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February 2026 | Issue 012

Volunteer News

Hello everyone.

How time flies – it is February already and we are all back and as busy as ever preparing to deliver Programs in 2026!

I hope that you have all had a restful and peace filled break and that you have been refreshed both physically, mentally and spiritually.  Can you please join with me in praying for a speedy recovery for those volunteers and their family members who are ill, injured or recovering from operations. Also join me in praying for health and wellbeing of the prison chaplains who work so tirelessly to ensure that we can run Programs and that participants sign up to attend those Programs.

January was a period of preparation and planning training and visits to those regions needing some face-to-face assistance and liaising with KPMI (Kairos Prison Ministry International) in relation to the rollout of the new Plum Manual for Kairos Inside and the new White Manual for Kairos Outside.  These conversations have almost been completed, and I hope to give you regular updates on progress over the coming weeks. The plan is for us to provide each Region free of charge, 35 new manuals. We will be in a transition period until 1 August. Any Programs delivered after this date will be required to be delivered using the new manual guidelines. Our AKT Coordinators Ken and Coraine have both travelled over to Orlando in the US to attend train the trainer training. Ken will be in touch with upcoming leaders who have recently completed AKT training to chat about any issues he identified while he attended the training.  Coraine will foreshadow any changes in the KO manual during upcoming AKT training sessions in February and March.

Celebration Points 

- The first Short Course for 2026 was completed at Wolston Correctional Centre and 17 graduates were welcomed into the Wolston Kairos community.

- Training has commenced for KI South Coast as they prepare to deliver their first Short Course next month.

- KI Clarence has been advised that they have been granted permission to run their first Short Course in September this year. These two events are answers to prayers for volunteers who have waited on the Lord for the past ten years. Please join me in praying that they have plentiful volunteers stepping forward to join their teams and that Team Formation and logistics all run smoothly for them. Thank you, Lord.

- The Journey Program at Junee correctional centre after many years of prayer and waiting has now recommenced.

- In addition, please pray that the Parklea regional committee can form a team to run a final Short Course at the facility before it is transferred back to government ownership.

- A new Chaplain has been appointed to Dillwynia Correctional Centre Area 2. There has been minimal disruption to Journey Program.

Prayer Points

- KO Sydney has commenced Team Formation for their guest weekend to be held 22 to 24 May. Please pray that this goes well and that many guests register to attend.

- KO Hunter has commenced Team Formation for their guest weekend to be held 27 to 29 March. Please pray that Team Formation goes well and give thanks for the many guests registered to attend. Please pray for the advising leaders and the committee as they overcome the challenges faced by significant illness and injury which has impeded Team Formation planning.

- KI Parklea Regional committee awaits a decision from the Governor to allow them to run a Short Course in the first half of 2026 before management of the facility is transferred back to NSW Corrective Services. Please pray for a positive outcome and that the committee can form a team to run the Short Course should permission be granted.

- Please pray for the team who are in formation training to hold the second Short Course at Tamworth Correctional centre on 4 to 7 May and for the resumption of Journey Program.

- KI Port Augusta are in Team Formation training for their Short Course which is to be held on 4 to 8 May. Please pray for the health and safety of the team as they travel significant distances to attend training and the Short Course. Please also pray that there is no disruption to the running of the Short Course.

- KI Mid North Coast men' s team are in Team Formation training to prepare to run a Short Course at Kempsey Correctional Centre on 18 to 22 May. Please pray for health and safety as they travel and for no disruption to their Short Course.

- KI Dillwynia are preparing to commence Team Formation training to run a Short Course in the maximum-security area on 22 to 24 May. Please pray for health safety and adequate hours to be able to run their Short Course.

- KI Mobilong as begin preparations for conducting a Short Course in May. Please pray there will be no disruptions to the running of the program.

- KO Perth as they prepare to commence Team Formation next month.

- KO Adelaide, KO Wide Bay Capricorn, KO North Queensland and KO Southeast Queensland as they continue to rebuild their communities in preparation for conducting guest weekends.

- KI Southern Queensland as they continue to liaise with Queensland Corrective Services to commence discussions concerning the introduction of Short Course Programs to the new Lockyer Valley Correctional Centre.

- KI John Morony as they await the appointment of a new Chaplain

- KI St Hellier as they await the return of their chaplain from sick leave 

Thank you all for your dedication and commitment to our ministry and for the opportunity to work alongside you as we serve as the hands and feet of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and deliver the message of his unconditional love and forgiveness to those we encounter.

Blessings and best wishes

Yours in Christ

Deb Poulton

Deb Poulton

Chief Operating Officer

Kairos Prison Ministry Australia

coo@kairos.org.au

Training

Advanced Kairos Training - AKT - Kairos Outside

AKT Training - Kairos Outside has two AKT sessions coming up in South Australia and New South Wales:

• AKT for Kairos Outside volunteers will run on 27 February - 1 March 2026 at Warradale Urban Camp Site, Warradale South Australia. Contact KO AKT Coordinator Coraine Sopru - aktko@kairos.org.au or 0418 832 988.

