Kairos Breaking News

Friends in Christ --- Welcome to Kairos Torch # 7 at C.A.Dillon!

Karen and I hope you have decided to accept God's call to NC Kairos Torch#7 at C.A.Dillon in Butner, NC April 13 – 15, 2012.  We look forward to being with you and meeting our new members on February 25 as we kickoff our training weekends.

Please confirm if you are going to participate in the weekend as this will help us plan for the weekend and the training sessions. Thank you to those who have let us know whether or not they are going to attend. If you know anyone who would like to attend the weekend, please forward this to them and have them contact us.

We will have 4 team meetings which will take place at the following dates, times and locations:

Saturday, February 25, 2012    
9 a.m. – 3:30 pm  
Community UMC 
507 West E Street
Butner NC 27509

Saturday, March 3, 2012            
9 p.m. – 3:30 pm  
Wake Forest UMC
905 South Main St
Wake Forest NC 27587

Saturday, March 17, 2012           
9 a.m. – 3:30 pm   
Wake Forest UMC
905 South Main St
Wake Forest NC 27587

Saturday, March 31, 2012          
9 a.m. – 3:30 pm   
Community UMC 
507 West E Street
Butner NC 27509
(Mentor Training)    

Team members are encouraged to become a mentor as mentoring is the most important part of the Kairos Torch ministry.  The mentor and mentee meet twice a month for six months --- we go into Dillon together as a team on the first and third Thursdays of the month.  The mentor will model Christ's love for the youth, offer emotional and spiritual support, help the mentee to develop life skills and self esteem, and increase their ability to interact with people from various socio-economic, cultural and racial backgrounds. Mentor training is a very important part of the team training process and is mandatory for all mentors.

Nuts and Bolts --- the things we all have to do:

1)  There a team member fee which covers the cost of the weekend. Please do not be concerned as we will discuss methods to eliminate the cost to you and allow others to join us in this Ministry. 

2) Attached you will find pertinent forms that must be completed before going into
C.A. Dillon and being involved with Kairos Torch.  All forms must be completed 
and returned no later than February 25, 2012.

Returning team members must complete only the Kairos Torch Team Application.

Please bring the form to the team meeting on February 25. 

New team members must fill out all four (4) forms:

1) Kairos Torch Team Application

2) NC Background Check Form

3) Volunteer Dillon Application

4) Torch Volunteer Clearance Packet & $25.00 for processing:

In the Torch Volunteer Packet you will need 3 letters of recommendation --- your pastor, employer or past employer, and another responsible person.  We suggest that you give these people an envelope addressed to
Kairos Prison Ministry International, Inc.,
6903 University Blvd.
Winter Park, FL 32792.

They can either mail their letter to Florida before February 25 or return it to you in the sealed envelope for you to bring to the February 25 meeting. 

DO not mail your packet to Florida. Bring all forms to the team meeting on February 25. 

Again, Karen and I look forward to being with you on February 25. Please hold in prayer this team, the prospective youth who will join us, the staff at C.A. Dillon and Karen and I as we ever so humbly lead you. May the Spirit of God continue to bless you in more ways than you can ever imagine as you open your entire being to His guidance!

Your Brother and Sister in Christ,

Micky Brown
919-554-1921

dillontorch7@gmail.com

Karen Gilbert

919-217-0122

dillontorch7@gmail.com

Dear Kairos sisters,

The new chaplain at NCCIW, Chaplain Deavens, has requested that we change the Kairos monthly reunions from the 3rd Saturday from 6-8 pm to the 3rd Sunday from 2-4 pm.  We did point out that this may be difficult for some of our volunteers, especially those who come from Eastern NC.  She asked us to give it a try and we would reevaluate in a few months.  So, starting in February, Reunions will be on the 3rd Sunday of the month from 2-4 pm.  The next Reunion is Feb 19.  Please continue to always keep Kairos ministry in your prayers.

Your sister in Christ,

Dulce Garrido, on behalf of the NCCIW Kairos Advisory Council
 

Brothers and Sisters,
 
In the past few days, three issues have surfaced of which you should be aware.
 
1. The policy is that a Kairos Volunteer can NOT be on the visitation list of a resident in the institution where the volunteer serves on a Kairos Team. A recent decision have extended this restriction beyond the the prison where the Kairos Volunteer serves.  It now includes all prisons in NC which have a Kairos ministry. Right now there are 10 prisons - Bertie, Pasquotank, Pender, Eastern, Scotland, Central Prison, Nash, Alexander, Marion and Foothills. And ladies, I would assume this would include your ministry at NCCIW and Southern. I don't think this will affect many of us, but in case the questions comes up, this is the answer. The simple solution as a Kairos Volunteer, do not sign up on any resident's visitation list.
 
