Father Stephen Powley was recently the keynote speaker for the Youth and Family Conference hosted this year in Dallas, Texas from July 25-27. Father addressed their younger-aged group of around 150 people aged 15-32 years old.
The conference, which saw around 550 people, was themed “Celebrating the Abundant Life: The Orthodox Christian Way.” Father Stephen spoke three times additional times, hosted a workshop, and addressed the conference during the opening ceremony and panel discussion.
Father gave three talks with three PowerPoints which all dealt with what is or is not an abundant life in Christ and how people in prison are finding and living that abundant life in Christ.
Here are the titles of the sessions with theme THE ABUNDANT LIFE:
Session #1 – IS IT ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE OR WHO YOU ARE IN LIFE?
Session #2 – IS IT ABOUT WHAT YOU OWN OR HOW MUCH MONEY YOU HAVE?
Session #3 – WHAT ARE SOME OF THE GREATEST OBSTACLES THAT CAN HINDER OR DESTROY OUR ABUNDANT LIFE IN CHRIST? IS THE ABUNDANT LIFE ABOUT WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW OR WHAT GROUP YOU BELONG TO?
For the workshop, Father Stephen used our new OCPM book: The Prison Diary of Saint Perpetua with a manuscript emailed out to all the attendees. This primed the many who attended the workshop. Father reports they “were so very attentive throughout each presentation. These young people continue to amaze me in their desire to serve the Lord and make a difference in this world.”
At the very end, the conference presented Father Stephen and OCPM with a check for $2000!
The OCPM is truly thankful for the gracious hospitality and generous donation to this ministry!
In Christ,
The OCPM Team