Announcement

Collapse

The Pulpit Guidelines

This is the place for quiet meditations and reflections. No debate is permitted, and we ask that the fact that this is a Christian-owned site be respected in that the majority of the spiritual reflections expressed here will be Christian in perspective. We ask that mediations that are blatantly unorthodox or contrary to Christianity not be posted. Respectful interaction and posting by those of other beliefs is permitted. Moderators are given wide discretion and latitude as to the appropriateness of posts in this area.

Please keep in mind the rules: here
See more
See less

Kairos Prison Ministry in a nutshell

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 2
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous 1 2 template Next
  • #1

    Kairos Prison Ministry in a nutshell

    Watch this great video

    http://video.pbs.org/partnerplayer/T...ndscreen=false


    On the BC Tweb, I had a thread about the Prison Ministry I've been involved with over the last 10 years. The most asked question I get is, "aren't you afraid when you're there?" The truth is, I was the first time...a little. Mostly nervous, not from the inmates, but because I was really worried about how to act and what to say. Now, as veteran of almost 20 weekends and many more reunions, it doesn't even phase me to go in. The second most question is...what keeps you going back ...and why I get so excited about going to Coffield prison time and time again.... the above link is to a video about Kairos in Indiana. It's a wonderful segment from PBS; Religion & Ethics. It's less than 10 minutes and you can get a glimpse "behind the walls" and see pretty much what its like on the inside for us that are involved in KAIROS Prison Ministry. I'd encourage everyone to watch. This video is not my team, it's another one in Indiana. But Kairos weekends are pretty similar everywhere. Each unit has it's own way of doing things, but it's remarkable how there's looks like ours... Feel free to ask me any questions.

    Thanks!

    "What has the Church gained if it is popular, but there is no conviction, no repentance, no power?" - A.W. Tozer

    "... there are two parties in Washington, the stupid party and the evil party, who occasionally get together and do something both stupid and evil, and this is called bipartisanship." - Everett Dirksen
    Tags: None
  • #2
    It's always encouraging to see how folks are sharing their faith.

    Last night, on our conference call with Lt Governor Dan Patrick, he was talking (before getting into the Pastor Protection Bill) about a recent graduation of PASTORS in prison - men they had been discipling and they have "graduated" to being Pastors. Not sure if they were licensed and/or ordained, or what.

    Are you aware of anything like that? Apparently, it was one of the wilder Texas prisons.
    The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

    Comment

    • #3
      This must be what he was talking about, LJ --- a seminary inside the Darrington Unit. This article was from 2010, so maybe they "graduated" the first batch of Pastors.

      State prison officials have selected the troubled maximum-security Darrington Unit south of Houston as the site for a new religious seminary, a first-of-its-kind program that authorities hope could eventually make the entire prison system less violent.

      The nondenominational program will train convicts who are serving long sentences, many of them for murder and other violent crimes, to be ministers. Once they graduate from the four-year program, they would go to other Texas prisons to minister to convicts.
      The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

      Comment

      • #4
        Originally posted by Cow Poke View Post
        This must be what he was talking about, LJ --- a seminary inside the Darrington Unit. This article was from 2010, so maybe they "graduated" the first batch of Pastors.

        State prison officials have selected the troubled maximum-security Darrington Unit south of Houston as the site for a new religious seminary, a first-of-its-kind program that authorities hope could eventually make the entire prison system less violent.

        The nondenominational program will train convicts who are serving long sentences, many of them for murder and other violent crimes, to be ministers. Once they graduate from the four-year program, they would go to other Texas prisons to minister to convicts.
        That's just awesome! Coffield has a faith based wing, one of the first in the system where persons of faith can live and enjoy a sense of community without the normal threats from the general population...but I haven't heard of this till now. I would imagine that there will be Kairos Graduates that will (hopefully) get a chance to enroll. The ugly truth is, we aren't there all the time (obviously) but strong ministers and Christians, can minister to each other and help each other stay strong in a very tough environment.
        "What has the Church gained if it is popular, but there is no conviction, no repentance, no power?" - A.W. Tozer

        "... there are two parties in Washington, the stupid party and the evil party, who occasionally get together and do something both stupid and evil, and this is called bipartisanship." - Everett Dirksen

        Comment

        • #5
          Originally posted by Littlejoe View Post
          That's just awesome! Coffield has a faith based wing, one of the first in the system where persons of faith can live and enjoy a sense of community without the normal threats from the general population...
          Wow - that makes WAY too much sense! I bet there are less fights and injuries to officers and residents there!

          but I haven't heard of this till now. I would imagine that there will be Kairos Graduates that will (hopefully) get a chance to enroll. The ugly truth is, we aren't there all the time (obviously) but strong ministers and Christians, can minister to each other and help each other stay strong in a very tough environment.
          I just found what Dan Patrick was talking about last night...

          prison ministers.jpg

          ROSHARON - Prisons typically are Stygian repositories of wrecked lives. But a bit of sunlight burst through the bars of Texas' maximum-security Darrington Unit Saturday as the first graduates of a program to transform hard-core offenders into ambassadors for Christ were handed four-year-college degrees in biblical studies.

