Oct 2024 | Vol. 3 Issue 1
Prison Divinity Program
From the King’s Table “So Jehoiachin put aside his prison clothes and for the rest of his life ate regularly at the king’s table.” 2 Kings 25:29
Message from the Director Dr. Bruce Perkins God is so good! A second cohort of students began their academic studies in the Fall 2023 term. We now have 30 sophomores and 30 seniors. Twenty of our seniors are enrolled in integrated master’s courses, which means they are earning credits toward a master’s degree while completing their bachelor’s degree. Students began serving the first of two required internships in the Spring 2023 semester. We received permission from the warden for some of them to visit the maximum-security units with trained volunteer escorts. This past summer, students started visiting units (other than the one in which they live) in the medium-security yard. Some have formed an OBU choir, which is permitted to sing and share testimonies in various locations around the prison. Through all these initiatives and the personal witnessing of these men, over 400 men have made decisions to follow Jesus in the last 18 months! Help has arrived! Rev. Jared Lee is the new Assistant Director of the Prison Divinity Program and Assistant Professor of Christian Education. Jared arrived in September. He brings with him pastoral experience and teaching experience in a prison education program similar to ours. He will share in several administrative and teaching responsibilities. He is also taking the lead in publishing this newsletter. Thus, you can expect to hear from us on a regular basis. Thank you! Even though our communication with you via The King’s Table has been on hiatus, we know your communication with God on our behalf has not. Thank you for your prayers and continued support. We love and appreciate each of you!
The Prison Divinity Program transforms the lives of incarcerated individuals to redeem both the self and the system through the resurrection power of Jesus Christ by providing a learning environment and program of study that leads to a reformed perspective on life which results in a redirected purpose for life.