Not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant being born in the likeness of men. (Philippians 2:4-7)

This past year’s Kairos Prison Ministry Annual Conference theme was A Heart to Serve. Going back to watch the general session videos which you all can access too on Kairos Prison Ministry, you will see why this ministry is so important.

We are so thankful to all those volunteers in our state and across the globe who have a heart to serve!! There have been some amazing things happening in this ministry because of those who have a heart to serve in any way they can. Every thing that our volunteers have done has had a big impact on the lives of those who have loved ones incarcerated, those who have been recently released and soon for those on who are currently detained on the inside. Praise be to God who is leading our volunteers in making a difference in people’s lives that will have a positive impact in our communities!

For those who have served on the Advisory Councils, the Kairos Outside Weekend Team and on the State Committee, your service was greatly appreciated!!

For those of you who are about start serving, please remember to let the Lord guide you and you will see the Lord work in amazing ways. Remember it is a promise that God told us that He will be with us in all things. Your heart to serve is more important than anything when it comes to doing the Lord’s work!!

In 2026 we will have more opportunities coming for those of you who are called to serve or have a heart to serve.

I keep seeing instances where spiritual warfare is going on to try to keep some of you from serving and yet when you serve anyway. I also see some big Hallejujah moments happen. God is awesome!!

Please read Gideon’s story in the Bible and you will know what I mean where we can see God’s blessing happen the most while we are in our weaknesses. So those of you who don’t think you have much to give or don’t think you have any talents to help with this ministry.

Please believe me when I say it only takes a heart to serve and God can do amazing things with your willingness to serve.

Speaking of doing the Lord’s work, let me share some of the praises the good Lord has blessed this ministry with:

• We praise God for the ability to access video and power point presentations to experience some of what happened at the 49th Kairos Prison Ministry Annual Conference.
• We praise God for the guidance that was given to the Kairos Inside Advisory Council in cultivating a growing relationship with leadership at the Ellsworth institution for women.
• We praise God for the awesome work that was done on the 9th Kairos Outside Weekend that blessed guests as well as the volunteers.
• We praise God for those of you who have helped to financially support this ministry!
• We praise God for giving volunteers a direction and ability to be working on redoing our state’s website.
• We praise God for the Spencer Lake Christian Center’s heart to allow the 10th Kairos Outside Weekend to happen October 23-25, 2026.
• We praise God for all of you who pray for us, serve with us and share what we do with others around you.

Yes, we have some exciting news to share with you all!!!
Going into 2026 there will be changes!

To start…the State Chapter is saying an appreciative farewell to some volunteers who will go on to serve God in other ways. However, we also say hello to new hearts to serve.
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Here is your new State Committee who will continue to help grow this ministry:
State Chair – Jan Hartman
Vice Chair – Toni Jensen
Secretary – Vacant (we need a heart to serve)
Treasurer – James Kilpatrick
Financial Secretary – Joe Jester
International Council Representative – Carlene Griffith
Agape Committee Coordinator – Kris Kruzicki
Webmaster – Christopher Neuendorf
Volunteer Recruiting Committee Coordinator – vacant (we need a heart to serve)
Fundraising Committee Coordinator – vacant (we need a heart to serve)
Clergy Recruiting Coordinator – vacant (we need a heart to serve)

The state chapter website is going through a complete overhaul and should be finished in the next month or two so please keep checking in to see what information we will have on the site.

• Kairos Inside of Ellsworth is getting closer to getting their first Weekend scheduled. They have a Weekend Leader chosen and are working on getting details of what can and can’t be done inside. They may be setting a date for the first Kairos Inside Weekend later in 2026 and will need volunteers to come forward to get their DOC acceptance to go inside. So far, they are not allowed to take in food but can take in craft supplies and flowers.
• Kairos Outside of Eastern WI is planning their 10th Weekend and are having monthly SWAP groups and quarterly reunions going on.
• There is talk of several volunteers trying to get organized to start working on going inside of the Federal prison in Oxford and/or to organized to start working on going into Columbia Correctional Institution in Portage.
• There is some organizing of Kairos Torch starting as well in order to hopefully get that program going at Rawhide Boys Ranch to start off with. There is also interest for Kairos Torch to go inside the Juvenile Detention Center near Racine. They need hearts to serve!
• There are also a couple men who are looking for volunteers who may want to help rekindle an interest in going inside Oshkosh Correctional.