          Thirty-three bachelor's degrees and one master's degree from the Houston campus of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary were awarded in an emotional ceremony that brought tears from students and their families.

          In coming weeks, the men, most of them serving terms that likely will keep them behind bars for the rest of their lives, will be assigned to East Texas prisons, where they will assist chaplains. The men are expected to provide positive, religious role models to inmates who someday will return to the "free world."


          Anyway, I tend to think that prison ministry - like you do - is a "calling", no? Not just anybody can do that.
          The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

          Comment

          • #6
            Originally posted by Cow Poke View Post
            Wow - that makes WAY too much sense! I bet there are less fights and injuries to officers and residents there!
            Yes, it's considered one of the safest places in the unit! I spoke with one of our Stewards on our last weekend and he was being moved to the trustee camp which is actually outside the fence...he didn't really want to go, he said that the faith based wing had so much less stress from the rest of the prison, attitudes are positive, daily bible studies and prayer sessions, and the language was much less "rough" as in the general pop.



            I just found what Dan Patrick was talking about last night...

            [ATTACH=CONFIG]6509[/ATTACH]

            ROSHARON - Prisons typically are Stygian repositories of wrecked lives. But a bit of sunlight burst through the bars of Texas' maximum-security Darrington Unit Saturday as the first graduates of a program to transform hard-core offenders into ambassadors for Christ were handed four-year-college degrees in biblical studies.

            Thirty-three bachelor's degrees and one master's degree from the Houston campus of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary were awarded in an emotional ceremony that brought tears from students and their families.

            In coming weeks, the men, most of them serving terms that likely will keep them behind bars for the rest of their lives, will be assigned to East Texas prisons, where they will assist chaplains. The men are expected to provide positive, religious role models to inmates who someday will return to the "free world."
            I hope that continues...one of the biggest problems is getting prison chaplains. The pay is pretty poor and the conditions...well you know! Coffield is the largest unit in the state right now with over 4200 inmates. For a long time, they only had one paid chaplain on staff. With a qualified pastor from this program, they might be able to staff more realistically and many of the ones who need spiritual help might actually get it!

            Anyway, I tend to think that prison ministry - like you do - is a "calling", no? Not just anybody can do that.
            I would love to say I'm specially called...but...honestly, ANYONE can do Kairos. The program is just that good. Our training, and our system makes it easy...One of my buddies, Phil (one of our Ordained Ministers) says:
            "Please learn from me. Never (NEVER) tell God what you won't do. When I became an adult, I told God that I would do anything in His Church except prison ministry. 20 years ago, God called me to Prison ministry through Kairos. I look forward to going to prison each time I go - even when leaving the house at 4:30 am on Saturday's for the pray and share group reunions.
            Thank God for the work of the Kairos Ministry."
            Last edited by Littlejoe; 05-15-2015, 10:43 PM.
            "What has the Church gained if it is popular, but there is no conviction, no repentance, no power?" - A.W. Tozer

            "... there are two parties in Washington, the stupid party and the evil party, who occasionally get together and do something both stupid and evil, and this is called bipartisanship." - Everett Dirksen

            Comment

            • #7
              CP,

              The link you provided was to the Houston Chronicle but it wanted a subscription to read the rest of the story. Here is a link for those who are interested

              http://texanonline.net/archives/5043...4nHF2c.twitter
              "What has the Church gained if it is popular, but there is no conviction, no repentance, no power?" - A.W. Tozer

              "... there are two parties in Washington, the stupid party and the evil party, who occasionally get together and do something both stupid and evil, and this is called bipartisanship." - Everett Dirksen

              Comment

              • #8
                Originally posted by Littlejoe View Post
                CP,

                The link you provided was to the Houston Chronicle but it wanted a subscription to read the rest of the story. Here is a link for those who are interested

                http://texanonline.net/archives/5043...4nHF2c.twitter
                Yeah, apparently, they let me read the whole article ONCE, but when I went back to get that to show some of the guys at Church, it wanted money.