2. As I am sure you are all aware, Kairos Volunteers are  NOT allowed to send a resident gifts or money. Recently a volunteer wrote a resident and included a check from a third party with his letter. Even though the check was not from a Kairos volunteer, it was deemed to be and therefore returned to the Kairos Volunteer. The simple solution as a Kairos Volunteer, do not send any money in your correspondence to a resident.
 
3. This one is the most difficult to present. Effective January 1, 2012, Pasquotank Correctional will no longer allow Kairos or any other religious organization to bring food into the prison. This includes meals, snacks and cookies. This decision was made to be fair to all religious groups since some of them do not bring in food. However, Kairos is probably the largest religious group affected. The decision will also include the Muslims and their feasts. Even though it has not been a problem, sanitation is an additional issue in the decision. It should be noted that Virginia has had this policy in place for several years and Kairos is still alive and well there. While this decision only affects Pasquotank Correctional, don't be surprised if it spreads to other institution across the State.
 
Since I will not be at the State Chapter Committee meeting on December 3rd, I thought I would present these matters for your consideration before the meeting.
 
God Bless you all and have a Happy Thanksgiving.
 
Bob Clinkscales
 

NCCIW Kairos website

NCCIW is online now with a new website. As the site grows it will include downloadable documents, calendars, updates, News, etc. Please visit www.ncwomensprisonministry.org.

 

Dear Brother in Christ,

God is at work inside the darkness of the prison!  And now, He is assembling a team of servants for the Kairos #2 at the Nashville Correctional that will run from Wednesday, March 21 through Saturday, March 24..

I am humbly asking for your prayerful consideration in joining this endeavor for Christ by serving as a Team member.

I am serving as the Leader and am working diligently to recruit persons with a servant heart.  I am so hopeful that you can clear your schedule for this important journey and will let me know of your interest in serving.  If you are, please fill out the attached Team Application and get it back to me within three weeks so that I may add you to the list of potential Team members.

 We will have 4 Team meetings!  They are scheduled as follows:
Saturday, January 14 8am – 4pm    Nashville, UMC Nashville, NC
Saturday, January 28 8am – 4pm    Nashville, UMC Nashville, NC  
Saturday, February 25 8am – 4pm    Nashville, UMC Nashville, NC
Saturday, March 10 8am - 4pm.    Nashville, UMC Nashville, NC


You will find that we will place a serious and intentional focus on training.  These team sessions will prepare you for this experience – both spiritually and in terms of your assigned job. 

Team members who go inside the prison for the Kairos are expected to come back once a month for a year.  This is a time of discipling, mentoring and friendship.  On the Saturday following the Kairos, the Team returns to instruct the residents in the Prayer & Share (Reunion) group.  Over and over, we hear “I never would have believed that you would come back!”  If possible, I ask you to also try to commit to this 1st Saturday visit.

I ask you to prayerfully consider serving as a Kairos team member. 

Your brother in Christ,

Darrell C. Terry
PO Box 7774
Rocky Mount, NC  27804
252.458.4369
fdwent@suddenlink.net

Greetings!
 
God is at work assembling a team of servants for Kairos #4 at Southern Correctional Institute in Troy, NC.  This will take place June 21 – 24, 2012. I know it seems far away but it will be here before we know it.

I am humbly asking for your prayerful consideration in joining this Kairos by serving as a team member.   Through unconditional love and affirmation, incarcerated women will begin to see themselves as God sees them: as unique, special, and created in the image of God.
 
As a leader for Kairos #4, I am wanted to send out a heads up as we begin to diligently
recruit people with servant hearts.  Whether you would like to serve on the inside team, the outside support team, a letter writer, fundraiser, or cookie monster – we have a place for you. As you review the dates and prepare for 2012, let me know your interest.
 
There are five team meetings of training set aside for Kairos #4. The dates and times of the training classes are listed below. These training classes allow us to build a very cohesive team and truly become One Body prior to entering the institution—we must be spiritually and emotionally prepared for the weekend. It is highly recommended that you attend all required meetings; however, if you have to miss a meeting, please let me know in advance.  Those of you who have participated in Kairos before already know - this is a big commitment. However, we have adopted the attitude that it is worth it for one.
 
March 31, 2012 (Saturday)          9:00 am – 5:00 pm
April 21, 2012   (Saturday)          9:00 am – 5:00 pm
May 18, 2012    (Friday)              7:00 pm – 10:30 pm    
May 19, 2012     (Saturday)          9:00 am – 4:00 pm
June 2, 2012       (Saturday)          9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Then the fun begins June 21, 2012 8:30am, as we will meet for a short final team meeting before going into the prison. The Instructional is scheduled for June 30, 2012 for those who can attend.
 
I ask you to prayerfully consider serving as a Kairos team member.  I am sure you will find it to be a great joy and even greater blessing.
 
Your sister in Christ,
Natasha Shackelford

Njohn3076@yahoo.com
or Natasha.shackelford@co.gaston.nc.us