What is a Closing ?

At the end of the Weekend the men are brought to the old chapel where they are given their Kairos cross.  As it is presented they are told "Christ is counting on you" and they respond "And I am counting on Christ!"    Once that is done they are led to chapel where they are joined by the residents who have been through Kairos before.  They are also joined by people who support Kairos.  Generally about a hundred or so folks attend.  All are welcome, but you security requires that you fill out an application to attend three week prior to the event.  The presence of "free world" community is generally the last "pleasant surprise of the Weekend.

What follows are comments that where made by the resident when they were allow access to the mike to answer three questions: "What Spiritual condition was I in when I came to Kairos?" ; "What did I get from Kairos?" ; "What will I do with it?"

                               Kairos Closing Personal Responses

 I came to Kairos with the biggest question to be asked.  How can I believe in what I cant see?  This week end I learned to take small steps one at a time. I have a long way to go-but I am on the path to where He is.

I came as a lump of coal.  Due to pressure I have come out a diamond.

I came depressed, lacking in joy, scared.  I found unconditional love, thank God.  I am now walking with a modern day love of God.  A letter I received from a little Child really had an impact on me.

I came already accepting Jesus.  But I got a lot out of Kairos.  I wanted what God gave to Kairos. That’s what God gave to me.  The only thing I have for love- I have these men in white.  This week end I gained family members.  I received love from Kairos - love that is not mine because I must pass it .

When I came I was too shy to talk.  During this week end I stood up and talked to people and got used to it.  At first I didn’t show emotion.  Found that. it got awfully dusty in here at times.  I found Agape love, friendship and peace with myself.  I plan to go to church regularly now.

I have been on this unit for 4 years.  I did not want to come to Kairos.  I felt the only reason the guys wanted to come was to get something to eat.  I didn't want to go!  I finally put my request in.  I got something I wasn't expecting-the love of God.  I don't know about love without God.  I feel so blessed I can't say it in words.

I heard about Kairos and love.  I already saw it in church.  I came to Kairos to see what it was all about - but mostly for the bananas.  I hadn't had a banana since 1992.  Kairos was different from church and Mike Barber.  This is Agape love.  I got a picture of trees from a little child  Mona Lisa had nothing on this little child.  I take back the child like faith of a little child.

I came to Kairos with the spirit of love in my heart.  I had been trying to get in Kairos for ten years and had never been accepted.  I was mad because it did not look like I would be accepted for this one.  I was complaining to free world brother "Body Builder", and he said relax.  The next day my name was on the list for Kairos!  I will take back love

I came to Kairos with a love of God.  I wanted to show love to give to others.  I received love I didn't expect.  What I am going to take back - I am going to spread the word to others.  I am going to help others.  Agape love was more than I expected. 

I have been incarcerated since I was 16.  I have been denying God.  I have never been shown love in my life.  All of my family is incarcerated.  The step-family I had only taught me how to steal, cheat and do other criminal acts.. I never went to school and when I was incarcerated I could neither read or write. I didn't know  mathematics.  In prison I have learned to read and write and am taking courses in several subjects and am learning a trade.  I tried to hide from God during my incarceration.  I do not know how to express myself.  This week end I have been shown that God is real.  I'm going to start attending church.  God touched me this week end.

I didn't want to participate.  I didn't want cookies or food.  I didn't know the definition of love.  Now I know love. I believe in God and I have a full belly!  I went back to my house after Kairos with a smile.  I almost thought I was on drugs.  I was full of the Holy Spirit.  I will be a role model for the next person.  I an now blessed.

I came to Kairos because I was empty.  I talked to the Deacon and asked for consideration for Kairos and was accepted.  Basically I wanted to eat - I got more than I had bargained for.  God cracked me open and pulled my heart out.  I tried to be a man, at least my concept of a man - not to show emotion.  I received a letter from a little girl.  It broke me up.  This has been the most rewarding week end of my life.

I came to Kairos to find out what it was all about.  I grew up without love.  I knew about God.  I am know working on a hatred I have  A hatred for God.  I felt God had taken something from me.  I found out that if God can forgive me, I can forgive God.  I know feel that I have a family.

Before I came to Kairos I walked around these walls with a solemn face.  When I got a letter from a 7 year old girl, that hurt.  I found out that cowboys do cry.  That’s O.K.  Ifeel that now my Brothers in Christ will help me when I am tired and discouraged.

When we heard the Happy Birthday song sung by the ladies on the outside team I bawled like a baby.

I came planning to slide on thru.  I didn't slide but walked.  When we started singing, I have been singing ever since.

I didn't know if I wanted to come to Kairos.  Got a letter from Jesus about Kairos.  Kairos taught me there is a way back to being a Christian.  The food filled my belly - Kairos filled my heart.

Just go repent and look in the mirror.  I have another family that I know loves me.  I ask that you all continue to pray for me.

Kairos has been a long good experience.  I work in the chapel.  I was asked by othersto go to Kairos.  I prayed over it. I requested to go and was selected.  I couldn’t wait foe the song :Bloom and Grow".  Every time I ate the cookies I felt the prayers that went into them going to my belly.  The love is so strong.

When you think your are at a level where God wants you to be, your not.  God has been taking family members one after another.  Mad at God   Wonder what He is trying to tell me.  Come clean or go away nasty.  My daughter has spinal meningitis.  I asked God to give me my family back.  I came to Kairos.  This has been the best family reunion a person can have.  I thought people only went to eat.  Then I bit into a sweet potato pie.  I thought I had the rapture

I signed up for Kairos on Beto but came to Kairos here at Hughes.  I learned something new each day .  Trigger opened the door and taught me about forgiveness.  Its God's grace that we are here today. 

I came to Kairos not knowing what to expect.   I was told I would be changed   I did change.  I found that there were people who loved me. 

I came to look for love for myself.  I found that God loves me so I can love myself.  I have held it against my mother who turned me out of the house when I was 14.  I just received a letter from my mother saying she was glad I have grown up and she planned to come and visit me.  When she comes to visit she will find how much I have grown up with Kairos.

I have learned to walk tall, speak lightly with a big heart.  I feel blessed with three families.  My mother, the people in my unit and my Kairos Family.  I feel that I have something worthwhile in Kairos.

I came to Kairos in a word hateful.  I felt rejected and hurt.  I was trying to reject Christianity.  I was hating myself.  I tried to get out of Kairos.  However I found Jesus Christ in Kairos.  I found a living doctrine.  I see the glory on the faces of Kairos.  It’s the first time in my life that I touched the Master.  I want to take the glow I see in Kairos.

I am not ashamed to speak the gospel of Christ.  I didn't feel I needed Kairos.  I found I am not ashamed to cry.  In my opinion Kairos is the greatest story ever told.

I have seen what true Christian fellowship is all about.  I wish everyone could have this experience. I had never heard of Kairos before.  I hope that I can continue to share in the fellowship.  Its about the unity of Christ - its not about color, race etc.  I get so tired of seeing hatred.  I want to see unity.

I came to get filled up in my belly and spirit.  I got both.  Now I am going out to share both.

I have had several families.  In my natural family I was abused.  With my military family we had to depend on each other.  I had a family when I got married but then my military family came first.  Now I have found a forth family, one that gives unconditional love.

I was raised out of love.  I don’t know why I got myself in prison.  Now I'm behind bars, and I know how Christ has set me free!