SHAWNEE – Commencement ceremonies are taking place across the state, but this one marks a historic first.
Four years ago, Oklahoma Baptist University partnered with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections to launch the Prison Divinity Program at Lexington Assessment and Reception Center. Recently, more than two dozen incarcerated men earned their Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies.
“As the first graduating class of the Oklahoma Baptist University Prison Divinity Program, you are history makers,” Gov. Kevin Stitt said. “It’s the first four-year divinity program inside a prison in the United States. You each took a situation that many might see as hopeless and turned it into an opportunity to instill hope in those around you.”
The men demonstrated tremendous grit and perseverance. The commencement ceremony, held on the campus of OBU, marked the culmination of their hard work.
“You’ve been given a gift,” ODOC Director Steven Harpe said.
“You’ve earned it. You worked hard for this education, and nobody can take it away. You encourage me and inspire me every time I see you.”
The unique prison program equips incarcerated men with the tools they need to succeed in the field of ministry.
OBU and the Department of Corrections remain committed to transforming lives from the inside out.
“So, this is an absolute milestone day for the life of Oklahoma Baptist University in partnership with the Department of Corrections,” OBU President Dr. Heath Thomas said. “This is the first graduating class of the Divinity Program. We are seeing family trajectory change, so this is a big deal for us.”
The men will now serve as field ministers in correctional facilities across Oklahoma, offering pastoral care, mentorship and moral guidance to fellow inmates.
“It is an opportunity we have to change the culture and have an impact on our facilities from the inside out,” ODOC Chaplain and Volunteer Administrator Leo Brown said. “This is having a positive impact and building hope and transforming facilities.”
The program is funded through private donations at no cost to Oklahoma taxpayers.
The next cohort of the OBU Prison Divinity Program is already underway. Those students are expected to graduate in about two years.
