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Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry Announces New Director of Programs, Diana Emry

Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry (OCPM), the national prison ministry of the Orthodox Church, is very pleased to announce Diana Emry as the organization’s first Director of Programs. To celebrate this appointment, OCPM sat down with Emry to hear what this position means for her and the future of the organization. OCPM: Can you describe your […]

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News Press Releases

Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry Speaking Tour Spring 2025

Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry (OCPM) has many exciting speaking events coming up this season. Check out our scheduled events across the United States, and if we are coming to your neighborhood, click on the link provided to learn more. Make sure to check back throughout this season, as more events are still being set! Saturday, […]

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Beyond the Bars Blog

Wisdom for the New Year from a Man in Prison

Whatever mixed feelings each of us may have about New Year’s resolutions, the instinct persists; with a new calendar year always comes some desire for a restart: new goals, new intentions, new ways of seeing the world. For those of us at OCPM, these redirections often come from men and women behind bars, whose hard […]

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Beyond the Bars Blog

“Your ministry has truly been a light shining in the darkness.” A Christmas Reflection from Travis in Prison

“Your ministry has truly been a light shining in the darkness behind these prison walls! May the Lord, Our God, Jesus Christ, bless you and store up treasures for you in Heaven for all the love and help you have shown to me and others.” -A Letter from Travis in Prison We received this letter […]

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Beyond the Bars Blog

No Greater Gift: A Christmas Reflection from a Man in Prison

We recently received this poignant reflection from George in prison on the joy of Christmas Day and the gifts God is ready to give us every day of the year. We hope this helps you get in the holiday spirit as much as it has helped us! Do you remember what it felt like as […]

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Beyond the Bars Blog

Storybook Connections™: Keeping Families Together Throughout Incarceration

Sam and Jonathan Springer were surprised to receive a storybook in the mail for their two-year-old daughter. Inside the package was a letter explaining that this book was sent on behalf of Sam’s mother, Christy, who had been arrested and was in a jail in Colorado. Even more surprising, the book came with a link […]

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Beyond the Bars Blog

What is Success?

As the national prison ministry of the Orthodox Church, part of the OCPM’s mission is to train and inspire local church communities to support those in prison near them. This is why dozens of Orthodox clergy seek out our coaching services every year to learn how to best manage the various challenges of doing ministry […]

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Press Releases

OCPM Thanks Elsie Skvir Ganister Foundation Fund For Supporting Education in Prisons

New York, NY. (October 1, 2024) Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry (OCPM) extends our deepest appreciation to Elsie Skvir Ganister Foundation Fund for their generous support of our prison newsletter entitled “The Journey.” This vital monthly publication provides incarcerated individuals with discussions on the Orthodox faith, events on the church calendar, messages from OCPM’s director, as […]

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Beyond the Bars Blog

Remember Your Baptism: Serving Orthodox Christians Behind Bars

By the grace of God, Orthodox Christianity is spreading across the prisons of the United States. The Journey newsletter, which OCPM publishes to send to those in prison, is being passed around cell-to-cell and our Prisoner Relationship Managers are now receiving letters from inmates introducing themselves and asking how to start being in contact with […]

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News Press Releases

ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN PRISON MINISTRY Appoints Maggie Wissink and Darin DeBolt as New Board Members

As the demand for Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry continues to grow in facilities across the United States, we are happy to say our leadership is growing, too. OCPM is blessed to add two new members to our Board of Directors. Mrs. Maggie Wissink is looking forward to serving prisoners and their families as part of […]