Kairos Prison Ministry Australia - Changing Lives from the Inside Out

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Grace and Peace from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Friend

I begin this newsletter with our Vision and Mission in the ministry. It is good to maintain our focus on a regular basis, understanding where God has placed us for His work.

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 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.

"A Time to Remember" invokes a number of different thoughts and ideas. It could be that your first thought was of a past happy occasion or event. You may have had an experience that brings back a memory of the past. Watching and listening to my grandchildren, I find myself reflecting on what I was like at that age and think, "how times have changed". Or perhaps, it may have been at a funeral of a family member or close friend where we have the opportunity to remember them and celebrate their life rather than dwelling on the shadow of death.  God also has a "time to remember". Reflect for a moment on Genesis 9:15-16:

15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."

As God announces the covenant with Noah, it is notable that the rainbow is set in the sky so that God "will remember". Unchurched people may well ask, "Does God forget then?" At one level this is a reasonable question. However, there is much more to the Hebrew word that is translated to "remember".

The Hebrew word "zakar" from which we get "remember", means a lot more. It implies more than just a mental recall. It is a call to action or a change in behaviour. So, when God says "I will remember", He is going to act on it.  In this case, He will act and not destroy all living things with a flood. Forgetting does not figure at all.

As you ponder this thought, apply it to Jesus' words as He institutes The Lord's Supper. Briefly, "take and eat; take and drink" is followed by "Do this in remembrance of me". If your faith tradition celebrates The Lord's Supper, how do we "remember"?  What is our call to action or change in behaviour?  I leave you with these thoughts and highlight our 30th Year Celebrations. We have something to remember as we celebrate and you are invited.

This year marks the 30th year of Kairos operating in Australia, so this is something to celebrate, but timely for us to remember those who have gone before us.  Those who were there in the formation of Kairos in Australia. Those who were involved in the early years of programs. Some have left this earth to be with Jesus and we would like to know about those who have died.  Please click here to let us know and we will update our records.

30th Year Celebrations

KPMA is organising, through the 30th Year Committee, three special events around Australia and you are invited:

• Brisbane - 20th September
• Sydney - 27th September
• Adelaide - 25th October.

Please RSVP via the website if you can attend so we have an idea of numbers at each and for catering. Details are on the website and it is free to attend. I would like to encourage you all to bring at least one friend with you. If you are unable to attend in person, we are arranging a livestream but we still need you to register so that we can send you the information by email.

Please register directly here or go to the website for more information - kairos.org.au/30-years

There will be some early history, testimonies and a good amount of time to "catch up" with people from the past, speak to Kairos volunteers to find out more about Kairos and enjoy some afternoon tea and fellowship. It will be a great time to remember!  I hope to see you there.

God Bless you all.

Program Updates

By mid 2025, we have run 9 Kairos Inside Programs inside men's and women's prisons and 6 Kairos Outside Guest Weekends for women impacted by family or close friends imprisonment.

We thank God for the opportunity to minister to these men and women and we thank YOU Friend for supporting us with prayer and donations.  You can keep track of all the programs we run through the year via the Events page of our website which includes links to the Prayer Vigils where you can sign up to cover a specific time period in prayer for one or more of our Programs. 

Volunteer Training

In the last few months, we have trained almost 30 volunteers in Advanced Kairos Training.  This is essential training for all current Team Leaders and upcoming Leaders and provides in depth intensive training to ensure our volunteers are fully equipped for the responsibility of leading and ministering.

Kairos Inside Goulburn

In July this year, our Kairos Inside Goulburn team were able to run a Journey program in Goulburn Maximum security for the first time!  This was a clear sign of the hand of God clearing the way for Kairos to go in and minister to those in this area who haven't heard of Kairos. 

Read more about KI Goulburn Journey on our News Page by clicking the button below.

Kairos Outside

Family Connection

Recently, we were contacted by a women whose son attended a Kairos program in prison and he told her about Kairos Outside – a ministry to women impacted by the incarceration of a family member or close friend.  We have connected her with a local team so that she can find out more and be invited to a Kairos Outside Weekend.  This is a full circle for this family and we praise God for this connection.  We just don't know who in our community is impacted by having someone close to them in prison.  Kairos Outside exists to minister to these women and we want to share this information in our communities.  We have brochures and postcards with information about Kairos Outside that can be displayed in your Church or Community Centre. Click on the contact button below to get in touch.

Church Resources and Support

We have been in contact with churches in the Sydney basin area to introduce them to Kairos Outside.  In that email we outlined how that their geographical area has been identified by Corrective Services as one of several suburbs in Western Sydney where over 40% of NSW prisoners were living prior to their incarceration.  That means that it is highly likely that their family is also living in that same area. This is where Kairos Outside can provide information and support to those churches to help them minister to and refer these women who are impacted by the incarceration of a family member to a Kairos Outside weekend. Now this statistic would be repeated across many areas of Australia and we plan to make contact with more churches in the future. 

