I have some more great news!
Corban University has hired our first program director for Paid in Full Oregon’s education program at the Oregon State Correctional Institution. His name is Dr. Amit Bhatia, and he comes to us from Trinity International University in Deerfield, IL.
For the past several years, Dr. Bhatia has taught courses in Trinity’s undergraduate program at Waupun Correctional Institution, a maximum security prison in Waupun, WI. This program is one of only 16 in the country. He comes well equipped to launch a brand new program in the Oregon prison system, and we’re very excited to have him!
As a Christian of Hindu background, he has also served as a pastor in several different multi-ethnic congregations. His cross-cultural experiences equip him well to work with inmates from all backgrounds. He is the author of Engaging Muslims & Islam: Lessons for 21st-Century American Evangelicals (Urban Loft Publishers). He is married to Kathryn Richards Bhatia, MDiv, with whom he shares a love of Indian food.
Please pray for Dr. Bhatia as he and his wife relocate from Illinois to Oregon this week and he gets started next week. Pray for a warm welcome to Corban University, the Oregon prison system and many new friends in our state.
P.S. I’m thankful for the generous response to our appeal for computers. Of the 27 computers we need, 13 are completely funded. But we still need 14 more. If the Lord prompts you to help with the purchase of one computer at approximately $634 that would be wonderful. Or, you can help with a gift of any size. Your gift will help purchase one computer for each student. We need to place our order by the end of the month so your help right now is greatly appreciated.