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?"

HUGHES KAIROS #9

CLOSING



St Mathew

Our family came to Kairos spiritually lost, dumb and blind. We had no love for nobody -- not even ourselves. All of us have big egos --nobody can tell us nothing. We didn’t know what to expect. The first day a guy walked up and said he loved me. Whoa. We found unconditional love. This was expressed in the song :"They will know we are Christians by our love". We found peace within ourselves, love for our fellow brothers. We are taking away a new attitude -- a spiritual outlook.

St Luke

Our family came to Kairos with the spiritual condition of being lost. We have learned to believe in God and His son Jesus Christ. We found something we never dreamed we had -- joy, peace, and serenity. We are taking Jesus away from this program.

St James

Although our family came to Kairos believing in God, we now see the enormity of God. We found so much love it is pitiful We are taking away love and the ability to share it with others.

St. Paul

We came to Kairos with the attitude the only difference between those in the grave and us is that those in the grave have dirt over them..

St. Mark

Our family came to Kairos unsure, uncertain what it was all about. Just looking across this audience all we see is love. We didn't deserve this. The condition we were in: confused, uncertain, having a desire for the Holy Spirit. We found unconditional love, praise, happiness and joy. We are taking away Jesus Christ. What we see is only a small example of God',s love.

St John

Our condition when we came --confused, lost, always searching. We were confused, backsliders, lost spirits. We didn't know Christ. Some of us came because were invited to come. We found agape love, found we were not alone. We learned that people in the world loved us even when they didn't know us. The outside team was angels of love. We found new brothers and sisters, even Brothers in Christ supported us. Never experienced this much love in my life. We saw the type of love they must have in the promised land. We will take away love away with us, take the sponsors suggestion to love love. We will take the Kairos cross and agape love with us.





St. Peter

The St Peter family is founded on rock. Boys who thought they were men arrived 2 dimensional. We found family, peace, unconditional love, 5 letters JESUS. If you believe you will receive. Found Agape peace that passeth understanding, We came as individuals, became a family with the love of Jesus Christ..

Closing Personal Responses

I came weary and sad. Found in Jesus a resting place, an abundance of love. What the world needs now is love. Will take with me agape love and a bellyache--as well as kindness, peace letters, joy, tears. Thank God for you (Kairos Team)

I came down in spirit. I was lost--Had hatred in my heart. You could see it on my face. He told me "you have to let go". I faked love but had hatred in my heart. Now I found how to accept others. Brothers here who love me so much--family's. If you truly love God, you love others--agape love. Cookies were wonderful. I began to accept love. Will take away a family that will carry me.

Thought I had the spirit in me. Found a lot of love --a new family.

Give God the glory--clap for God. I was lonely for the love of God--I received love, family, prayer chain. Taking away Jesus. You shared your love--if you don't share how does anybody know?

Been lied to--a lot of evil in the penitentiary. Found out I don't have to listen to those lies any more.

Came to Kairos lukewarm. Thru the grace of God my life is now 10 by 10. I found a father who will accept me with all my faults. I'm taking a covenant made with Abraham.

Came empty, found love, peace , joy. Taking away love , peace, joy.

I arrived with enmity but found a whole lot of love. I'm taking with me The Prayer To Christ, The Prisoner (found in the Freedom Guide and read to the audience). That’s real.