Just start singing in the yard

I am constantly encouraged by the stories coming out of the Corban extension in the Oregon State Correctional Institution (OSCI). Here is another story that I want to share. It is about Jeff Pierce, who is in our first cohort of 25 men. Each man has his own story and hopefully I will be able…

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Classes restarted!

On April 24, the Oregon Department of Corrections (ODOC) prohibited any further classroom instruction occurring at our Corban extension in the Oregon State Correctional Institution (OSCI). ODOC did this with good reason. They were very concerned about the spread of COVID-19 into OSCI. Except for one or two hotspots in other Oregon prisons, our prison system…

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A Mask & A Gun

When Terry was a teenager, his dad came home one day, handed him a mask and a gun and said “Follow me, son.” Terry’s dad was a member of a gang. Terry followed his dad and began to rob banks in a Southwestern state. His dad was so proud of his son. He would even tell his…

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New Website, Ricky Who?

During this COVID-19 break, I have had an opportunity to get some things done that were being neglected. For example, spending more time in scripture and prayer, intensive gardening, long walks and catching up with old friends. But the one thing that really needed attention was the revamping of our website. So while I was…

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Breaking Chains II

BREAKING CHAINS II Join your fellow supporters of Paid in Full Oregon, Corban University and the Oregon Department of Corrections in celebrating the new academic year for our second year students and our brand new Freshmen. Hear from the students on the impact of being in the Northwest’s first four-year college degree program.

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Free in Prison

When I led a group of Oregon officials on a field trip to Angola Prison in January of 2015, they experienced something that was totally unanticipated. The group consisted of two state senators, two state representatives, a Department of Corrections person, a Criminal Justice Commission representative, someone from the Attorney General’s office and several other…

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JOY and GLORY in prison?

As we travel through this COVID-19 crisis, I am reminded of James 1:2-3 which says “Consider it pure joy…whenever you face trials…because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” And further in Romans 5:3  Paul tells us that we “…glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance character;…

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Baptism behind the Walls

Together, as we travel through this storm of COVID-19, there is good news on the horizon. We know that we will be stronger as a nation, as a state, as communities, as families and as individuals. We will be stronger because of where our eyes are focused…on Him. I want to share some additional good…

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