The Meaning of the Word Kairos

There are two Greek words for time. They are “kronos,” meaning linear time: hours, day, weeks, etc., and “kairos,” used in the sense of a time set for a particular occurrence. In the environment of correctional institutions where the word “time” carries special connotations, we think of Kairos as a time set aside for God.

What is Kairos?

Kairos is a ministry of the church . . . a ministry of the apostles whom Jesus has called into community and sent forth into the environment of the correctional institution. Kairos has been called the best example of the early church in existence today.

Objectives

The objective of Kairos is to impact the correctional environment through the actions of the resident leaders, as apostles of Jesus Christ, in all areas of human activity in the facility.

Central to every change inaugurated has been Jesus’s “new” commandment:

The Kairos Method

The Kairos method of talks, meditations, and activities is an invitation to live in a personal relationship with the living Christ. Kairos is not only to help Christ in saving souls, but to put human lives in service–literally to transform prison environments.

The most important outcome of the three-day short course is to produce a practical realization in our 4th day—the rest of our lives. The need is to insert Christ into this world and its structures. This represents the dynamic vision of a believer in Christ—alive and growing. Before we can balance the world, we must seek to balance the man. Kairos is not primarily intended to be a means to resolve personal problems, but a means to inspire the man to “be” the solution. It is truly a means to “discover the apostle” and allow him to live as a follower of Christ.

How Prisoner Lives are Affected

Kairos Prison Ministries affects the lives of prisoners in countless positive ways. Lives have been changed, and former inmates re-enter society as better spouses, parents and employees. Many released prisoners become volunteers, and give back to society. Some start their own ministries, pastor churches, while others run re-entry programs, and become mentors.

Volunteers are Blessed

Each year, over 36,000 Kairos volunteers donate more than three million hours of service. Each year, over 25,000 inmates and their families are introduced to God’s love, grace and forgiveness through Kairos.

In addition to having a positive impact on prisoners, the program also has a beneficial effect upon volunteers. Many volunteers acknowledge that the team training, with its emphasis on introspection, honesty, sharing, and community, enhances their spirituality.

Kairos Benefits Our Society

Kairos programs have gained the respect of the correctional systems, too. In a study of 505 inmates released from Florida prisons, the recidivism rate was 10% among those who had participated in a Kairos weekend and stayed active in the program, while the non-Kairos control group in the study had a recidivism rate of 23.4%.

The savings to the taxpayer are substantial. As one former prisoner put it: “It cost the government about $1,000,000 to try me and to imprison me for several years, but a $100 program keeps me out.”

Kairos Work Application

Complete the application online, print, and mail it to the address provided on the bottom of the application.

To ensure your security we do not recommend submitting a work application via email or online.