Do What It Says! (Kairos Prison Ministry)

For several months I have had an idea stirring around in my head to start a blog series called "Do What It Says." My plan was to spotlight some neat ladies in our community who do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive themselves...but rather do what it says. (James 1:22)

My hope is that by highlighting some different ways people are putting their faith in action others might be inspired to get involved too.  Maybe there are a lot of us out there who would like to get more involved but just don’t know who to connect with or what to do.

I hope this ongoing series called  "Do What it Says" opens up some ideas or some dialogue about how we can put our faith in action and what possibilites are available right here in our own community and beyond.  I know we have a lot of ladies out there quietly serving in some amazing capacities.  (I'm going to need yall's help to expose them) My guess is not one single one of them wants to be spotlighted but I hope many will agree to let me share their stories of how God has invited them to partner with Him.  I also hope that by the time I have exhausted all the possibitlites I am aware of that we will have had the chance to meet a wide variety of ladies serving in a wide range of ways.
　
Today I am super excited to tell you about Kairos Prison Ministry.

These gracious ladies have agreed to be my first in the series - brave of them - I will do my best not to butcher what they do too badly.

They are Pam (on your left) and Carol.

Beautiful, huh?  Wait till you hear what they do. You will realize the beauty on the inside is even greater than it is on the outside!

They are part of  "Kairos Prison Ministry" - a faith based ministry that addresses the spiritual needs of prisoners.  (Sheilah B. from BCC is also part of this ministry team)

Carol, Pam and Sheila train along with over 30 other women from various churches to serve in prisons.  One of the things they do is a 4 day weekend retreat twice a year (April and October) where inmates are invited to come and experience a setting unlike anything they have ever known.

The chaplain of the prison selects a certain number of inmates to attend this Kairos retreat which is held inside a correctional facility. There are many inmates who want to come but the number is limited to how many trained ministry volunteers they have to serve these ladies and how many have been financially sponsored.  So sadly, everyone who wants to come, cannot.

Can you imagine going from prison where life is raw & tough into a setting such as a Kairos retreat where ladies who love the Lord are there solely to love on you and serve you in Christ’s name?

Can you imagine the impact of that?

Here’s how Carol describes it.

"We go in as advocates of Christ. Christ calls us to servanthood and that is our focus. During our team training times we have asked Christ’s forgiveness for any area in our own lives that have centered on self and for His ability to go in a serve in a selfless sacrificial way. We ask for His help to be the loving people we need to be for the residents (inmates).

When the residents arrive to a Kairos retreat they are angry, tough and hard. If you can picture life in prison, it is too risky to be open and share what's going on in your life because there is always a fear that it will be used against you, not a time to break down walls of protection. Residents who come to us for 4 days will never hear criticism but only love, and see only love in action as they watch our team interact with each other. The peaceful, loving atmosphere at the retreat is something most of them have never experienced before. It is likely they have never experienced any love in their real families.

We take wonderful home-cooked meals into the prison and we all sit and eat together in family settings. Meals are prepared by volunteers at the church and brought in through security and inspections. This food is quite a change from what they get in the commissary.

We listen to teaching/talks about God’s forgiveness and break into small groups which stay together throughout the 4 days so they might open up and share concerns.  We pray for each other. We teach them how to do this and we go back once a month to facilitate the 'Prayer and Share' concept.  We see wonderful progress as residents share about "Kairos" in their lives.

As I said, we start with a bunch of residents who are angry, tough, and hard but we SEE God work and by Saturday night there are tears and joy when they realize that God forgives them.  Sunday is about what to do with this new knowledge of God.

At the end of the four days we see a dramatic change in the residents from Thursday when we first met them.  That is because Kairos is truly God’s ministry.  It is 40 years old, international, ecumenical, evangelical and time-proven.   The rate of those who return to prison after Kairos is dramatically lowered.


Wow...Talk about transformational...

 In Matthew 25:36 Jesus says,  "I was in prison and you came to visit Me" 

If you are feeling a tug to be a part of this ministry please find Carol, Pam, or Sheila and talk to them.  If you don't know any of these ladies let me know and I will connect you to one of them. I have purposely not put any personal contact info on this site but I will be glad to give it to you offline.

Or maybe you are interested in being a Matt 25:36 bridge by helping any of these 3 ladies who are already involved.  I asked Carol if I could post specific ways that we could help.  She replied with the following four ways:

• We need cookies - enough to give every resident, Kairos and non-Kairos each.  It is one way to give Agape love to all unconditionally.  There is specific information about that which we can provide. (I know we got some bakers out there - the next Kairos retreat is April)

• We need placemats for  36 ladies for 5 times a day (3 meals plus 2 snacks).   The residents love placemats with children’s handprints.   Most have children they cannot see and they go and put their hands over the placemat hands.  (okay that one just got to this mom's heart) A Bible verse or a short showing of love is wonderful too.  Please sign first name only and age.

• We need "green agape."  Each volunteer  agrees to cover the cost for at least one resident to attend ($150 ) which supplies food, books, materials etc.   If you would like to help financially you can do that in any amount.  No gift is too small.        

•  We need prayers.   There will be people praying around the clock during the days we are inside prison.  We need people who will agree to pray for 30 minutes at a time and we will have a way to sign-up in the near future.   Residents cannot believe that someone would give their time to pray for them.   Most have never been shown love.

Mercy, I don't know about you but I have been deeply touched just by hearing what these ladies do.  

Thank you Carol, Pam and Sheila! Your feet are beautiful!

How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"  Isaiah 52:7 (NKJV)