Kairos Prison Ministry

The mission of the Kairos Prison Ministry is to bring Christ's love and forgiveness to all incarcerated individuals, their families and those who work with them, and to assist in the transition of becoming a productive citizen. Kairos Prison Ministry is a ministry by persons drawn from a broad range of denominational churches. Kairos volunteers have experience in renewal movements within their churches, which focus on small group dynamics, share and prayer groups, personal witness and vulnerability in Christian community. It is a continuing ministry.

There are 3 components to the ministry. Kairos Inside ministers to current inmates. Kairos Outside supports the female loved ones of men who are or have been incarcerated. Kairos Torch, the newest initiative in Maryland, is designed for youth ages 24 and younger who are currently in juvenile detention or correctional facilities.
Kairos Inside is a 3-day weekend event, essentially offering a short course in Christianity. The purpose is to prepare selected residents for life in an ongoing Christian community inside the prison and to impact the correctional environment through the action of the leaders, as apostles of Jesus Christ, in all areas of human activity in the prison.

LGUMC has provided team members for all of the Kairos weekends. Follow up meetings are held on Wednesday of each week and a Reunion is held on the third Saturday of each month from 9:00 to 11:30. The team of volunteers — both clergy and laypersons — works in cooperation with the Prison Chaplain who carefully selects up to 42 inmates to attend. Team members must have previously participated in a similar short course in Christianity (such as the Walk to Emmaus), attend team-building meetings in preparation for going into the prison, and commit to attend one year of monthly reunions after the weekend. Applications and more information can be found on marylandkairos.org.

LGUMC members have baked thousands of cookies as part of the weekend experience. However, due to changing state regulations, we can no longer take food into the institution but we buy the dough and have them prepared in the institution’s kitchens. These cookies are instrumental in helping the inmates feel God’s love and forgiveness. Green Agape/financial contributions are also welcome as these weekends are provided without cost to the prisoners. The next Kairos program is scheduled for November 6 – 9, 2008.

Kairos Outside is a special weekend retreat designed to support the female loved ones of men who are or have been in prison. Families of prisoners “do time” right along with their loved ones. It is important for them to know that they are not alone and that there is a Christian community that cares. In a safe environment with loving people, women interact with other women who are in similar situations and learn to form small groups to support and give them strength for the challenges they face. Kairos Outside is on-going for the Baltimore area. The requirements for team participation are similar to the requirements for participating in a Kairos Inside weekend in a prison. Both men and women are needed to support the Kairos ministry. Men go into the men’s prisons, and women meet with the women on Kairos Outside retreats. The support team for both includes men and women. The next Kairos Outside weekend is scheduled for October 31 - November 2, 2008.

Kairos Torch is a 2-day program for youth ages 24 and under who live in juvenile detention or correctional facilities. The ecumenical Torch team introduces young men and women to Christian concepts to help them make better choices for their lives. The initial weekend is followed by an established mentoring program that involves one on one mentoring sessions. The Torch program is designed to encourage participants to remove their masks and develop a mature means of making better choices, thus building their self-esteem. Making better choices gives the participants hope for a life not affiliated with gangs and crime. Watch the website for updates on this new initiative. At this time, no Torch weekends have been scheduled.

Each of these programs depends upon the willingness of others who feel called to serve. That could mean being part of a team or support team, becoming a mentor, participating in sponsorship programs, making tax exempt “Green Agape” contributions, becoming a prayer warrior. Are you being called?

LGUMC members also serve on the Maryland State Committee and the Local Advisory Council for Kairos.

Contact Richard Bontz, Tom Hoffman, Paul Jensen, Phil Kaylor, Bob Pierson, and Russ Snyder for more information, or visit the National Kairos website at: http://www.kairosprisonministry.org or the Maryland Kairos website at http://www.marylandkairos.org.

Matthew 25:36, “I was in prison and you visited me.”