Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood around the world. After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you. (1 Peter 5:8-10)
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:12) Praise God for this instruction given to use via Paul!! I remember there are several places in the Bible where God instructs us to be joyful in all things. I know sometimes we let what is going on in this world, in our families or maybe even work steal our joy. I find I have to be ever mindful to remember to look up to the One who gives us joy in salvation. We can also be joyful in the hope we have in this ministry as the Lord is starting to open more hearts and doors to share what this ministry is all about with others including those who are supervising the institutions we would like to get into. This is so exciting!! I know there are some of you who want to be more involved, however your health or circumstances seem to be hindering you. Please be patient as God says and He will make a way for you to help when it is your time. With prayer all of this will come together to work for His good in His time! Having a heart to serve in this ministry is much appreciated no matter what your contribution is!! Praise God for our new State Chair who has a heart on fire to serve. She is located in a hot spot for possible doors to open for this ministry to get inside a couple men’s institutions. The Lord is even working through her in bodily affliction. Isn’t it awesome how God works amazing things when we are sometimes at our weakest?! This is just one of our many praises in which I will share a few here: We praise God for those of you who have helped to financially
“With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.” Psalm 18:29 I love it when I read of the Lord God’s help that is given to us all who! When I read this verse, I was reminded of all the walls this ministry has been encountering whenever we try to get inside of the correctional institutions. We hear that the lack of staffing is awful or there is a lack of space. We also get told of all the things we cannot bring in. Here David reminds us that we can overcome the challenges we face through fervent prayer. The Lord will give us guidance as we navigate through the issues and patiently wait for when He says it is time to go in. The Lord God will help us scale the walls to get inside when the timing is right even though many of us would prefer it to be sooner. Let’s trust in God and His will in this matter. While we are waiting though, we know we also need to be prepared for the day when we are told we can go inside. While you are praying about your involvement in Kairos Prison Ministry and you find that you do not know enough about Kairos Prison Ministry International and it’s programs, please reach out to me, Carlene Griffith and either myself or someone else who is knowledgeable can be available to help you. I can also find others or myself to come speak at any Christian function or Christian church to help educate and spread the word. Remember, Christ forgave us of our sins and showed us mercy and has called us to do the same for all who have made bad choices in their lives. Wouldn’t it be
That is a good question…do we want to get better or just settle for the status quo? Actually, we only get better or worse but never stay the same. What is it about evaluation that makes us nervous when it really shouldn’t? God calls us to affirm the good and encourage one another - so we need to be on the watch and evaluate to do that. Who doesn’t like to hear something encouraging? Likewise, Colossians 3:23 says in “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Therefore, we need to evaluate our actions and activities so we can serve Him better. That is the issue! We don’t like to take the time, the effort and maybe a little uncomfortableness to talk about what we do and what went right and what went wrong. There is always some of each, and no meeting and no Kairos Weekend goes perfectly. I am sure you have lots of stories to affirm that statement! If a Kairos Team, Weekend Leader, Observing Leader, Advisory Council, and State Chapter never spends time in evaluation, everything stays the same or could even degrade. The challenge is to make the evaluation of what we do positive, and to also have a mindset that this is very constructive and not a weapon or sentence against anyone. We want to do our best for the Lord. There are several evaluations that are available in Kairos to do this. Please don’t view them as ‘just something we have to do so let’s get it over with’ instead of being honest, curious and positive. This is the
