Blog posts and original articles
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 […]
“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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
The first ever Certificate Program in Prison Ministry, in partnership with Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry (OCPM) and St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (STOTS) graduated its first cohort of students June 16-22, 2024. The inaugural seven students of the Certificate Program have been remotely learning and reflecting together since February from their own homes and parishes […]
Hundreds of Orthodox churches of all jurisdictions across the country are preparing for Prison Ministry Awareness Sunday on July 28, 2024. The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States has blessed this annual day of recognition, prayer, and almsgiving for our brothers and sisters behind bars. One brave girl, however, has already begun […]
Being a Prisoner Relationship Manager (PRM) for OCPM is no easy task. Each PRM is responsible for hundreds of people in prison across the United States. They are not only personally responding to each inmate’s spiritual needs, but also assisting his or her community around them (family members, Orthodox clergy, prison staff, etc.). With the […]
This past Sunday was a special day the Church reserves on our way toward Great Lent when we are met again with Christ’s teaching of the separation of the sheep and the goats. Where last week’s Gospel reading (The Parable of the Prodigal Son) highlighted God’s boundless love for His children, this week turns our focus […]