                Thanks, LJ!!!!
                The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

                Comment

                • #9
                  Originally posted by Cow Poke View Post
                  Yeah, apparently, they let me read the whole article ONCE, but when I went back to get that to show some of the guys at Church, it wanted money.

                  Thanks, LJ!!!!
                  I saw in the article that the graduates are going to Huntsville and Tennessee Colony. That's where Coffield is located, so our unit may get some badly needed help!
                  "What has the Church gained if it is popular, but there is no conviction, no repentance, no power?" - A.W. Tozer

                  "... there are two parties in Washington, the stupid party and the evil party, who occasionally get together and do something both stupid and evil, and this is called bipartisanship." - Everett Dirksen

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Littlejoe View Post
                    I saw in the article that the graduates are going to Huntsville and Tennessee Colony. That's where Coffield is located, so our unit may get some badly needed help!
                    I have been preaching about Paul's letters from prison, so the subject seemed fitting to add to my sermon - that even from prison you can minister. I also found some great news about Prison Ministry in Argentina.

                    Olmos Prison near the city of La Plata, Argentina, is a maximum security lock-up holding 3,000 of the country’s most dangerous criminals. In the mid 1980’s it was a place notorious for violent riots and murders, a hellish place dominated by evil where ritual sacrifices were regularly offered to satan. Today it is a place where the presence and power of God have established what is probably the largest prison church in the world…a place where you can hear both guards and inmates loudly praising the Lord…a place where over 1,500 prisoners celebrate their new freedom in Christ and are actually changing the prison system of the nation.


                    This should be a real encouragement to you, LJ!
                    The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      LJ,

                      Last week at the Lt. Governor's Reception, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick gave us preachers a DVD copy of his movie The Heart of Texas. Somebody mentioned that was the story of the Prison Pastor article I referenced. I haven't had a chance to watch it yet, but kept meaning to mention this.
                      The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        I will be serving on the upcoming Kairos Weekend at the Coffield Unit in Tennessee Colony, TX (Coffield #41) April 21 - 24, 2016. Prayers are greatly encouraged and greatly appreciated. If you haven't watched the video in the OP, please do!

                        I heard recently from our Unit's State liaison that Texas TDCJ likes Kairos so much they are asking if we can open 5 units a year for the next five years. Kairos operates (currently) in (I think) 47 or 48 units State wide. (and in 36 states and 9 countries).
                        "What has the Church gained if it is popular, but there is no conviction, no repentance, no power?" - A.W. Tozer

                        "... there are two parties in Washington, the stupid party and the evil party, who occasionally get together and do something both stupid and evil, and this is called bipartisanship." - Everett Dirksen

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          awesome

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Our Kairos Weekend (Coffield #41) came to an end Sunday Afternoon. 3-1/2 days of ministering God's Agape Love to our 42 Brothers-In-White saw many miracles, as many a Dead Man rose to a new life over the weekend. The walls of every man were battered and most if not all were broken down allowing new life and change to flood into the void. I want to issue a special thanks to my Pastor, mentor (and friend) Nathan, and friends and fellow laborers for Christ, Bobby and Gene . For answering the call, and opening your lives to minister to men that are for the most part, forgotten by society, and allowing them a chance for a new life in Christ Jesus. Our Team's Lay Leader TAG, did an excellent job in leading our rag tag band of misfits into the fiery battle with a grace and love that inspired us all. It was obvious that he listened to the Holy Spirit in picking the men who gave the Lay Talks over the weekend as time after time the message and testimony were SPOT ON, forcing those of us listening (especially the B-I-W) to truly see the Hand of God on their lives and testimonies. Looking forward in the months ahead to hear the victories in these men's lives as they move forward with their "Friendship with God".
                            "What has the Church gained if it is popular, but there is no conviction, no repentance, no power?" - A.W. Tozer

                            "... there are two parties in Washington, the stupid party and the evil party, who occasionally get together and do something both stupid and evil, and this is called bipartisanship." - Everett Dirksen

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Littlejoe View Post
                              Our Kairos Weekend (Coffield #41) came to an end Sunday Afternoon.
                              No it didn't - it has ETERNAL processes at work!
                              The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

                              Comment

                              Previous 1 2 template Next
                              widgetinstance 221 (Related Threads) skipped due to lack of content & hide_module_if_empty option.
                              Working...
                              X