Kairos Outside team members have a heart for women who, through no fault of their own, find themselves struggling with the impact that having someone close to them in prison inevitably brings. We are here to help. If your church would like to find out more or have some information sent to them, complete this short church survey and we will connect you with a local team.

About Time - Australia's National Prison Newspaper

As you have just read, it's the incarcerated family and friends who are best placed to let those at home know about Kairos Outside (KO). When the opportunity came up to advertise in "About Time Newspaper", we prayerfully took it up.  "About Time" is currently distributed for free to tens of thousands of readers across correctional facilities in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland and the ACT. The ad appears in the printed edition of the newspaper each month and encourages the person reading it to tell those on the outside about KO. You can see a copy of the ad in the picture below.

Find Out More

If you are a women interested in attending Kairos Outside, we have weekends in Canberra and Sydney in the coming months.  Even if this is not in your area or you just want to speak to someone first, contact us via the website and we will be in touch. No judgement. No expectations. No financial cost. kairos.org.au/kairos-outside

Facebook

Our Kairos Facebook page is a place you can keep up to date with Kairos, find out about upcoming Programs and get links to Prayer vigils.  Click below and follow us to stay up to date.

Kairos in the Media

We are pleased to be hearing and reading about Kairos in the media! We need more awareness of Kairos in our community and we are praying for more volunteers and supporters just like you, to join the Kairos family.

The adverts on Vision Christian Radio are playing around Australia and we are having new people make contact with us to find out more!  You can listen to Vision Radio on your radio or online.  Check here.

We also have a media release to celebrate our 30th Year in Australia and you may come across it in your local Christian publication or local radio. Articles have been published in Our Story (NSW/ACT Baptists) and Catholic Voice. and more are planned. Plus, radio interviews on LifeFM Adelaide, 1WayFM Canberra, Vision Radio and Hope 103.2 in August and September!  

We will update our News page with articles as they come up.

Your Invitation

Friend, we can't wait to see you at one of our 30th Celebration events.  It isn't often we have the opportunity to celebrate like this so please, accept the invitation and let us know you are coming by completing the registration form for this free event.

As a reader of our newsletter, you will be encouraged to hear the testimonies that you have been reading about first hand!  Plus, we have some special guests including a speaker from the very beginning of Kairos as well as times of worship and fellowship and afternoon tea!  

If you can't attend in person, we will be livestreaming on YouTube but you have to register so that you get the link sent to your email as soon as it becomes available!

Go to kairos.org.au/30-years

Testimonies - "Remembering"

"I was eligible to attend the weekend as my youngest son, was involved with the justice system.   It was through my son's struggles that I was prayed for, even before the Kairos Outside weekend.   I remember a very emotional time when I went forward in the chapel to place my son's photograph and asked for a silent prayer for his healing.   Little did I know that God began a remarkable work of healing in my own life as I experienced the process of letting go and forgiving those that had hurt me from my past." - Kairos Outside Guest.

"At the closing, each resident speaks.  The impact of the program has been more powerful than even our most optimistic hopes.  Many of the residents speak about the change that has occurred in them, and how they will always remember the weekend.  For some, it has been the best time of their lives." - Kairos Inside Volunteer.

"Remembering the words of Christ, "the Son of man did not come to be served but to serve" and "it is more blessed to give than to receive".  If you wish to experience these blessings for yourself and you feel you are being led by God to serve in the ministry of Kairos, don't hold back as you will be blessed beyond your wildest expectations." - Kairos Volunteer remembers why they volunteer.

Pray with us

Kairos only runs thanks to God at work through our volunteers and programs! We rely on people like you to partner with us in prayer.

This quarter please pray for:

• Participants and Guests as they hear the Gospel.
• Our volunteers as they give their time and energy in service to God through Kairos.
• The cooperation of the correctional facility.
• The Chaplains for the work required to enable Kairos to operate within the Correctional Facility.
• For the team as they serve as 'one body in Christ' and exhibit humility and love to each other and the Participants and Guests.
• For our Board members as they make decisions about Kairos.
• For the upcoming 30th Celebrations in Brisbane, Sydney and Adelaide - for those organising, the speakers, for the friends old and new who will attend, for new connections, for the technology on the day and safe travels for all involved.
• Thanks to God for those who support Kairos behind the scenes.

See more prayer points

Financial Support

Thank you for being part of the Kairos family.  By reading this newsletter and showing your support for us, we know that this community of Christians is strong across Australia.  We know our supporters are generous and we value any amount you can donate to the work of Kairos in Australia.  Thank you for helping us to spread the love of Jesus in our community.

Please click the button below give via our secure donate page and to see other ways to give.

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 

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