The purpose of team formation meetings is to build a spiritual community and become the Body of Christ in order to minister to the participants attending any Kairos Weekend. Notice that that they aren’t ‘team meetings’ but ‘team formation meetings.’ The goal for all three Programs is to take a team and form a family out of the people. The people are never the same on any two Kairos Weekends; it is different with just one new member! There must be new members, veterans doing different jobs, and there will be different leadership each Weekend, no matter if it is Kairos Inside, Kairos Outside or Kairos Torch. Regardless of how many meetings are planned, the total amount of time spent together must be between 34-36 hours. Scott Peck, in A Different Drum, says that you can’t purchase community cheaply. It takes time, sometimes a lot of time. It takes sharing and it takes vulnerability. Kairos has the theme of one team formation meeting vulnerability for this purpose. Kairos has found this to be absolutely true for the success of the Kairos Weekend – the vulnerable speakers have a huge impact on everyone listening. This is also the same way a team bonds - via time and vulnerability. Peck talks about four stages to work through, similar to in Kairos we know the four stages of Group Dynamics must be worked through to form a team. Team members who do not attend the meetings find it difficult to feel a part of the community. Once team formation starts, any change in the dynamics of the structure slows the formation of the community. Those who attend sporadically not only hurt their own absorption into the community, but they handicap everyone else’s progress. The Weekend Leader is responsible for providing team meetings that
There is a well-known quote, later immortalized in song, that declares, "Children are our future." While this sentiment captures the hope we place in the next generation, it doesn’t quite reflect the full truth for believers. As Christians, our ultimate future lies not in this world but in heaven, our eternal home. Yet, scripture affirms a profound truth about children: they are a heritage and a blessing from the Lord. Psalm 127:3 reminds us, "Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him." Much like an inheritance—a valuable possession entrusted to us—children are given by God not only as a blessing but also as a significant responsibility. Though they are not the promise of our heavenly future, children represent the continuation of families, communities, and societies. They carry forward the values, traditions, and legacies of those who came before them, embodying the biblical concept of an inheritance that perpetuates what has been entrusted to it. But scripture also warns of the consequences of neglecting this sacred trust. In Judges 2:10-11, we find a sobering account: “There arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel. And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals.” How could this happen? How could one generation witness God’s miracles and blessings while the very next forget Him entirely? The answer lies in a failure to teach. The knowledge of God and His works was not passed on, and in the absence of that instruction, the next generation turned to false gods and moral decay. This powerful reminder compels us to act. As parents, mentors, and members of the Body of Christ, we are called to raise children in the knowledge
October 15, 2024 Following Anson #2 Kairos Oct 10-13 As a Kairos team member, I was quickly UNDONE yesterday morning, waking up at home on my “4th day” after Kairos. I forgot about how hard it hits you in the little things. The bright sunlight of a clear blue morning reminded me of my Creator’s love for his creation and his design for our bodies to wake up to light and live. Opening the refrigerator to get out my son’s favorites to make his lunch, I realized that we were out of a few things that go in his lunch daily. Immediately, the prison residents, now sisters, came to mind. This was their first day back to “normal” prison life. They woke up at an early hour- probably with little sleep- to their pod mates, the concrete halls, sheet metal tables & the noise of the dining hall, no sunlight or hint of the outside world, now separated from their new Kairos friends/sisters they made over the past four days. For the four days prior, they looked forward to their names being called individually as each one entered a room full of 60 smiling women who were singing and ready to greet them with a high five and their nametag. At first, I wrote Landon a note to tell him about the half-sandwich I made him instead of his usual favorites but then penned words that expressed how he is my treasure, and I adore being his Mama. I remembered how each Kairos participant was escorted to her “family” table each morning. The smell of “real” brewed coffee filled the room and brought joy and anticipation of delicious food and drink prepared by loving people on the outside just for her. So many blessings of Kairos that have changed her on the
In a world increasingly marked by violence and despair, today's troubled youth find themselves at a crossroads. This year has been particularly troubling, with countless headlines detailing school shootings, gang violence, and heinous crimes committed by minors. The numbers are staggering and disheartening, painting a grim picture of a generation at risk. From tragic incidents in schools to the alarming rise in youth involvement in violent crimes, it's evident that these young people are in urgent need of guidance, support, and mentorship. This year alone has seen an increase in youth-related crimes, including: School Shootings: Reports indicate that several tragic incidents involving young shooters have shocked communities nationwide, leading to loss of life and widespread fear. Gang Violence: Young individuals, often seeking a sense of belonging or protection, have been drawn into gang