On Wednesday, May 9, 2012 St. Tikhon’s was pleased to have Fr. Stephen Powley, the Assistant Director of Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry (OCPM), as a guest speaker.  OCPM is the official prison ministry of the Assembly of Canonical Bishops of North and South America.

OCPM currently ministers to over 1000 men and women who are currently incarcerated or have been recently so and now are being acclimated back into their own local communities. Currently there are over 300 Orthodox catechumens within the American prison system.

Fr. Stephen gave a moving and thought provoking presentation that challenged everyone present to re-evaluate stereotypes and to take a close and honest look at St. Paul’s instruction to "remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering."  (Hebrews 13:3)