The mission of the Kairos Prison Ministry is to bring Christ's love and forgiveness to all incarcerated individuals, their families and those who work with them, and to assist in the transition of becoming a productive citizen.
What is Kairos?
Christian
- Kairos volunteers represent the Christian faith and present a Christian perspective.
Ecumenical
- Kairos volunteers come from many Christian denominations, but present only
those principles that all share in common.
Lay-led
- Kairos leadership is drawn from lay persons, although clergy play a vital
role.
Volunteer
- Kairos is an overwhelmingly volunteer organization, with over 20,000 volunteers
worldwide.
Ministry
- Kairos ministers to incarcerated individuals, their families, and those who
work with them.
Biblical Motivation
Matthew 25:36 - I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.
Hebrews 13:3 - Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
These two passages directly from teachings by Jesus let us know in no uncertain
terms that we are to be actively involved in ministering to those who are
in prison. We take these teachings seriously and endeavor to express the
love of Christ to our institutionalized brothers and sisters.
The Cost to the Taxpayer
What does it cost the Kansas taxpayer when a Kairos team leads a weekend in a prison institution? The answer is absolutely nothing. Nothing except the positive impact of an individual who has the opportunity to experience the love of Jesus and will possibly make positive choices to not be incarcerated again. Therefore, the cost to the taxpayer could be the savings of an inmate who will never return. Someone who chooses to become a contributing member of our society, someone who holds down a job and pays taxes, someone who takes care of their children, someone who learns to honor God with their life.
Studies have shown that persons who experience a Kairos weekend are less likely to be imprisoned again. This is technically called the recidivism rate. Kairos has a positive impact on inmates to such a degree that they are much less likely to return to prison after release. Every month there are approximately 165 men paroled from the Kanas prison systems who end up in Sedgwick county alone, not counting other locations. Our hope is to impact as many inmates as possible, while they are still inside, through programs that are designed to affirm them as human beings and give them a spiritual basis for living their lives well.
