Kairos will travel to Pine
Bluff Prison next week for our four day visit, Walk #40. The last walk I did
was #38 last February, 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 38th 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!
We work with inmates chosen from a group of
volunteers. Each morning, those 24 men
come in, one at a time, and are met by twenty one smiling Kairos 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. Each group stays together all week. We
listen to stories and talks by clergy
and laymen alike, each with a specific point to drive home regarding their walk
with Christ. The talks and stories are pretty well scripted, chosen from those
proven to work hundreds of times before.
Each table of men then discusses the story. The inmates
make a poster showing their feelings about this story, 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
fully 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 more. But every man who
accepts Jesus becomes a good example, at least, and some become God's
missionaries in a very dark place. Kairos stays beside them, all the way,
during their journey. A group of Kairos men go to Pine Bluff each week to
support them as these new Christians conduct a church service each Thursday
night.
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. Personally,
I'd rather not know. But if they wish to talk about it, we're there to listen.
Many do.
Men cannot repair those broken families
surrounding these men, or fix their broken lives, the physical and emotional
scars, the heartbreak. But God can
change their hearts, and often does.
No comments:
Post a Comment