Kairos Agape Merry Christmas to All! This Year We Put out a Special Call Among a Small Group of Kairos Graduates for Artwork to Use on Our 2018 Christmas Card
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Winter 2018 News from Kairos Prison Ministry International, Inc. Vol. 44 No. 4 Kairos Agape Merry Christmas to all! This year we put out a special call among a small group of Kairos Graduates for artwork to use on our 2018 Christmas card. The response we received was overwhelming and the talent is just plain incredible. Luckily, we did not have to make a choice between the pieces, as that would have been almost impossible! Instead we went with the piece that had all of the release forms signed by the due date. The art that is shown above is the front of our Christmas card, with a testimonial from the artist on the back. We’ve still got lots more pieces, and now that we have the proper signed forms in hand, we’ll have opportunities to take advantage of their creativity. Be on the look out for more works of art from our gifted graduates! Page 1 God’s Special Time, Winter 2018 FROM THE CEO Throughout 2018, we have heard which is the Weekend and God’s Special Time many WOW stories of God working Continuing Ministry. When we do is published quarterly for Kairos through Kairos. It has again been a the full program well we can make Prison Ministry International, Inc. blessed year for the Kairos ministry even greater impact by promoting around the world. Our Lord has given family engagement and encouraging Evelyn Lemly us a special ministry with three a person’s loved one to attend CEO programs that we know work; we see another Kairos program. It’s an Becky Dotson the miracles of Him and the impact of opportunity for the three programs to COO what He is doing through Kairos on a work together to support attendance Craig Combs daily basis. On behalf of at Continuing Ministry Men’s Ministry Coordinator all of Kairos, “Thank events. Purposefully Gina Brockmeyer You” for your dedication connecting the Kairos Women’s Ministry Coordinator and service as it’s YOU, programs to be Better Kevin Resnover the volunteer, serving in Together helps Kairos Youth Ministry Coordinator Kairos, that God uses to accomplish our mission. Julie Collins transform lives. Controller As 2018 comes to an end, In 2018, we launched let’s make sure we end Diane Harris KairosMessenger to all well. Many Advisory Communications & Marketing States and Advisory Evelyn Lemly, CEO Council and State Chapter Crissy Lloyd Councils. It is now the Committee leaders will be Administrative Assistant tool to record elections rotating off as their terms Andy Perry and the rosters for positions. It houses end, and many may return but maybe Executive Administrative Assistant reports such as the Excellence in a different position. Thanks to all Thomas Alvarez Initiative, Weekend Leaders Reports for your service. Let’s make sure you Bookkeeper and the State and Advisory Council pass the baton carefully and fully to Monika Hesse rosters. It also puts the information the next person so they can continue Programs Administrative Assistant from EZRA, Excellence Initiative, the good work. For those taking new and other sources at the local leaders’ positions, please review your role fingertips via web-based access. This and ask questions to ensure you Terry Crockett Board Chair system will help reduce the understand what you need to do for redundancy and manual tracking and the team you are serving. Kathleen Cabraja improve information access and use. Vice Chair for Operations In the near future, new tools within Kairos uses a team approach for all Susan Dyer Ken Perduyn the system and availability of more areas – Board of Directors, Secretary Treasurer data will be launched. We need to International Council, State Chapter ensure the election results are entered Committee, Advisory Council, and and EZRA is used properly to have Weekends. If every person in their Tom McCarty the data available. role understands and does their role, International Council President Lisa Trahan Dave Hess Mid-2018, we launched “Better Vice President Secretary Together” to underscore that the three programs of Kairos (Kairos To submit stories and photos or to Inside, Kairos Outside, and contact Kairos leadership and staff: Kairos Torch) work better 407-629-4948 together to positively affect [email protected] individuals, families, and www.kairosprisonministry.org society. We continue to promote the full program of Kairos, Page 2 God’s Special Time, Winter 2018 FROM THE CEO then no one is overwhelmed with transforming love and forgiveness Vision Priority 5: Continual work. When the knowledge, of Jesus Christ to impact the hearts enhancement of Kairos awareness experience, and wisdom of all is and