KAIROS PRISON MINISTRY
Kairos Prison Ministry is a vibrant, active part of outreach at St. Matthews. About a dozen members of St. Matthews participate in programs at the Hughes Unit for Men, the Lane Murray Unit for Women (both in Gatesville) and the Hobby Women's Unit in Marlin. Many others at St. Matthew’s participate in Kairos by baking cookies, praying, and helping with the finances for the weekends.
Our involvement with these inmates is an ongoing process that begins with a 4 day intensive weekend program, but doesn't stop there. Before we enter the prison unit, a team member takes a safety training course from the State Prison System and participates in Saturday team training sessions in the hometown of the weekend leader. Team members make a commitment to attend “reunions” one Saturday each month for one year. In addition, some members make the trip to Gatesville, approximately 100 miles, one night each week for Prayer and Share. We also attend a two day "short" program weekend twice a year.
In the beginning, inmates are skeptical that we will actually return as it is very hard for them to trust anyone. As we continue to show up, they begin to trust us and believe us when we tell them that "God loves them and we do too!" The main purpose of Kairos is to encourage and assist the incarcerated in building their own communities behind the walls of prison. We are in no way trying to become their "church" and in fact, encourage them to attend any and all religious services offered to them at their unit.
The Kairos program was founded in Florida by a group of Episcopalians who wanted to take the Cursillo experience into prisons. Kairos is now in 37 states and 7 countries, the latest of which is Honduras. It is an amazing program that brings love, hope and encourages inmates to make life changes. Those of us who go into the units have all experienced that same, love, hope and life changes!
Ways you can help other than going into the prisons!
- PRAYER - Karios Teams. There are seven meetings and an overnight retreat necessary to adequately strengthen the Christian Community before going into the prison. Please, pray daily for the Kairos team members, both during our preparations and during the actual Kairos weekends. The Christian inmate community will be in great need of focused prayer during the weekend.
- LETTERS - Many of the 42 who are chosen to attend the Kairos "Short Course in Christianity" have never received a letter. A brief note is all that is necessary, but we need them in groups of 42. Have a letter writing party, have your church Sunday school classes write, and then put them in groups of 42. Address the letter to "Dear Brother/Sister in White". The children's letters especially touch their hearts.
- CLOSING - For those of you who have attended a Walk to Emmaus or a Cursillo Weekend, plan to attend an upcoming Kairos weekend closing service at a nearby unit. It means a lot to the men at Hughes (Gatesville), and the women at Hilltop (Gatesville) and Hobby (Marlin) to see free-world Christian communities. Request a "closing service application" from a team member (sorry on-line applications are currently not available) at least four weeks prior to the service you plan to attend. All attendees must have been cleared for security purposes by the warden's office.
- COOKIES - 4,000 dozen cookies prayed over while making and by the team in preparing for distribution spreads God's love to many persons who really need it. During the weekend every inmate in the prison who wishes, receives a bag of cookies.
- MONEY - Some $5,000 is needed for each Kairos to pay for food and supplies. A few dollars from Sunday School classes or Reunion Groups add up quickly.
- AGAPE/PALANCA FROM CHILDREN - Have Sunday School children make place mats for the meals that are prepared and brought into the unit. This special agape wins hearts for the Lord.
