KAIROS COOKIE MINISTRY

 

COOKIES

By Mary Nelson, KAIROS OUTSDE
National Trainer 

In all the years of serving on Kairos Inside weekends at Broward Correctional it did not occur to 

me how blessed we were to have a waiting list of inmates wanting to attend our weekends. All 

we had to do was post the date and the Chaplain and staff did all the work. Why, we even had 

a reserve list of inmates in the event someone went to lock or home! We as a team did not 

have to worry from one weekend to the next where our ‘participants’ were coming from. That 

worry was handled beautifully and willingly by others. (See page II-5, 6 in the Program Manual 

2005 edition.) 

Kairos Outside does not have the institution recommending ‘guests’ for outside weekends. We 

rely heavily on the Kairos Inside volunteers to promote our weekends. This is true even when 

an area has been in existence for years. You see, one of the goals of Kairos Outside is to 

encourage those women who have relatives and close friends in prison and hopefully have 

participated in Kairos Inside. 

 

Since we have found it necessary to postpone weekends due to a lack of guests we are 

begging you to promote Kairos Outside in your respective institutions. Invite a Kairos Outside 

volunteer (preferably a former guest) to speak at your closing. Encourage the Chaplains to 

become familiar with Kairos Outside. If permitted by the institution place a KO brochure in the 

inmates’ folder. Talk with the inmates on a one to one basis at reunions. 

Cookies are not going to be enough! We need ALL OF YOU! 

We do want to thank all the Kairos Inside communities, who intentionally push Kairos Outside 

and we hope that the residents that you minister to, are blessed because of the support that 

Kairos Outside gives to their family members and friends. We are all in it together and with your 

help and the grace of God, the whole family will experience the love of Christ which transforms 

all of our lives. 

When the above article was published in the summer issue of God’s Special Time I received 

positive feedback; both from those in the KO community but, more importantly, from those of the 

KI community. Needless to say, I was stunned that someone had advised a state that it would 

DETRACT from a weekend if a KO volunteer were to be given five minutes at a closing to ‘pitch’ 

KO. The dictionary defines DETRACT as: to draw or take away; to speak ill of or belittle. And 

yet the MISSION OF KAIROS is to bring Christ’s love and forgiveness to…all incarcerated 

individuals, their families, and those who work with them, and to ASSIST THE INCARCERATED 

IN THE TRANSITION TO BECOMING A PRODUCTIVE CITIZEN. Having been on more than a 

dozen KI teams I heard repeatedly from inmates their desire to not only make amends but 

wouldn’t it be wonderful if there was something for their loved ones to attend. Fortunately there 

are communities who have taken that a step further. They are doing Kairos Outside/Inside! 

There is a saying: ‘Strike while the iron is hot’ which fits perfectly the intent of this idea. When a 

Kairos Outside wife, daughter, sister, etc. speak from the heart, I submit this DOES NOT detract 

from a weekend. Rather, it is a Grace-Filled opportunity to truly bring reconciliation where it is 

needed most. 

 

The Ultimate Gift 

By Marilyn Elkins, International Kairos Outside Subcommittee Chair 

Can you imagine receiving an “Ultimate Gift”? One that could change your life. Better yet can 

you imagine giving that gift to someone who has stood by you thru the worst time in your life? 

Kairos Outside is the “Ultimate Gift” that a resident can give his/her mom, sister, wife, 

grandmother or friend. There is very little a resident can do to for their family to show how much 

they are appreciated and loved. Every Kairos Inside teams I’ve been on, one of the first 

questions I’m asked by the residents, is there a weekend like this for my relatives/friends. 

We have the opportunity to help the residents give this “Ultimate Gift”. What a wonderful way to 

end a weekend, to know that a similar weekend is available for their family/friends. Think of the 

impact on their family; when they experience the change in their son/daughter/husband/friend, 

and learn that a similar weekend is available for them. 

Unless you have or have had someone inside you can only imagine what it must be like. Many 

live two lives, one the public sees and knows, the other goes to the prison on weekends to visit 

their loved one, and no one knows they have someone in prison. The feelings of failure, guilt, 

isolation, anger, despair, shame and depression just to name a few. Kairos Outside provides a 

safe place for our guests to talk out and deal with these emotions with others walking the same 

walk. Many are amazed to know there are so many others going thru the same thing. Also 

amazing to them is the unconditional love the team gives, and that God has not forgotten or 

forsaken them. 

