Debbie Roeger
From Attorney to Prison Ministry Mediation
Debbie Roeger left a successful legal career to pursue God’s purpose for her life. She now serves as a volunteer executive director for a ministry bringing conflict resolution and mediation in the name of Christ to Ohio prison inmates and staff.
- Roeger describes a pivotal moment that led her to step away from a defining career.
- Her fears about prison ministry shifted as she pursued obedience and learned new ways to serve.
- A mediation and conflict resolution program opened doors for broader impact across Ohio prisons.
By Brad Dupray
Debbie Roeger and her husband, Derf, are members and adult Sunday school teachers at Worthington (Ohio) Christian Church. Six years ago Debbie left her career as a successful attorney to seek God’s purpose for her life. She now volunteers as executive director of Opening Doors of Ohio, Inc., a ministry to Ohio prison inmates and staff members designed to bring conflict resolution and mediation in the name of Christ.
Answering God’s Call in Unexpected Places
How did you arrive at the practice of law?
For 15 years I was in human resources management. I went to law school midlife, graduated, and joined one of the largest law firms in Ohio. After five years I was recruited back into the corporate world and became senior legal counsel for a large cellular company for the eastern half of the country.
Why did you leave that company?
A friend of mine, Diane, asked me a pivotal question: “What are you doing to maintain an intimate relationship with God?” It stopped me in my tracks. It was something I desired, but didn’t know how to get. That night I was on my knees saying, “God I know you from the Bible, but I will go anywhere to know that intimate relationship Diane talked about.”
Was it painful to walk away from your career?
I went through a season of grieving that was unlike anything I had known. I had been defined by the work world. I was my husband’s wife, my children’s mother, but what really defined me was the job title and what I could accomplish. God took that season of grief and turned it into a most incredible season of learning.
So how did this journey lead you to prison ministry, of all things?
I started devouring God’s Word and many books to help me understand the Holy Spirit and God’s covenant relationship with us. I read a book that would be very pivotal: Loving God by Chuck Colson. The book was about prison ministry. I was amazed, but also very fearful. I said, “God, thank you for those that minister in prisons, but don’t send me there.”
But he did send you there. How did you face up to that fear?
I had no idea how God could use someone like me inside a prison. There was a fear of the unknown, of those I thought were dangerous. There was a fear of failure that I wouldn’t be able to do anything meaningful. But more than anything I wanted to be obedient to God. I decided to do what God had called me to do.
How did you get connected to Marion Correctional Institute?
I went to a Justice Fellowship conference in Washington, D.C., and when I came back I was able to meet Marion’s warden, Christine Money. As we talked, I was praying, “God let me know what you want me to do here.” When I started telling Warden Money about my background as a mediator, I learned she wanted to bring a mediation program to the prison. That began my working relationship with Marion Correctional.
So it wasn’t a typical approach to prison ministry.
I brought a mediation and creative conflict resolution skills program to the staff and inmates. I became a full-time fixture as a volunteer at Marion Correctional. I felt like, “I belong here, I’m connected here.”
And now that has really taken off.
Only God could take someone who knew nothing about restorative justice and lead her to speak at a national conference on the subject. In March 2002 I spoke at a national conference in Orlando, Florida. In another speech at the conference, Reggie Wilkinson (director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections) looked at me and told the audience the state has benefited from the work of Debbie Roeger and he was ready for her to take what she has done at Marion Correctional and reproduce it at other prisons in the state. It was overwhelming. If God had not prepared me I wouldn’t have believed it.
Brad Dupray is director of public relations and advertising with Provision Ministry Group, Irvine, California.
