Many of you may be familiar with Cursillo, a renewal weekend to help people strengthen their faith in Jesus. KAIROS was developed along the same lines as Cursillo but for a specific population - those who are incarcerated. The Kairos program concept is to build the Christian community inside the institution where the Kairos Community prays and fellowships together on a regular basis. These are called “Prayer-and-Share” Groups and meet weekly. This ministry began in the 70’s at Union Correctional Institution in North Florida. when two inmates were transformed by God’s unconditional love and forgiveness. Sumter Correctional has a weekend coming up on May 15th -18th in which 25 volunteers, from all walks of life and denominations will participate. The team's goal is to be empty vessels when entering the prison gates so that the Holy Spirit can use each volunteer to be His messenger. Through the talks, meditations and interacting many of the 25 residents, who will be attending, will experience just how much God loves and cares for them. Peace & freedom within is possible, regardless of the barbed wire that surrounds them. Please pray for the team members that through them, God’s unconditional love, grace and forgiveness will be experienced by all.

Today Kairos weekends take place twice a year around the world. The Kairos Inside program brings leaders together, in both male and female institutions, for a 3 ½ day weekend led by same gender Kairos volunteers.

The Weekend is based on: A series of talks, Discussions, Chapel meditations, and Creating a Christian community.

For many participants, the Kairos Weekend creates the desire to become a Christian, and for others the desire to continue his/her spiritual growth. In addition, each month Kairos volunteers return for a “Reunion” of the entire Kairos community. The fact that we return again and again to each prison is what distinguishes Kairos from other prison ministries. Without our follow up support, the efforts of the 3 ½ day retreat would quickly be lost to the prison environment. As the Kairos Christian community inside a prison grows and begins to gain influence, the incidence of violence decreases. In a study of 505 inmates released from Florida prisons, the recidivism rate was reduced by half for Kairos Graduates, dropping as low as 10%. They re-entered the outside world with a God centered perspective and a new desire to become productive citizens.  

“I was like a balloon with nothing inside. But these Kairos volunteers fed me with the Word of God, and now I hunger after Him. I will be forever grateful to Kairos for showing me that the way to freedom is through the cross of Christ.” — Kairos Inside Graduate

Contact Dudley Savage, 813-335-3560, [email protected] or Russ Martin, 904-728-5485, [email protected] for more information.