What better way to invite guests, than to give a brief talk at the closing telling about Kairos 

Outside and providing a means for them to pass the information on to their family. I am talking 

from experience, you see, October 1994 my son attended a Kairos and signed me up for the 

next Kairos Outside in February 1995. He was so excited to tell me that he had signed me up. 

Giving me the Ultimate Gift that changed my life. 

I would like to request that the Board of Directors give permission to all the Inside Kairos 

weekends to allow a 5 minute presentation at the closing to explain how the residents can give 

“The Ultimate Gift” to their relatives/friends.

TDCJ Volunteer Training

1st Time Volunteer Training

Thank you for your interest in being a certified Kairos TDCJ Volunteer!

All volunteers completing online training must submit a Volunteer Application in order to be processed.

If you have never trained online, volunteers must first register as a new online training user. Once registered, volunteers may simply log-in as returning users thereafter. See links below.

For more information of the TDCJ process, pleasse contact Volunteer Services at (936) 437-3026.

The following online refresher course reviews the rules required to be a successful TDCJ volunteer:

·        Registration: Volunteers using this training for the first time.

• Log-in: returning volunteers.

All volunteers will be required to sign an agreement stating that you understand these rules and the risks associated with volunteer work at TDCJ.

Kairos Polunsky Volunteer Information

 

One Ministry, Three Programs

 

High mortality rates after release from prison

"Our goal is to prevent deaths and other unwanted negative health consequences of imprisonment. When we know more about the risks and causes of death after release, we can start focusing on preventive measures," researcher Anne Bukten says.

wednesday 21. September 2022 - 04:30

There is a high mortality rate among people released from prison, according to a new study from the Norwegian Centre for Addiction Research (SERAF) at the University of Oslo.

Analysed data from the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry and the Criminal Case Register

In the study, the researchers analysed data from the Norwegian Prison Release Study (nPRIS). The data material consists of 91,963 people from the Criminal Case Register.

They have linked this data with data from the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry from the period 01.01.2000 to 31.12.2016.

The causes of death were divided into internal causes, which are infectious, carcinogenic, endocrine, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, nervous system diseases and mental disorders, as well as external causes such as accidents, suicide or murder.

External causes such as accidents and suicide, as well as internal causes such as cancer and cardiovascular disease influence the high mortality rates of people released from prison.

The risk of dying after release is even greater for people who have been discharged from a high-security prison.

"It looks like the prison security level is related to mortality rates, even many years after release," says Anne Bukten, a researcher at SERAF.

As of May 2022, more than 3,000 people were imprisoned in Norway, according to figures from the Norwegian Correctional Service.

"Our goal is to prevent deaths and other unwanted negative health consequences of imprisonment. When we know more about the risks and causes of death after release, we can start focusing on preventive measures," Bukten says.

Prisoners are a socially marginalised group

People in prison often have poor living conditions prior to imprisonment. They often have very poor health and many struggle with long-term substance abuse. Both mental disorders and serious diseases are widespread in this group.

In addition, many individuals who end up in prison are marginalised in other areas of life such as education, work, housing and finances.

The results of the study show that imprisonment can greatly affect the risk of mortality for individuals who were already marginalised.

From left: Anne Bukten, Ingeborg Skjærvø, and Marianne Stavseth, all researchers at SERAF, the University of Oslo, and RusForsk.

There is a lack of knowledge on how prison conditions affect health

The researcher points out that more knowledge is needed about how prison conditions affect health during and after imprisonment. How do living conditions in prison affect the health of people in prison? Which factors of incarceration affect mortality?

"We need to know more about the differences between being imprisoned in a high-security prison compared to being imprisoned in a low-security prison," she says.

In a high security prison, people spend more time, locked in their cells when they are not participating in activities. In prisons with a lower security level, there are fewer physical security measures and inmates are more mobile.

"If individuals who are incarcerated in high-security prisons have more mental health disorders, it is important that prisons and the health service in those prisons are equipped to look after this group," Bukten points out.

