More than 750 inmates at an Oklahoma state prison experienced a powerful display of faith and healing during an outreach event led by a Tulsa church pastor and his volunteer team.

On June 23, 2025, Victory Christian Center held a large-scale ministry event at John H. Lilley Correctional Center in Boley, Oklahoma, resulting in over 400 inmates committing to faith, 41 baptisms, and the distribution of nearly 2,000 spiritual resources, CBN reported.

Pastor Paul Daugherty, who leads the prominent Tulsa-based Victory Christian Center, had been planning the effort for months after feeling spiritually compelled to connect with those incarcerated. Influenced by a sense that churches had largely neglected prison ministry, he began laying the groundwork with state officials.

Initiative Sparked by Personal Conviction

Roughly three months before the event, Daugherty reached out to Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt’s team, particularly Brian Bobek, the state’s chief operating officer and now a member of Daugherty’s congregation. With Bobek’s mentorship, Daugherty designed the outreach to be substantial rather than modest in scope.

“I didn’t want to just do a small service for a handful of inmates,” Daugherty said. “I wanted to reach as many people as I could with the love of God.” The church’s commitment to the cause mirrored its wide weekly reach, as more than 7,000 people attend Victory Christian Center each week.

When the ministry team arrived at John H. Lilley Prison, they were uncertain what kind of attendance to expect. “We didn’t know if we’d get 100 or 200 guys,” Daugherty said. Instead, 751 inmates showed up for worship, teaching, meals, and personal prayer.

Emotional Response to Inmate Participation

As the inmates began arriving, Daugherty described the moment as deeply emotional. “As they walked towards us,” he said, “I started weeping. It looked like a scene out of the Bible.” He compared the image to Jesus seeing crowds hungry for hope and grace.

The crowd included men aged 25 to 70. Offenses ranged from drug-related crimes to violent and sexual offenses. Many attendees were suffering from deep emotional burdens, including shame, despair, and hopelessness.

Daugherty said he felt led to walk among the group, offering hugs, handshakes, and personal prayers. “I just wanted to show them that God sees their future, not just their past,” he said, recounting how many responded emotionally to the message of grace.

Hundreds Commit to Faith and New Beginnings

After sharing a message of hope, Daugherty invited anyone who wanted to make a faith commitment to raise their hands. More than 400 inmates did so, many in tears. “Jesus is the only one who can heal the heart and bring peace,” he told them.

The event included 41 baptisms and the distribution of 700 Bibles and 1,300 Bible study books. Volunteers also served 1,000 hot meals to those in attendance. Daugherty was joined by 32 volunteers who helped coordinate the large-scale operation.

Among those present was an inmate who knew Daugherty’s father, the late Pastor Billy Joe Daugherty. The man said he had been part of Victory’s choir in the 1990s before being incarcerated in 2000. Seeing Paul Daugherty at the prison, he recalled, “the son of my pastor, now ministering in my prison.”

Church Plans to Expand Ministry to Other Facilities

Reflecting on that encounter, Daugherty said, “It felt like a full-circle moment of God’s grace.” The inmate told him he’d been visited in the past by Daugherty’s father who had reminded him that he was still loved by God despite his mistakes.

Following the success of the outreach, Victory Christian Center has already scheduled additional events in other correctional facilities for the fall and winter. Daugherty said multiple prisons have requested to host similar events.

“Praise God. Let’s keep doing this,” he said. He believes the world is becoming more broken and shallow, prompting people to seek deeper answers for life’s struggles. “Jesus is that answer,” he stated.

Growing Demand Highlights the Need for Hope

Victory Christian Center’s outreach model is designed to be both spiritual and practical, offering inmates more than just a sermon. From hot meals to one-on-one blessings, volunteers aimed to restore dignity and encourage transformation.

Daugherty believes that this kind of ministry meets a critical need in overlooked spaces. He said there is “a harvest of people in the prisons” that most religious organizations aren’t actively reaching.

His goal, he says, is to “touch as many lives as possible” within prison walls, giving inmates opportunities for spiritual renewal and meaningful change through faith and community support.