Read More at THEOCPM.ORG

· Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, While we are saddened to hear of the approaching end of the Ancient Faith Blog, we are excited to witness how Ancient Faith Ministries, an organization we have been grateful to be partnered with for years, is honing their skills and callings in service to Our Lord. If you have faithfully read Beyond the Bars on Ancient Faith–thank you! We hope our stories have connected with you and…

Mike Kosanivich, Special Agent FBI

· Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry
Michael Kosanovich was a Special Agent for the FBI and was promoted to FBI headquarters to work International Terrorism matters just prior to the 9/11 attacks in Washington D.C. and New York. In 2003 Michael was assigned to Chicago as a Terrorism Supervisor and in 2010 was promoted to the number two position in the Chicago office as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge. Michael retired from the FBI in 2014 but…

Meet Paul, Real Life Prodigal Son

· Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry
The Assembly of Bishops has blessed July 30, 2023 as Prison Ministry Awareness Sunday (PMAS), when hundreds of Orthodox Christian churches of all jurisdictions across the United States will recognize and share about the importance of prison ministry for the life of the Church. To help get us into PMAS spirit, enjoy this beautiful testimony from our friend and former prisoner, Paul, whose life is a real-life example of Christ’s Parable of…

“Not Afraid to Ask”: The Prison Ministry Journal of Toby John, Part 3

· Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry
Below is Part Three in a new four-part series of journal entries from OCPM’s Prison Relationship Manager during his internship with OCPM and St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (STOTS). If you haven’t already, make sure to read Part One and Part Two of Toby John’s Prison Ministry Journal. Tuesday, February 28 – March 1, 2023 During that time, I traveled to Minneapolis, Minnesota to spend some time with Zossima, the Director of…

“I Knew Without Any Doubt that God was In that Place”: A Reflection from Mark Santana

· Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry
OCPM recently held a staff retreat in Pennsylvania. We had the privilege of visiting with seminarians, along with the Dean at St. Tikhon’s Seminary and the Abbott at St. Tikhon’s Monastery. We also visited SCI Waymart, a nearby prison, escorted by Fr. John Kowalczyk and Fr. Stephen Powley, Co-Directors of Training and Spiritual Care at OCPM. I was no stranger to prison visits having volunteered in prison ministry for the past 12…

“My Lord, and My God”: The Prison Ministry Journal of Toby John, Part 2

· Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry
Below is Part Two in a new four-part series of journal entries from OCPM’s Prison Relationship Manager during his internship with OCPM and St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (STOTS). If you haven’t already, make sure to read Part One of Toby John’s Prison Journal.   Friday, February 10 On this day, we began to hold Vespers once a week, usually on Fridays. Prior to Vespers, Father John, Monk Michael, and I walked…

“Christ Meets Us Where We Are”: The Prison Ministry Journal of Toby John, Part 1

· Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry
“This was the first time I have ever gone to visit a prison.” When Toby John, (MDiv St. Vladimir’s Seminary, Master of Social Work UT Arlington ) was hired this past year as OCPM’s new Prison Relationship Manager, he also became the first person to pilot a new Certificate in Prison Ministry program, created in partnership with OCPM, St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, and SCI Waymart, the Pennsylvania state prison facility only…

“Love was on Display at Golgotha”: A Prisoner’s Personal Encounter with Christ

· Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry
While serving his life sentence, Doug went on a spiritual pilgrimage, experimenting with many different religions to try to find his faith. One day, going through a guided meditation, he was brought again to his visceral memories of being abused as a child. His body began to shake with fear and rage and, instead of observing and detaching himself from his thoughts like he was guided to do, he turned his pain…

“God of All-Comfort”: The Icon from Solitary Confinement

· Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry
When OCPM founder, Fr. Duane Pedersen, began corresponding with Michael in prison, Michael was quick to say he preferred if Fr. Duane would stop writing about God. Despite showing no indication that his heart was changing, Fr. Duane faithfully wrote to him week after week, year after year. After twenty years of correspondence, Fr. Duane received a surprising letter. “I want to be baptized into the Orthodox Faith.” But this was only…

Push Your Comfort Zone: Eddie Bocanegra on Welcoming the Stranger

· Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry
“When the Son of man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and He will place the sheep at His right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the King will say to those at his right hand,…