Imprisonment can provide opportunities to improve living conditions

The researcher would like to see more initiatives that focus on the health needs of people in prison.

"Prisons can be a suitable arena for introducing public health measures. These can focus on, for example, quitting smoking, physical activity and better nutrition. This is how we can improve the health of individuals who are imprisoned in the short and long term," Bukten explains.

Wayback

WayBack is a non-profit foundation that works to facilitate inmates' return to society. They try to make the transition to freedom more convenient for the individual, by coordinating relationships between various agencies such as NAV, educational institutions, doctors, substance abuse treatment, etc.

Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT)

Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) is treatment with drugs that contain opioids. It is substitution treatment of opioid use dependence (dependence to heroin, morphine etc.) which has been shown to reduce the patient's consumption of opioids, reduce mortality and improve quality of life.

Naloxone

Naloxone is a substance that blocks the binding and action of morphine. Naloxone is therefore used as an antidote for life-threatening opioid poisoning. Naloxone can be taken as a nasal spray.

Source: Great Norwegian Encyclopedia

Furthermore, incarceration makes it possible to monitor substance abuse.

"We know that a large proportion of people in prison come to serve their sentences with a drug use disorder. The results of our study show that individuals who are imprisoned for drug and alcohol-related offenses have an increased risk of dying after release," she says. "In addition to monitoring, the inmates should be introduced to overdose prevention programmes such as Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) and Naloxone before their release."

Aim to facilitate the transition to life outside of prison

The transition back to society can be difficult for many who are released from prison. Voluntary organisations such as Wayback and the Red Cross play an important role in supporting individuals after being discharged.

"Many of those released from prison are very lonely when released, which leads to many being socially isolated. It is tough not having people around," Johan Lothe from Wayback says.

WayBack is a non-profit foundation that assists individuals who have been imprisoned when they are returning to society.

"We have all experienced being imprisoned ourselves, so we know what they are going through. The most important things that we do are meeting them before they are released, preparing them for their life outside of prison and planning for a good transition," Lothe explains.

He points out that many are very vulnerable after serving their sentence, especially regarding the risk of an overdose.

"We try to be the first person they meet after being released. We meet them at the prison gate and spend time with them during their first period outside of prison," he says.

Part of the PriSUD project

The article is based on data from the nPRIS study which is part of the PriSUD project at SERAF. The PriSUD project is funded by the Research Council of Norway and the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority.

Reference:

RECIDIVISM

 

KAIROS GRADUATES' RECIDIVISM RATES CAN BE REDUCED BY 50%

In a study of 505 inmates released from Florida prisons, the recidivism rate was only 15.7% among those who had participated in one Kairos session, and just 10% among those who had participated in two or more Kairos sessions. The non-Kairos control group in the study had a recidivism rate of 23.4%.

The Texas Tank: A Prison Radio Station Changing Lives

The Texas Tank: A Prison Radio Station Changing Lives

 Crossing Continents - The Texas Tank: A Prison Radio Station Changing Lives - BBC Sounds

Released On: 08 Sep 2022

The Allan B. Polunsky Unit in Livingston, Texas, used to be known as the Terror Dome for its high rates of inmate violence, murder and suicide. Polunsky houses all the men condemned to death in Texas (currently 185) and nearly 3,000 maximum security prisoners. But since the pandemic, a prison radio station almost entirely run by the men themselves has helped to create community--even for those on death row, who spend 23 hours a day locked alone in their cells.

The Tank beams all kinds of programmes across the prison complex: conversations both gruff and tender; music from R&B to metal; the soundtracks of old movies; inspirational messages from all faiths and none. The station’s steady signal has saved some men from suicide and many from loneliness; it lets family members and inmates dedicate songs to each other and make special shows for those on their way to execution. 

Maria Margaronis tunes in to The Tank and meets some of the men who say it's changed their lives—even when those lives have just weeks left to run. 

 Produced by David Goren. 

 Photo credit (Michael Starghill)

Surendering Despair

I SURRENDER MY DESPAIR

If ever a person "walks through the valley of the shadow of death" (Psalm 23:4, KJV) it is in a prison. But despair need not conquer us. When we trust God, our lives can become joyful despite the circumstances. Our God is all-powerful. He will comfort and care for us.

