Kairos Prison Ministry
Men’s and women’s Kairos teams from St. Philips join other Christian groups to provide outreach to prisoners incarcerated at the Men’s Territorial Correctional Facility in Canon City and the Women’s La Vista Correctional Complex in Pueblo. The mission of the Kairos Prison Ministry 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 website)
“Dry Bones Came Alive”
“Was lost but now am found”
“Heaven on earth”
“I have never been freer than I am now in this prison – I have been transformed”
These are a few of the comments we have heard at the end of a Kairos weekend when participants describe what that time was for them. Some people’s stories try to capture their experience of God – one man described the feeling of being forgiven and feeling hope again as standing on the shore and feeling waves wash over him again and again… a woman described being led out of the tomb, like Lazarus, and knowing she had been given new life… and team members will tell stories of seeing miracles – seeing the outward and visible signs of changed appearance… smiles and laughter, styled hair, cleaned clothes – that reflect the inward spiritual grace that has transformed hearts of stone into soft, loving, forgiving hearts turned to God.
The powerful impact and changed lives just described isn’t the exception – it is the rule of Kairos Prison Ministry weekends… and it is amazing to behold! Kairos ministry is grounded in making God’s Love real – in showing it to people who frequently have little experience of love, and whose daily experience undercuts any positive feelings. For most, the concept of unconditional love is totally foreign. Grace and Mercy are not the experience of God that they have known, so speaking of God’s Love, Forgiveness, and Grace, and thinking of themselves as God’s Beloved, are at best words meant for someone else… but in the course of a weekend, residents and team alike find that this is God’s gift to each of us – and all of us rejoice!
The mission of Kairos Prison Ministry 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.” The vision is “A Community Spiritually Freed From the Effects of Imprisonment, Reaching all Impacted by Incarceration through the Love, Hope and Faith Found in Jesus Christ.” Our motto for living into that mission and vision is “Listen, Listen, Love, Love.” We listen and love as we hear our residents’ stories, and share our own stories and witness with them.
Kairos teams serve in correctional facilities throughout the state – men serve in men’s correction facilities, and women serve in women’s facilities. At the end of each weekend, though, the Closing Ceremony is open to male and female, team members and visitors. Closing is when residents are invited to speak of their experience at Kairos, and the stories told are the best way to get a glimpse of the outpouring of God’s Love and how it has healed, broken down walls and resentments, and given new life to the participants. Facilities in Colorado where Kairos teams serve range from Denver Women’s Prison, to LaVista Women’s Prison, to the Territorial Correctional Facility at Canon City and to the correctional facilities in Buena Vista, Sterling, and Bent County.
For families of the incarcerated Kairos Outside is offering a weekend similar to that of Kairos on the inside – so that whole families may be transformed by the powerful, never-ending love of God. Volunteers for Kairos – whether inside prison walls or outside – are always most welcome! Kairos is an ecumenical program, so the worship traditions represented are not just Episcopal. One of the joys of serving on a team are that differences of doctrine and tradition are put aside to represent the Jesus Movement at its core – God With Us – God Who Loves, Forgives, Transforms, Strengthens and Sends us.
To find out about serving on a team, or supporting Kairos by donations, prayer, or attending a Closing, go to: www.kairosofcolorado.org, where you will find general information, as well as the contact information for particular teams. Or, contact us: ron.fullmer@msn.com; janetfullmer@msn.com- we will be delighted to give you more information, talk about our experiences, or help you to get connected, as needed.
We are excited to invite you to join this branch of The Jesus Movement in Prison… Just say, Here I am – send me! – You will be so glad you did!
Ron Fullmer and The Rev. Janet Fullmer, Vicar, St. Philip in the Field, Sedalia, CO