CHAPLAIN OTTO MINISTRIES

The Problem

Across the United States, more than 2 million people are incarcerated, many carrying deep trauma, anger, addiction, and spiritual isolation.

For veterans inside prison, the challenge can be even greater. Many struggle with combat trauma, lost identity, and the feeling that their service no longer matters.

While rehabilitation programs exist, most incarcerated individuals never gain access to consistent programming due to staffing limits and prison resources.

Traditional prison ministry can only reach one facility at a time.

Chaplain Otto Ministries set out to change that.

From Prison Visits to National Reach

The ministry began through direct prison outreach—teaching certified anger management classes and mentoring incarcerated veterans.

Since March 2024, in-person programs inside Ohio prisons have produced measurable results:

• 121 incarcerated veterans served
• 9 full 12-week anger-management course cycles completed
• 89% of participants showed measurable emotional improvement
• 72% reported stronger family relationships
• 68% demonstrated improved conflict-resolution skills

During this work, Chaplain Otto Ministries also helped establish the first American Legion Post inside an Ohio prison, creating identity, leadership, and community for incarcerated veterans.

These programs proved something powerful:

When people are given the right tools, they choose change.

But there was one problem.

The reach was limited.

Scaling the Mission Nationally

To expand beyond individual prison visits, Chaplain Otto Ministries launched Behind the Wire: Anger, Faith & Veterans on Edovo, the largest digital learning platform used in correctional facilities.

Edovo delivers educational and rehabilitative programs through secure tablets used in prisons and jails across the country, allowing incarcerated learners to participate in courses directly from their housing units.

Through this platform, Chaplain Otto Ministries now reaches:

• 44 states
• 516 correctional facilities
• 1,236 incarcerated learners engaged

The program allows incarcerated men and women to explore:

• Faith and personal purpose
• Anger management and thinking patterns
• Veteran identity and support
• Private prayer requests

Participation is completely voluntary.

Even without promotion, the response has been powerful:

• 25 first-time faith decisions
• 84 rededications to Christ
• 119 believers identifying as firm in their faith
• 139 incarcerated veterans identified
• 791 prayer requests submitted from prison tablets

These responses represent real people choosing reflection, responsibility, and growth.

The Next Phase: A National Certified Anger Management Program

The current program is intentionally designed as a listening and learning phase.

Through surveys and engagement data, Chaplain Otto Ministries is gathering insight directly from incarcerated learners across the country.

This data will shape the ministry’s next major initiative:

A nationally certified digital anger-management course for incarcerated learners.

The goal is to create a program that:

• Meets national anger-management training standards
• Is recognized by correctional institutions and parole boards
• Helps incarcerated individuals develop practical tools for emotional control
• Supports long-term rehabilitation and reduced recidivism

Based on current engagement and Edovo’s national reach, Chaplain Otto Ministries expects more than 100,000 incarcerated learners to participate in this certified course once it launches.

Why This Work Matters

Education and rehabilitation programs inside prisons significantly reduce repeat incarceration.

Providing incarcerated individuals with structured education and behavioral tools can reduce recidivism rates by over 40 percent, making communities safer and helping individuals rebuild their lives after release.

Yet millions of incarcerated individuals still lack access to consistent programming.

Through digital platforms like Edovo, programs can now reach entire prison populations at scale—something that was impossible through in-person teaching alone.

Chaplain Otto Ministries is leveraging this opportunity to bring faith, emotional tools, and rehabilitation education directly into prison cells across the United States.

2026 Funding Goal

To sustain and expand this national ministry, Chaplain Otto Ministries has set a 2026 funding goal of $150,000.

These funds support both national digital programming and ongoing prison outreach.

Key operational needs include:

Digital Program Distribution

• $750 per course upload to Edovo
• $5,000 annual analytics and reporting access
• Platform hosting and maintenance

Ministry Infrastructure

• Recording studio for course production ($250/month)
• Website operations and digital infrastructure
• Financial management systems (QuickBooks)

Staffing

Two full-time ministry staff are needed to:

• Produce and publish new course content
• Manage national program expansion
• Respond to prayer requests from incarcerated learners
• Analyze engagement data and develop future programs

Technology

• AI-assisted content development tools
• secure communication and operational software

These resources allow Chaplain Otto Ministries to maintain national access to incarcerated learners and continue expanding programming.

The Opportunity

Through Edovo, the ministry has the potential to reach up to one million incarcerated learners nationwide.

This moment represents a turning point.

With the right support, Chaplain Otto Ministries can move from reaching thousands of incarcerated individuals to serving hundreds of thousands every year.

Why Your Support Matters

Your support helps:

• Expand national prison ministry programs
• Launch a certified anger management curriculum
• Provide faith-based guidance to incarcerated men and women
• Recognize and support incarcerated veterans
• Respond to hundreds of prayer requests from prison cells across the country

Every gift helps ensure that incarcerated men and women have access to tools that help them reflect, change, and rebuild their lives.

Because at Chaplain Otto Ministries,

No one is forgotten.
Not even behind the wire.