---

BRUISED BUT NOT BROKEN 

"A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out."  (Isaiah 42:3)

When I arrived in prison, I was on the edge of a complete mental and physical breakdown. I had known Christ in my youth, but had strayed so far from Him that I no longer believed He existed. I had traveled all over the world, lived in Haight Ashbury in the late sixties, built a lucrative narcotics business, and been on the run from the "feds" for almost 10 years. My nerves were completely shot.

By the time I got to prison, everyone was waiting for me to fall apart completely. I could feel a battle going on in my consciousness. On one hand I wanted to blow myself away and take as many people with me as I could, but the other side of me was restraining that destruction. Yet I was growing weaker and weaker. I was terrified I would soon lose all control.

Finally I came to that breaking point and cried out to Jesus Christ, "If You want me to live, you’re going to have to save me!" And I suddenly knew His presence; I knew He would spare me from destroying myself.

I began to read the Bible and discovered it was full of people like me who had made big mistakes and caused a lot of pain, yet had been forgiven and healed. I committed my life to Christ.

Then I saw that same healing process slowly taking place in me. I had been bruised and battered inside, but I was not broken. He restored me. I was no longer bent on destruction, but filled with new life. And as I told others about Christ’s work in me, I saw their lives change as well.

Those of us who have spent time in prison may well be "bruised reeds," but God, in His grace, has restored us completely!

Mark,* released from federal prison

PRAYER: Lord, I came to the end of myself and You were there to save me. Thank You for Your incredible love and grace. Amen.

Opening Prison Doors

OPENING PRISON DOORS

From Prison Fellowship

The Jewish leaders were so jealous of Jesus’ disciples that they arrested them and threw them in prison (Acts 5:17, 18). “But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out” (v. 19). Imagine the captain of the guard’s surprise when, in the morning, the prison cell was empty and the disciples were standing in the temple and teaching. “They never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah” (v. 42).

He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free.PSALM 146:7

God has the power to open prison doors, literally and figuratively. Just as locked doors were no barrier to the risen Christ, they were no barrier to His followers. This didn’t mean Christian prisoners were always freed, as in Acts 5. The apostle Paul, for example, was imprisoned two separate times.

But today’s passage does narrate another miraculous release. Herod found that persecuting the new sect that called Jesus the Messiah and Son of God was a popular thing to do (vv. 1–3). He killed James, the brother of John, and put Peter in prison. Peter was shackled directly to two soldiers, with two more standing guard outside. Nonetheless, an angel easily rescued him (v. 7). His chains fell off, and the iron gate of Antonia Fortress, the military base where he was being held, “opened for them by itself” (v. 10).

Peter assumed this was all a vision, but when he realized he was actually free he went straight to a local house church. Though they were praying for him, they hadn’t looked for such an immediate answer. Imagine their surprise when he appeared at the door (v. 14)!

Are you waiting on the Lord today? 

Remember that God holds the power to free you physically, emotionally, and spiritually. When Paul and Silas were in jail in Philippi (Acts 16:16–34) they sang hymns while they waited, showing faith. What a great example to imitate!

Map - Polunsky Unit Livingston

 

Jim Welch

 

Guidelines for Giving Kairos Talks

Kairos is a ministry of God's love, and His call to members of Kairos Teams is a call to share God's love with residents in correctional institutions. It is God's love that we are called to share. Our call is not to preach, not to judge, not to correct, and not to threaten - but to love and encourage.

Your talk is to be a joyous proclamation of the Good News of the love of God through the saving action of Jesus, presented with personal conviction and enthusiasm. Your talk is to be a witness of your own living experience of the truths being proclaimed in the talk outline. You can only witness to what you know to be true in your own life.

Preparing the Talk

Pray! Pray especially for the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the manner in which you can best witness to the truths to be communicated in the talk. Ask that your family and small group pray for you. When you are at the prison on your monthly reunion, ask that brothers or sisters of the Kairos Community pray for you.

Keep it simple! Very few residents can recall what the talks were, much less the details of each talk. If they can remember one statement (message or theme) from your talk, you have done well. What is that statement?

Keep your language simple. Talk at a level of a 6th grader. Avoid big, theological terms and concepts. Don't try to overly identify your situation in life with that of the residents.

