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Candidate Testimonials

Doug (Pittsburgh 2003): "We are all on a journey. This weekend has helped me with some of my struggles. I almost became the person I was 40 years ago."

Paul (Pittsburgh 2003): "I wish I was on the outside so I could tell my family what I was experiencing."

Bill (Pittsburgh 2003): "I built a lot of walls around myself. I got a long struggle ahead of me to tear down those walls and this weekend has surely helped."

Steve: “I was lost...without hope ... no guide, no friend, I have found the path to freedom, hope with vision, guidance toward happiness and more kindness, love and fellowship than I have ever seen.”

Joe: “I was a wreck when I came, found something I never had before, never experienced before...it was love, true love. I’m going to take it into the compound.”

Sara: “This weekend was much needed. The love of God is here, the presence of the Holy Spirit is here....I can’t believe the amount of love welling up in my heart.”

Mike: “When Father Jim was trying to get me to come here, I didn’t know what to expect. I wondered if Kairos had a kind of reputation and men wouldn’t come. God is doing wonderful things to me. I think there are two important things in life, love and humility and both were here.”

Art: “I’m glad I got caught, because if I had not been caught and sentenced and sent to this place, I might never have met Jesus Christ on this weekend, never have known God was real.”

Kathy (K.O. 2005): “I heard God say I am loved and I am lovable.”

Christy (K.O. 2005): “I had a lot of hatred in my heart. This has shown me how to forgive.”
 

Supporter Testimonials

Greetings in Christ.

As chaplain at Pittsburgh Institution near Kingston it is my pleasure to offer a few comments of reflection on the ministry of Kairos at our Facility.

My initiation to Kairos began a couple of years ago as I observed (participated in)a Kairos experience at Wende Correctional in New York state. The weekend was filled with meaningful engagement. Lives were brought together, acknowledged, harmonized and celebrated- regardless of diversity.

I witnessed the transformation of men who arrived in full armor (so to speak) but were soon adopting the safety of the Kairos space- where with intention small families were created within the larger family. Over the weekend the sharing became soulful and the investment from each life maximized. It was truly a Kairos moment in time to be remembered.

At P.I. we have had the pleasure of creating two such weekends the last two summers. Each of those became all they were prayerfully intended to be for those who were present. The mystery and the grace-filled quality of the experience was memorable and talked about for some time. The dynamic that Kairos brings to such a thirsty environment had the men lapping it up as it overflowed.

The Kairos team is top quality. They are prayerful, servant oriented, and discerning as they enter this harvest field riddled with thorns and woes. I have come to hold this model up as one worthy of blessing and increase. Amen.

Sincerely
Jeff McGregor
Chaplain

“The work of the Kairos group, while well-known throughout the land is new at Fenbrook Institution. I have heard nothing but praise and good comments regarding the weekend. I am particularly impressed that the vast majority of the men who signed up participated fully in the weekend. The comments I have heard from those men gives me the positive sense that we are on the right track by working with Kairos.”

Mike Provan, (Warden, Fenbrook Institution, Gravenhurst, Ontario)

“The Lord’s absolute goodness and grace was an overwhelming gracious thing to behold over and over. The image of God’s healing love and an overflowing fountain cam again and again to my mind. I saw people reborn right before my eyes and if I could have observed myself I am sure I would have seen the same thing in me...”

The Right Rev. Furman Stough, (Episcopal Bishop of Alabama)

“Kairos is the best and most spiritual rewarding activity I have ever seen in my 24 years as a prison worker.

Thomas Keohane (Warden, Federal Corrections, Indiana)

“There’s no doubt about it,” says Wright, who was trapped in the institution as the riot exploded, “if it hadn’t been for the influence of Kairos in this prison, I’d be a dead man now. Those guys literally saved my life.”

John Wright (A correctional officer in a maximum security prison)

“The ecumenical dimension of Kairos is both challenging and inspiring and proves that it is possible to build a very close unity in Christ across denominational lines. After all, the love we have for one another is the only real claim we have to go into the prison environment and is the basis of our credibility.”

Francis P. Carol (Archbishop of Canberra and Goulbourn, Australia)

“We had a team of 9, 7 women, 2 men. The work and services that were required were completed in a timely manner and the working together of the team was wonderful. We had some persons come on Friday and Saturday to help out which was a great benefit. They helped to cook, clean and do shopping. The arrival on Thursday was hectic and disorganized but this is not unusual and things did work out well. Obviously there are many roles for the support team but because of the small number and newer members the duties were doubled up. It went OK but this is not ideal and others then are not learning the roles. We had an ex-armed forces cook which proved to be wonderful. Also all the bread was donated for the weekend as well as  extra fruit and vegetables. The spiritual director was able to have chapel services for the support team during the weekend which is excellent. But hourly prayer vigil are not able to happen. There was an emphasis on cleaning up the camp as the camp on arrival was very dirty. Just preparing it for use was an improvement of how we found it. Especially the lodge and kitchen. Sponsor forms were encouraged at the meetings but none were returned.

Observations by Bonnie Vrieswyk, Kairos #4

Probably the most powerful witness for Kairos is the increasing number of prison employees, ranging from correctional officers to superintendents, who are seeking opportunities to experience similar weekends on the street so that they might enjoy the same relationship with God which has so profoundly changed the lives of the inmates with whom they work who have made a Kairos weekend and continued to be involved in the ongoing Kairos ministry.