Kairos

What is Kairos?

Kairos is an ecumenical Christian ministry designed for use in men's and women's correctional institutions. The ministry is conducted, in cooperation with chaplains of correctional institutions, by teams of laity and clergy who are qualified by their experiences in Christian renewal movements.

The mission of Kairos is to help build and nurture strong Christian communities among the residents of correctional institutions. The Kairos experience for residents starts with a 3-day short course in Christianity. This weekend involves 42 inmates screened by the Chaplain and a team of 55 lay and clergy persons. The weekend is modeled after renewal weekends like Cursub, Cum Cbristo, Emmaus Walk and Via De Christo.

After their Kairos weekend, residents continue their faith walk by participating in small Prayer and Share Groups. These groups meet weekly to share their lives on a deep spiritual level and to pray for one another. Kairos participants also attend monthly reunions in the institution with Kairos volunteers. Kairos volunteers conduct two spiritual retreats per year for residents who have made a Kairos weekend.

Ohio District also conducts Kairos Outside Weekends for female loved ones of incarcerated men. These are Christian renewal weekends, designed by the national Kairos ministry.

Ohio District also conducts Kairos Torch Weekends inside male state prisons. Torch is designed for the youngest inmates.

"I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me."
Matthew 25:36

More information about Kairos

Kairos Inside

Kairos Inside is a ministry whose mission is to develop a Christian community inside prisons.

The Kairos Inside program brings positive and negative 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.

Kairos Outside

Kairos Outside offers a comfortable, non-judging retreat for women to support each other as they journey through the incarceration of a friend or relative.

The Kairos Outside Weekend is a 2 ½ day program based on a series of talks by volunteers designed to address the pain of enduring separation from the one inside and the judgment of others from their community. Guests hear the talks in small family groups.

The program is interspersed with music, prayer, and and fun activities.

Kairos Prison Ministry is a Christian program, although no religious affiliation is necessary to be a Guest. Any 20-year-old or older female family member whose life has been impacted by the incarceration of a loved one, or a woman who was unable to attend Kairos Inside while in prison, is eligible to attend Kairos Outside.

Kairos Torch

The Kairos Torch program begins with a Weekend retreat in the youth detention center or correctional facility for youth 25 and under. The mission is to engage their reasoning skills in seeking balance for their lives.

A Kairos Torch Weekend creates a safe place for the youthful offender to realize their God-given potential through the mentoring of a mature, Christian volunteer.

It encourages the stripping away of the masks they hide behind, and moves them towards making better life