Kairos Prison Ministry

SPREADING WING - My next book signing will be at Hastings Book Store, Russellville, Ar. March 9, 1 - 3 PM.
In Arkadelphia, signed books are available at Covenant Book Store. Book signing will be March 13, 1-3, maybe a bit longer to catch school people.
Book may be viewed and purchased on amazon.com
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Kairos Prison Ministry

I just got back from a long weekend (four days) at the medium security prison at Pine Bluff, Arkansas. I did this once before, last August. But I didn't talk much about it. Not because I didn't want to, because I always come back really pumped up, ready to tell the whole world about my wonderful experience on a Kairos Inside team. But I remembered there was a word or two written about “hiding our good works under a bushel” and I was not sure how Kairos felt about that. But I heard the Chairman of the Board of Kairos International speak last night, and he mentioned we need to get the word out about the great work Kairos does, since we usually have a shortage of good men available. And, since it's my habit to tell you all I do, want to do, and think about doing, I was delighted to hear that. It just so happens that that chairman is a good old Arkadelphia boy, but since I have never met a Kairos man who wanted to be publicly bragged on, since it is not him actually making all this possible, but God, I won't mention names here.

Each four day weekend is called a “Walk.” Two per year, and this was the 38^th Walk at Pine bluff. In between Walks, a small group of Kairos men go down to the prison each week, attend services in the chapel pretty well put on by the Men in White who are graduates of the Kairos program, just to support and keep contact with them. Kairos seems to have reunions at the drop of a hat, also.We stay in touch with these men.

The team I was a part of for this walk consisted of 21 men, from all over Arkansas, from many Christian denominations. We prepared for this walk by meeting most Saturdays this winter leading up to Feb. 21. We worked and prayed toward making ourselves humble, vulnerable. Each man sets his denomination's specific beliefs and customs aside for the duration, and we work to become one very close group in working for Jesus Christ. One group, one purpose. Period. I would gladly drive to Little Rock any time just to be in the midst of those twenty men. But again, it's not all about these men. It's what God does through these men.

We are all commanded by Jesus to visit him in prison. But it's not practical for every Christian to actually go inside. Hundreds and hundreds of other Christians become our outside support team. They provide constant prayer during the time we are there, posters and good wishes to post on the walls, donations. I personally dislike asking for money, but nothing in this world gets done for free. We also take in 50 dozen cookies each, usually more, provided by the support team. The first thing we do upon reaching Pine bluff is bag up 1000 bags of 12 cookies each. Cookies play a very important role. Every single person inside those walls is going to have a good mess of cookies delivered to them, personally, twice during that time, so they love to see Kairos coming. They love us before we even show up! Each one of the 21 Kairos men writes a personal letter to each of the 24 inmates. Some get very little mail normally. Some get no mail, except those 24 letters. They treasure those bags of letters.

We meet with a group of 24 inmates who have never experienced a Walk before, volunteered, then been chosen from that group of volunteers. Each morning, those 24 men come in, one at a time, and are met by twenty one smiling men singing “When the saints go marching in,” clapping, shaking their hand, and all ready with a hug if they want one. Most all do. They get few hugs in that prison. That entrance moment is very powerful. Many are crying before it's over, both inmates and free world men alike.

Six inmates are seated at a table, along with two Kairos laymen and a clergy. We listen to talks given by clergy and laymen alike, each with a specific goal in mind. The talks are pretty well scripted, chosen from talks proven to work hundreds of times before. Speakers are discouraged from branching out and throwing in their own ideas too much, which may or may not work. Each talk has been evaluated by at least two other Kairos men before being given during The Walk.

Each table of men then discusses the talk, with the table leader only talking enough to get all the inmates involved, if possible, and help avoid the discussion being dominated by a few. The clergy is there to answer difficult questions, and counseling when needed. The inmates then make a poster about their feelings brought out by the talk, and this poster reflects that. The inmates then take their poster up and explain it to the whole group. Platters of cookies and fruit are served by Kairos graduates, along with drinks, usually cool aid, coffee, and water.

From time to time, we all move into the chapel for singing, praying, and short talks. Plenty of break time is provided, a good time for visiting and building relationships. Each day goes from early morning to late at night, with meals served at these same tables, on place mats usually made by the children on our support team. Good will and love posters from many other Kairos groups around the world are being posted daily on the walls.

And thus it goes. By the end of the first day, each table of men is usually a pretty tight group. These men, to my experience, have no wish to be smart alecs, or show how tough they are. They're full grown men. Broken men, who finally have come to see the need to put their broken lives back together, as best they can. Many come to realize that through the grace offered by Jesus Christ is a good way. Some see it as the only way.

Some come in skeptical, and leave that way. Some just come for the good food and the cookies, but usually leave with much more. But every man who accepts Jesus becomes a good example, at least, and some become God's missionaries in a dark place. Kairos stays beside them, all the way, during their journey.

When I was trying to explain Kairos to Barbara, she said, “So, a very large part of your job is to model for these men the forgiveness, love, and grace available to them by God. Is that right?” Well, I had never heard it put just that way by Kairos, but I guess, that's about right.

We never ask why they're in there in the first place. God can forgive them, and we're not there to judge them. Personally, I'd rather not know. But if they wish to talk about it, we're there to listen. Many do.

The leader of each walk is always a layman, and he serves in that capacity only once, lest he become prideful. Kairos has only a small handful of paid staff, with 30,000 volunteers around the world doing most all the work. “Kairos Outside” weekends, very similar in structure, are also provided for families and loved ones regularly, at no cost to them.
      We can't fix the broken families surrounding these men, the tattooed  faces, the physical and emotional scars, but God can change their hearts.