University UMC supports Kairos Prison Ministry

By Willie H. Johnson

On Thursday April 22 through Sunday April 25, Rev. Rosie L. Johnson and I had the privilege of serving on the Kairos Prison Ministry team at the Hughes Maximum Security Unit in Gatesville, Texas. A Kairos is a three-day walk with Christ, very similar to a Walk to Emmaus. On this walk, 75 Kairos team members, lay and clergy, inside the prison and outside the prison, brought God’s love to 40 Hughes “Brothers in White.” While the inside team proclaimed the Gospel of Christ to their brothers, the outside team demonstrated God’s love through active service—preparing all of the meals and holding all the men before God in prayer for the entire weekend.

As always, food plays an important part in the Kairos weekend. This is one of the few programs where special food in allowed to be brought into the prison system. I say it is special food; however, it is food which you and I take for granted. We eat it daily – fresh fruits and vegetables. As I met my special “Brother in White,” the candidate whom I would introduce to the Kairos community, and took him over to the food table, he grabbed 3 bananas with the comment that this is the first banana he had seen in 13 years. Cookies are the glue that holds the weekend together. With 5,000 dozen home baked cookies, we cookied the entire prison, the candidates, the guards, the entire prison population.

Does all this prayer and effort make a difference? I had the opportunity to deliver cookies to “Close Custody,” the section of the prison where the residents are separated from the “general” prison population because of their aggressiveness. The look in their eyes as I walked into their cells, gave them a dozen cookies, told them that God loves them, I love them, that a team of persons on the outside are praying for them, told me that we are making a difference.

The commitment and effort of the men who were the “pilgrims” six months ago indicate that love, prayer and effort make a difference. Most of these men, (we called them steward) were selected to be vital team members to serve the new “pilgrims” this weekend. I have never seen men work harder, with such joy, or display as much evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit.

The words of the pilgrims at the close of the weekend tell us that our efforts and prayers have an impact…that through them we create vital space for the Holy Spirit to work:

“Christ has chased me for 37 years, this weekend I was caught by him.”

“I just wish that my wife, mother, and daughter were here to see me stand and claim Christ. I owe it to my children and to my younger brothers in here to be a better example.” This comment was from a four-time “loser” who said that he had been in prison in each of the last four decades. 

“I did something I don’t do. I opened up, I dropped my shield, because you have to hold onto Jesus with both hands.”

“I tried to do it on my own, but it doesn’t work that way. I’ve got to have help. ...I’ve found my help.”

On Sunday night, 75-80 team members leave the prison with tired bodies, but with faith strengthened and spirits renewed because of the service we have provided in Christ’s name and because we too, have stood in the presence of Christ and have been reclaimed by his awesome love.

Thank you, UUMC. Thank you for your cookies, for your prayers, for your encouragement, and for your financial support. I am grateful that your response to God’s love has been to share with these men.

Your love makes all the difference. Your financial support makes it possible. In the most real of ways you are “visiting Christ in prison.”

This fall, from October 6th through October 11th, I will be leading a Kairos team into the Hughes Unit, where we will again share the love of Christ with our “Brothers in White.”

I would love to have more members from UUMC join the team. If you are interested in this prison ministry, I ask that you prayerfully consider joining the Kairos team by contacting Willie Johnson at (512) 258-9887 for more information prior to July 24th when team formation will begin.