God is at work! ~~ Do you have a heart to meet God where He is starting to open doors in order to be His hands and feet?
It is only fitting that we follow the great news with opportunities to help serve.
Please reach out to Jan Hartman or call 479-220-2574 to help fill a vacant spot on the State Committee or to learn more about the positions.

Please reach out to Barb Williams or call 920-819-1912 to see where you can help with the Kairos Outside of Eastern WI Advisory Council.
They are planning their #10 Weekend which will be led by Kati Augst, so reach out to her or call 863-657-0101 to be on that team.
Or contact Toni Jensen or call 608-343-3029 to refer guests to attend the Weekend.

Please reach out to Mary Wilson or call 262-989-4048) to help with the Kairos Inside Ellsworth Advisory Council or to get information on how to get approved to go inside to help with the first Weekend.

Please reach out to Tom Hartman or 479-579-5005 to help with starting the process of getting inside Oxford federal prison or Columbia Correctional.

Please reach out to Carl Simson (or 920-233-7296) to help with starting the process of rekindling a relationship with Oshkosh Correctional and hopefully get inside.

Please reach out to Steve Sanderfoot or call 920-840-6897 to help with getting Kairos Torch started so the Rawhide Boys Ranch can be ministered to. Both men and women can serve together in this program.

You are all encouraged to attend the meetings of the State and Advisory Councils to see how they operate and see what is going on if you have an interest in serving at some time. No obligation. Meetings will be listed on the website kairoswi.org.

While there are many things for us to praise God for, please note that we are still in great need for prayer. Keep in mind that this is not a complete list of needs but God knows what those additional needs are so please, please, please add these to your prayer lists for:

• Volunteers to come forward to serve in open spots on the State Committee, Advisory Councils and Weekends to happen in the future.
• The Wardens, superintendents and chaplains to be open to grow a relationship with our volunteers that will possibly lead to Kairos Inside making a difference in the institutions to make them safer.
• The staffing in the institutions to get better.
• The guidance and wisdom of the volunteers serving in our programs to follow God’s lead.
• The Lord to call hearts to serve on the next Kairos Outside Weekend team.
• The Lord to lead women whose lives have been impacted by their loved ones being incarceration to make the decision to attend the next Kairos Outside Weekend.
• The funds to continue to help pay for devotionals and the new manuals that will be needed in 2026 for the programs to continue to work as God has led.
• We need more help with expenses to continue to send Prisoner to Prisoner devotionals to 5 institutions on a quarterly basis.

Also, the Kairos Outside #10 Weekend is free to those who volunteer and attend which happens when gracious people donate to this ministry.

Thank You!!

Here are ways in which you can donate whatever the Lord leads you to give:
• Go online to https://givebutter.com/kairos-wisconsin and make a note that you designate your funds to WI and mention which Advisory Council you want the funds to go to or just state it is for the State Committee.
• You can purchase Kwik Trip gift cards so a percentage will go to Kairos WI State Chapter Committee. You can reach out to Carlene Griffith for them at 920-810-9242.
• You can contact Kris Kruzicki at 920-676-4721 to send empty or expired printer ink cartridges and new or gently used tennis shoes to earn money for the Kairos Outside Advisory Council.
• If you want to do things the old-fashioned way, you can send a check or money order to Kairos Prison Ministry, PO Box 221, Appleton, WI 54912 and be sure to notate in the memo which council or state committee that you would like the funds to go to.

Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated!!!