• AKT for Kairos Outside volunteers will run on 6 to 8 March 2026 at the Pines Tuross Heads NSW. Contact KO AKT Coordinator Coraine Sopru - aktko@kairos.org.au or 0418 832 988.

A reminder that upcoming leaders and observing leaders need to attend an AKT before they can be ratified to lead and they are not able to commence team formation until they have been ratified by their respective State Council. Advising leaders need to be AKT current or have led a program within the last 12 months to be eligible to take up an advising leader position on a team.

Details for AKT sessions are on the Events page of the website.  Click the button below for more details.

Encourage

A Prayer for Our Country

God of all nations,

We pray for our country, Australia.

We give thanks for all the blessings we receive from this ancient and mysterious land.

We are grateful for the Indigenous people who took time over thousands of generations to learn her ways and share them with wisdom.

We stand humbly before the storms and fires that leave us speechless.

Our hopes are stirred by the millions of kind and decent people who enliven our community, seldom seeking the limelight, always responding to the needs of others, regardless of who they may be.

These people are our future.

We know, Lord, that the new year finds us in a fragile place.

We pray earnestly for your grace to find the right direction, the one that leads to dignity and justice for us all.

May your Holy Spirit work with us to heal divisions, dissolve anger, open our ears and draw us into compassion.

May we rediscover the gifts of common good, commonwealth and common sense.

May we, like your Son, seek to serve, not to be served.

In 2026, and for all ages.

Amen

Michael McGirr.

Mission Facilitator Caritas Australia

Message to Kairos Volunteers Around the World - From KMPI

Rhythms of Transformation

As we reflect on the impact of Kairos on Participants and Guests, it's easy to see the importance of the full program, the Weekends and the Continuing Ministry. During the Weekends we make an introduction, but transformation truly happens over time through the Continuing Ministry events.

Think about the impact when individuals develop a steady rhythm of participating in Continuing Ministry. There is accountability, support, prayer, and most importantly, a consistent focus on Jesus Christ as they grow in their knowledge of Him. Without a strong emphasis on Continuing Ministry, we miss the opportunity to help them stay engaged and establish that rhythm of growth.

One of the most encouraging things we hear from many Graduates (across all three programs) is that Kairos often becomes a catalyst for further positive change. They get involved in other programs, begin attending church, and even pursue education after Kairos. These meaningful steps become part of their rhythm and help them remain connected to positive accountability groups and healthy interactions.

It's also important that Kairos volunteers maintain their own rhythm. We need to be in accountability with others and stay focused on Jesus Christ. Let's also remember the value of bringing in new people and creating space for others to serve, which allows each of us to take a break when needed.

In 2026, let's be intentional about prioritizing our spiritual health and overall well-being. We are at our best when we are strong in our walk with the Lord, and when we can demonstrate that walk in a way that encourages and supports those we serve.

Evelyn Lemly

CEO

Kairos Prison Ministry International

Extract from KMPI February 2026 Newsletter

Policies and Procedures

Email Acceptable Use Procedure

The Email Acceptable Use Procedure has been completed and will be added to MyKairosOz (MKO) later this month.  This will accompany the Email Policy that is already available. 

Complaints Handling Policy

A complaints handling policy is in the process of being finalised and will be included in next month's newsletter.  This will be published to MyKairosOz on the Kairos website.

Email Policy and Social Media Policy

Both of these Polices are live and available now on MKO.

Governance

CCLI Reporting - DVD's and YouTube

CCLI reporting obligations for the use of DVD's produced by CCLI.

Use of DVD's purchased for private use and YouTube videos used for Kairos activities

While DVD's and YouTube purchased for personal use do not need to be reported, use of such materials for Kairos activities requires us to seek permission to use the materials and where necessary, purchase them.

Please advise Bruce Bond at Kairos Support Office if you intend to use DVD's produced by CCLI for Kairos activities as KPMA will need to purchase a CCLI DVD licence and report any usage.

Empowering You

Program Notification Form - New!

An online Program Notification form has been developed to make the process of getting ready to lead a Program even easier.  A link to the new and simplified form is below and a copy of the Program Notification process is below.

A series of other forms are in the process of being moved to an online format and final testing is underway and will be reported on in future newsletters. All forms will still be located in MyKairosOz and should be your first stop in finding the most up to date forms and information. 

Agape

National Agape Report - January 2026

Content Menu: Welcome back| "Go to the Kairos Website" | Kairos Property| Children| Kairos Emails|

Hi friends

Welcome back, I trust you've all had a lovely Christmas and New Year.

It's the beginning of the year and I feel we are just waking up. I personally have been enjoying my family even though I went back to work on the 5 January and am currently looking at getting back to serve you all in my National Agape role.

