Rapha International and Ozark Christian College Announce Culture of Care Partnership
Rapha International and Ozark Christian College announced a new partnership to launch Raphaโs Culture of Care program on the OCC campus in fall 2026. The collaboration will bring child protection training, survivor care resources, and ministry preparation tools to students, faculty, staff, and church leaders.
- The partnership will expand Raphaโs Culture of Care program onto the Ozark Christian College campus.
- Training and resources will be integrated into student services and ministry degree programs.
- Leaders from both organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding on June 9, 2026.
By Rick Cherok
In a recent press release from Rapha International and Ozark Christian College, the two well-established and effective ministries announced a cooperative venture to launch the Culture of Care partnership on the campus of OCC in the fall of 2026.
Training and Support for Students and Church Leaders
This partnership will be an on-campus expansion of Raphaโs Culture of Care program, which empowers church leaders, volunteers, and college students with the training and tools necessary to protect students, honor survivors, and integrate child protection into all aspects of ministry. The collaboration between the two ministry organizations will integrate Raphaโs training into Ozarkโs student services and into the collegeโs childrenโs, youth, and pastoral ministry degree programs.
Oversight and direction for the Culture of Care program as it commences on the OCC campus will be the responsibility of Damien Spikereit, OCCโs Chief Operating Officer, Angie Brower, Rapha Internationalโs Chief Clinical Officer and Hope & Healing Center Director, and Aryn Tanksley, Raphaโs Chief Development Officer.
Culture of Care Partnership Plans
The Culture of Care partnership ideas include:
- Seminars for OCC students.
- Workshop series at OCCโs Preaching-Teaching Convention.
- Annual summit for church and organizational leaders.
- Culture of Care content integrated into OCC course curriculum at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
- Continued counseling services provided by Rapha to Ozark students.
- Training for OCC faculty, staff, and resident assistants.
- Rapha International representative to preach in OCCโs Chapel.
- OCC to promote Rapha International and Culture of Care.
Leaders Affirm Shared Mission
โFor years, Rapha has been at the forefront of offering care and protection to those in need. At Ozark, weโve been training men and women for Christian service for 84 years,โ says OCCโs Damien Spikereit. โThis partnership is an alignment of our two missions, as together we prepare the next generation of leaders.โ
Stephanie Freed, Raphaโs co-founder and CEO, adds, โIt is part of Raphaโs mission to promote child protection and safety and care for survivors of abuse and exploitation. Our Culture of Care program is a way for us to come alongside church and ministry leaders to help fulfill that part of our mission here in the U.S. Weโre grateful to our friends at Ozark Christian College for recognizing the value of this program and allowing us to invest in students who will have an enormous impact on churches and ministries in the future.โ
In a joint signing ceremony at Rapha Internationalโs headquarters in Joplin, MO, Matt Proctor, President of OCC, and Freed signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the two organizations on June 9, 2026.
Author: Rick Cherok
Rick Cherok serves as Managing Editor of Christian Standard, Executive Director of Celtic Christian Mission, and Director of Menโs Services at Kentucky Christian University.