lives of incarcerated men, and promotion used, the entire body works together women, and youth, as well as their for the benefit of all. It’s all a very families, to become loving and Vision Priority 6: Optimize the biblical principle as to how the body productive citizens of their ministry’s success through of Christ works together. communities. continued comprehensive training plans that touch all aspects of the This year was also our fifth year of The next 5-year vision priorities to ministry our current 5-year strategic plan. move us forward are: We have accomplished much in Vision Priority 7: Develop, and if these past 5 years as a ministry. I Vision Priority 1: Continue to feasible, implement a strategic believe the most important aspect enhance and focus on the spiritual structure and growth plan for has been our focus on our spiritual health of the ministry international countries health (as individuals and a Vision Priority 2: Sustain and Thanks to everyone for a wonderful ministry). We are always striving to strategically grow the ministry reach 2018. We are looking forward to the remember we serve our Lord, Jesus and impact through the three core future as our Lord leads us in our Christ and He is our head, while we programs with a strong focus on service to Him. I pray you take strive to ensure we are following Continuing Ministry some time for renewal during the biblical principles and operating as holiday season as we celebrate our a Christian ministry. When we are Vision Priority 3: Continuous Savior, Jesus Christ birth. Merry doing well with our spiritual health, improvement in the ministry health Christmas and Happy New Year! then all the other aspects of our through financial, operational, and ministry operations and needs come program capability with effective together. communications across the ministry In 2019, we will move to our next 5 Vision Priority 4: Continual -year strategic plan that is a recruitment and retention of continuation of the previous 5 years qualified Christian volunteers at all of work. We work to accomplish levels our mission: The mission of Kairos Prison Ministry is to share the Why Do You Volunteer With Kairos? Stop and think for a minute about "Why I volunteer with Kairos." Then take out your cell phone and do a short (less than 1 minute) video with your answer! Send it to [email protected]. We need at least 40 of these clips. By sending us the video you are giving us permission to use it). Page 3 God’s Special Time, Winter 2018 A MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CHAIR Spirit of Unity This unity with Christ is a As we close this year and begin a celebration as His atonement for new year, let us be in unity with “For unto us a child is born, unto our trespasses and Christ as we live out our us a son is given; and the sealed by the Holy Mission and Vision government shall be upon his Spirit. God Statements. The Board is shoulder; and his name shall be promises to spend very excited about all the called Wonderful, Counselor, the an eternity strengths and opportunities Mighty God, the Everlasting increasing our joy in ahead for the ministry as Father, the Prince of Peace.” the immeasurable the 2019-2023 Strategic -Isaiah 9:6 gift of His grace. Plan has laid out, while This promise says knowing Kairos may This passage from Isaiah tells of the God wants to be in experience weaknesses and birth of a child that will be born to unity with us threats to the ministry. each of us. This child is then forever. Terry Crockett, described as all that we will ever Board Chair Kairos Guests and need in our lives…one that will “Make every effort to Participants will see the uplift us, guide us, and be to us our keep the unity of the Spirit through spirit of unity as we demonstrate God, our Parent, and our Peace. the bond of peace.” God’s love by our actions, our What a profound description! The -Ephesians 4:3 words, and our listening for the spirit of unity has been Weekends and throughout the demonstrated by God to us through The theme for the Board of Continuing Ministry. Let each of us the birth of Christ. Director’s Fall Retreat was “Spirit pray for the volunteer/servant, each of Unity” and each of us took a Weekend team, each Advisory God thinks through our minds, spiritual gifts inventory. When we Council, each State Chapter loves through our hearts, and lives discussed our gifts, we realized it Committee, the International through us. This is the great secret takes many different gifts to make a Council, the Board, and the staff to that lies at the heart of our faith; it body. be unified by the spirit. All of this transcends all boundaries and happens because of the birth of our differences and labels and religious God has called each of us to be part Lord and Savior.