activity, resulting in drug trafficking, assaults, and homicides. Cyberbullying and Online Crimes: With the rise of technology, youth have also engaged in cyberbullying and online harassment, sometimes leading to tragic outcomes. Substance Abuse: An alarming number of youths have turned to drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism, resulting in increased addiction rates and related crimes. Simultaneously, these youth are victims of horrendous acts themselves. Many face: Abuse and Neglect: A significant portion of troubled youth come from unstable home environments, enduring physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. Poverty and Homelessness: Economic hardship drives many into dangerous situations, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. Mental Health Issues: Anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges are rampant among today’s youth, exacerbated by the pressures of their environment. These statistics reveal a clear and urgent need for intervention, guidance, and love. By reaching our youth in juvenile settings, we have the opportunity to divert them from entering the adult prison system, helping them avoid a life filled with unnecessary pain and
DeBary, FL., September, 2024 – Kairos Prison Ministry International, Inc. (“Kairos”), a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, announced today that it has been named a “2024 Top-Rated Nonprofit” by GreatNonprofits, the leading website for community recommendations of charities and nonprofits. Kairos Prison Ministry’s mission is to share the transforming love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ to impact the hearts and lives of incarcerated men, women, and youth, as well as their families, to become loving and productive citizens of their communities. Kairos achieves this mission with prisoners and their families through three programs: Kairos Inside, for incarcerated men and women; Kairos Outside, for female relatives/friends of the incarcerated; and Kairos Torch, for incarcerated youth. The programs result in an improved prison living environment, reduced recidivism after leaving prison, safer communities, and healed families based on personal transformations. Recent studies have shown that recidivism rates can be reduced by up to 50%. “We are proud that Kairos has been named a Top-Rated Nonprofit for the eighth consecutive year in 2024,” says Evelyn Lemly, CEO. “We have stayed committed to serving those impacted by incarceration." “Kairos Prison Ministry is a great example of a nonprofit making a real difference in their community,” said Shari Tishman, Managing Director of GreatNonprofits, “Their award is well-deserved recognition not only of their work, but the tremendous support they receive, as shown by the many outstanding reviews they have received from people who have direct experience working with Kairos.” GreatNonprofits is the largest donation website for nonprofits where people share stories about their personal experiences on more than 1.6 million charities and nonprofits. The GreatNonprofits Top-Rated Awards are the only awards for nonprofits determined by those who have direct experience with the charities – as donors, volunteers and recipients of aid. The complete list of 2024
The COVID-19 pandemic has imparted numerous lessons, some of which extend beyond the immediate crisis, revealing aspects of growth, resilience, and reflection. Not all these lessons are negative; in fact, many individuals discovered a profound reliance on their faith, learning to place their trust in God rather than depending solely on their own strength or understanding. For some, the pandemic provided an opportunity to rest in God's presence and attend to their spiritual well-being, aligning with the biblical insight that "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures" as a means of restoring the soul. The enforced slowdown also allowed many to reconnect with household members, rediscovering the value of relationships that had previously been taken for granted, akin to "ships passing in the night." This period of reflection deepened some individuals' engagement with the Word of God, transforming it into the "Living Word" that profoundly influenced their inner lives. However, the pandemic also exposed vulnerabilities. The prolonged quietness, coupled with the intensity of one's own thoughts, led many into the depths of depression and despair. To combat the discomfort of silence, some resorted to keeping their televisions on around the clock, as the stillness of the environment became unbearable. From a corporate perspective, certain businesses flourished during the lockdown, capitalizing on the lifestyle changes induced by the pandemic. Zoom, a prominent example, emerged as an indispensable tool for maintaining communication. The company's revenue surged, increasing from $623 million in the year preceding the pandemic to $2.65 billion by the end of January 2021—an extraordinary growth of over 300 percent. The following year, Zoom's revenue continued to rise, reaching $4.10 billion, a testament to its pivotal role during this period. While Zoom was instrumental in keeping the world connected safely during the pandemic, it is essential to acknowledge the
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