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Building on the Foundation

As a second career home renovator I rarely build something entirely from the ground upward.  My type of renovations are usually limited by the nature of the structures already in place.  Of course, the changes I am asked to make are made in consultation with the home owner.  We weigh the options and costs and then I proceed to work on the foundations already there.  Similarly, that’s how it is with my work as chairman of the board of Kairos Prison Ministries of Canada. Kairos belongs to Gods Kingdom and the foundations for it have already been laid.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it.  But each one should build with care.  (1 Cor. 3:10)

During the past thirty plus years, God has blessed Kairos to become a ministry that has impacted many lives for Jesus. This year Kairos will be hosting approximately 250 Men’s, Women’s, and Youth’s four day weekends throughout the world!  How has this come about? I believe that the founding leaders cast a vision and laid a good foundation.

This year Kairos Prison Ministries of Canada (KPMC) is celebrating its tenth anniversary since being reintroduced across the border in 1999.  God has blessed our humble beginnings and our obedience to follow Him. By His grace we have held a total of eleven Inside weekends and eight Outside weekends in Ontario. We have benefitted enormously from the foundations that have been laid by Kairos Prison Ministry International.  Since accepting the chairmanship of KPMC in September 2008, I am building on the considerable work of my predecessors both in Canada and the US.

Your board has now been subdivided into four committees to share the workload. These committees are Executive, Governance, Promotion and Development, and Finance. Together we are trying to build and expand our local awareness, volunteer base, financial support, and ministry opportunities.  The scope of our ministry includes Kairos Inside for Men and for Women, Kairos Outside and Kairos Torch.

We look forward to the Kairos Summer Conference at Brock University, in St. Catharines (July 28-Aug 1) where we will rub shoulders with many of our US counterparts and learn through the valuable experience of others who have been or are in our shoes.  We also want to celebrate what God has done through us his co-workers.  I want to encourage you to attend all or part of this conference but especially on Thursday evening, July 30, when the focus will be the celebration of our tenth anniversary. Please click the following web-link to register. http://www.kairosprisonministry.org/templates/System/details.asp?id=23761&PID=626944

I also want to encourage you to attend our annual Kairos membership gathering at Jubilee Fellowship Christian Reformed Church on September 9.  There will be a potluck dinner at 6:30 p.m. followed by our membership meeting.  We need your encouragement, ideas, nominations, prayers, and financial support.   If you think I am bold, remember that Paul in writing to Timothy said, For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid. (2 Tim 1:7)

Finally, please pray for our ongoing visioning and efforts.  Pray that God will send us more workers with a heart for service in this part of His Kingdom. Pray that we answer Gods call and follow His leading.

Rick Jongejan,

Chairman of the board of KPMC