Dr. Bruce Perkins, director of Oklahoma Baptist University’s Prison Divinity Program (PDP) and associate professor of Christian education, was honored as the 2025 inductee into the OBU Walter O. Mason, Jr. Kingdom Diversity Hall of Fame during a ceremony held Saturday, Jan. 18, on the OBU campus.
The event, hosted in the Geiger Center, celebrated Perkins’ decades of ministry and leadership in advancing diversity and transformative education. Friends, colleagues, and community members attended the award-show-style ceremony, where attendees enjoyed heavy hors d’oeuvres and heartfelt speeches honoring Perkins’ legacy.
The Kingdom Diversity Hall of Fame recognizes individuals whose lives exemplify a commitment to diversity and the Kingdom values described in Revelation 7:9, encompassing people from every nation, tribe, and language.
Perkins’ contributions to ministry and education have spanned more than five decades, including his leadership of OBU’s groundbreaking PDP.
Established in 2020 under Perkins’ direction, the PDP provides a fully accredited Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies to incarcerated men at Lexington Correctional Center. It is Oklahoma’s first in-person, four-year degree program for inmates, designed to transform lives through education and ministry.
In May 2025, the program will graduate its first cohort, many of whom are set to become “field ministers” in correctional facilities across the state. Over the past 18 months alone, the program has witnessed a remarkable impact, with more than 700 inmates committing their lives to Christ.
“I am honored and humbled to be included in the company of Mr. Mason, the award’s namesake, and Ms. (Ycedra) Daughty, last year’s inductee,” Perkins said. “On some level, it is obviously rewarding to know your work is recognized and appreciated. However, on a much greater level, it is wonderful that the recognition provides a platform to share what God is doing in this world, especially as it regards underscoring His image which is resident in every human being. The real work – the eternal work – is being done by the Holy Spirit in the lives of our PDP students and, through them, in the lives of other incarcerated men, their families, and prison employees. I have been granted a front-row seat, watching God restore hope and purpose to these men. I witness many coming to faith in Christ. I see their relationships with family being restored. I literally see the ‘old man’ passing away before my eyes. I celebrate these incredible men and their pursuit of academic excellence and spiritual vitality. May God be praised.”
Perkins’ journey in ministry began in 1968 when he felt called to serve during a youth camp at Falls Creek. Over the years, he has served as a youth minister, pastor, and leader in Christian education, including his role as president of Shiloh Christian School in Arkansas. He joined OBU nearly 20 years ago, holding various leadership positions before launching the PDP.
“There is no greater expression of the transformational education OBU offers than that in the Prison Divinity Program,” Perkins said. “It is humbling to see God’s work in the lives of these students and to be part of their journey.”
The Walter O. Mason, Jr. Kingdom Diversity Hall of Fame was established to celebrate individuals whose lives demonstrate a commitment to diversity and God’s love. B.J. Glover, OBU’s vice president for university culture, described Perkins as a worthy recipient of the honor.
“Dr. Perkins has dedicated his life to fostering Kingdom diversity and advancing the Gospel in transformative ways. His work exemplifies the values we aim to honor through this award,” Glover said.
“There are many experiences, both specific and general, that prepared me for developing, launching, and directing the Prison Divinity Program,” Perkins said. “The most specific experience immediately came to mind only minutes after (OBU President) Dr. (Heath) Thomas asked me to pray and consider the task. I sat down at my office desk and thought of something I literally had not thought about in 40 years. When I was a 20-something-year-old pastor, I preached prison revivals in east Texas. I loved ministering in those prisons and was overwhelmed by the men’s receptivity to the gospel. As tears began to flow, I thought, ‘Lord, did you begin preparing me for this 40 years ago?’ It is both humbling and reassuring to know God works in the details of your life.”