Please cover the essential points of your talk. Don't let the central point of the talk, which is expressed in the outline, get lost as you elaborate points or tell your personal experience. Each talk has a major point which is part of the total message we want to leave with the residents.

The points of the outline are key in your talk, but it is not necessary to discuss or elaborate every point of the outline.

Share your experience in how the truth of the talk has been evident in your own life. Remember that the purpose of sharing your story is to illustrate the talk for the benefit of the residents, not to bring focus on yourself or to gain affirmation. Share your pain with the prayer that a resident might find courage, hope, insight and love for dealing with his or her own pain.

Do not force a personal story where it does not fit with the purpose of the talk. You may have to sacrifice that special story for a less significant one that does a better job for this talk.

Be a good steward of time! The talk should not exceed the time assigned! When we run overtime on a talk, we rob that time from someone or somewhere else. When preparing your talk, adopt that same spirit of cooperation and charity that we ask of the residents.

Practice...time the talk...practice...time the talk...

Use of Scripture in the Talk

It can be confusing and distracting to the residents to use too much scripture. Avoid an excessive citing of scripture which might detract from the naturalness of your talk.

It is Kairos policy to use the modern language GOOD NEWS BIBLE or the NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION from which all scripture quotes should be drawn. Avoid older English translations which may be difficult for the residents to understand.

Personal Witness as Part of the Talk

The balance between personal witness and the message of the talk can be difficult. Remember, the message

(contained in the outline) is essential - personal witness is used to illustrate or amplify a point; to bring to life the significance of the message as it has been experienced in your life - to express your relationship with Jesus as a means of describing what you have just told them.

Be careful not to glorify yourself or your relationship with Christ or how the Spirit is in your life.

Rehearsal of the Talk

Have the talk complete and read it out loud to yourself. Mark errors in your copy as you read. Identify problems for a rewrite. Is there a smooth transition from one point to another? Will the residents get lost in details, and stop taking notes?

Rewrite, practice, time your talk, rewrite, practice, time...

Presenting the Talk at the Team Meeting

The talks carry the truth of the Kairos weekend, the message of God's love and grace. the Team "owns" the talks, and the speakers are preparing and presenting the talks on behalf of the Team. Every talk will be presented to Team representatives at an assigned Team meeting. The purpose of this preview is so the Team can graciously, and with charity, evaluate how the talk presents the needed message. The Team will have the key points of the talk in front of them as they listen to your presentation.

Be ready to preview the talk in it's final form to the Team on the assigned date. Prepare any visual aids you will need.

Make the adjustments suggested by the Team. If you have used a thought that you think is good, but the

Team disagrees, take it out! Don't let ego or pride of authorship get in the way! Remember, you are only

one part of the message of the Kairos. If the Team suggests that additional material be added, you may have to cut something out to accommodate it.

Giving the Talk

Giving a talk is no different than any other public speaking, except for the presence of one very powerful friend

- the Holy Spirit! You will be comfortable, relaxed, and at ease because the Holy Spirit is present and has been ever since you first prayed for guidance in preparing the talk. Therefore, the talk will be successful to the degree that you function as the instrument of the Holy Spirit in its presentation.

God will hear your prayers for inner peace and will indeed be standing beside you at the lecturn.

During the Talk, let your personality contribute to the talk. Be yourself, use your own vocabulary, and let the talk reflect the uniqueness of your personality and your walk with Christ.

Stand straight, feet under your body, and face the residents - don't twist or fidget.

Don't drape yourself over the lectern. If you're hanging on for dear life, the residents will be watching you and will be distracted from your talk.

Don't be a stiff board. You're not an eighth grader reciting for the first time without a feeling for the subject or your audience. Rigidity reflects your uncertainty. Take a deep breath, look at the residents, and begin talking naturally. Concentrate on your talk, and the Holy Spirit will bring a peace to you.

Pause...to emphasize points. Remember the residents need to be getting these points recorded in their notes.

Maintain eye contact with the residents. don't just "sweep" the room with your eyes, but look from table to table and speak to a person at each table. Remember, the eyes are the windows of the soul. the light of God

shines in and from you. As you give your talk, also give that light away so that you can see it in the eyes of others.

If you loose your place in your notes, don't panic...and don't apol