who have already been assigned to a particular facility.  

You will not be able to assign inmates to a facility in this tab. Assigning facilities to an inmate is done from within the inmate’s profile.

Shifts Tab

This article contains information on adding and editing shifts held within each facility.

Meetings Tab

This article contains information on adding meetings to a facility.  

Activity Tab

This article will guide you through the process of recording, viewing, and reporting activity for inmates who are baptized or unbaptized publishers.  

My Ministry

My Ministry is a Gate Access dashboard that helps you organize and track your prison ministry. 

The subheadings below correspond to tabs in the My Ministry module, and include concise help articles on how to use each feature in your ministry.

 

My Ministry Landing Page

This article describes what you will see when you select My Ministry in Gate Access, and how you can get personal assistance by using the live chat feature.

My Ministry Schedule Tab

This article provides information on managing your prison witnessing schedule.

Meeting Assignments

This article will teach you how to view, create, and change your shifts, time away, and meeting assignments.

My Ministry Inmates Tab

In this article, you will learn how to manage the inmates that you have been assigned to correspond and study with.  You will also find out how to attach notes and correspondence to an inmate.

Most volunteers will not have access to this feature when they first login. It will only appear when the volunteer has been assigned to correspond with an inmate.

My Ministry Activity Tab

This article teaches you how to view and record your prison witnessing activity.

In addition to reporting to your local congregation, reporting prison ministry activity in Gate Access is required for all prison ministry volunteers.

Last Updated: June 16, 2022