Go to the Kairos Website - MyKairosOz - for those of you who have a Kairos email address you have access to Kairos Prison Ministry Australia Agape Resources. This is where you will find Guidelines and Presentations, Sample Letters, Posters, Placemats, Recipes and Card Templates, all of which are considered vital for our weekends and Short Courses. They could even be valuable for including some of these resources in your Reunions and Journey Programs.

Kairos Property has been raised in the past, please beware that all Kairos property, including Song Books remain the property of Kairos and must not be sold or gifted to volunteers, family or friends. If you are not sure, please, check with your Regional Chair, myself or our Chief Executive Officer (COO).

Please note: It is imperative that we refrain from using the colours, ORANGE, RED and/or YELLOW on agape. I am happy to talk to you about this further if necessary.

Safeguarding children is considered seriously at Kairos and while we may be in the position to invite children to colour in posters and banners, we must be careful. A letter of explanation with a return permission slip is to be submitted to parents before use.  

No child should be exposed to such exploitation. The involvement of children In Kairos should only be countenanced in a supportive Christian community where encouragement to grow in faith in God is the underlying dynamic of children's letters.

Decorated posters are a recommended substitute for personal letters. Suggestions for simple text can be given, such as "Jesus is our light" or "Go with God". These can be distributed between Kairos candidates in the same manner as personal letters as well as being posted on a wall. A laminated, coloured placemat is also recommended.

Reminder: Please encourage your Local Agape Coordinator to use their Kairos Agape email address.

National Agape is distributed to 'All Australian Agape Coordinators'.

National Agape Coordinator

Sue Hodges

agape@kairos.org.au

Technology

Update Your Information

It is important that we keep our data up to date and current.

Can I please ask that Program Leaders ensure that they forward their team lists including name, role and talks to Bruce Bond our Office Manager at the KSO. This will enable Bruce and his data team to update the Regions data in a timely manner and be able to produce up to date and accurate reports for your Region.  Email Bruce at operations@kairos.org.au

As part of our process in maintaining data currency, can you please notify any updates to your address, email or phone number to Bruce Bond at the KSO via email operations@kairos.org.au

Using BCC

As the Email Policy has been released, I thought that I would provide some guidance on how to use blind carbon copy (bcc) on emails.

It is very important that we all protect volunteer privacy this includes not sharing peoples private email addresses. An easy way to do this is to use bcc recipients.

The image shows instructions on how to use the bcc function on three email versions when you send out emails – one for Google Mail, one for Outlook Classic and one for Outlook New.  Click on the image to view a larger version.

I hope that you find this useful.

Contacts

Key Contacts

You can find contact details on the Kairos website. 

These are some of the team ready to assist:

Kairos Support Office

Bruce - operations@kairos.org.au 

Sandra - accounts@kairos.org.au

Sarah - projects@kairos.org.au

Email Help Desk

Keith - emailhelpdesk@kairos.org.au

Ezra Support

Jan - NSW and ACT - ezrasupportnsw2@kairos.org.au

Kylie - SA, WA and VIC - ezrasupportsa@kairos.org.au 

Lex - QLD - ezrasupportqld@kairos.org.au

AKT Coordinators

Ken - KI - aktki@kairos.org.au

Coraine - KO - aktko@kairos.org.au

In Memoriam

Save The Date

Kairos Prison Ministry Australia

National Conference 2026 - YOU are invited!

Save the date to attend the KPMA National Conference to be held in Adelaide, South Australia - 28th - 30th August 2026.  

Remember, every Region needs to send at least 2 representatives but all Volunteers are invited to register and attend.  Stay tuned for more details.

Prayer Calendar

Download the New Prayer Calendar

The new Prayer Calendar is available on our website - kairos.org.au/prayer/ and click on "Download" to print out your own copy.

Remember, Prayer Vigils are listed on the Events page of the website for each Program.

Past Newsletters

Do you know a Kairos Volunteer who is not receiving this newsletter?  If so, ask them to contact Bruce at the KSO to be added to the mailing list - operations@kairos.org.au

Vision

A Community Spiritually Freed from the Effects of Imprisonment.  Reaching all Impacted by Incarceration, through the Love, Hope and Faith found in Jesus Christ.

Mission

The mission of the Kairos Prison Ministry is to share the transforming love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ to impact the hearts and lives of incarcerated men, women and youth, as well as their families, to become loving and productive citizens of their communities.

Donate today! Donations over $2 are tax deductible. 

www.kairos.org.au | info@kairos.org.au | PO Box 388, Seven Hills NSW 1730

ABN: 55 081 496 175 

You are receiving this email because you are a current Kairos Prison Ministry Australia Volunteer.  This newsletter is a vital communication tool to keep our Volunteers updated and will be sent to kairos.org.au email addresses. 

If you are receiving this email to your personal email address and wish to unsubscribe, please email the Kairos Support Office with your details and ask to be removed from the mailing list by replying to this email or emailing direct info@kairos.org.au