My first encounter within the prison system came from the KAIROS ministry.
The effort put forth from these volunteer folk is to the extreme:
- Some weeks in advance – preparing material to be used; preparing presentations; prayer; learning to function together.
- A four day “weekend” at the selected prison (Thursday through Sunday). These days run from about 07:00 until three or four in the afternoon. They are in constant motion.
I’ll begin with some personal thoughts on the matter of incarceration, and the things I have now witnessed in my year plus with these Brothers in Christ, “Inside.” It occurs to me to use a scene from one of C.S. Lewis’ books… the last book of the “Space Trilogy” I believe. It has to do with a female character, possibly the heroine of the story, most certainly a main character from whose presence the story pivots. The book is, “That Hideous Strength”.
How fitting, this?… when you think about it!
Jane, the female character, looks on the main character of all three books, Ransom is his name, for the first time. Ransom has been in the presence of God in his interstellar travels. In fact, he has been chosen by the heavenly host to represent all that is good, in the face of the emergence of all that is evil, and the plans of that evil force on humanity.
The words, as I recall them, in the scene in question go something like this, “She looked upon him and her world was unmade.”
That’s the thought I’d like to embrace concerning my walking into the confines of the prison, and into the lives of the men within: “My world was unmade.”
Friend, I have never known, nor even thought to know, the daily horrible life the men around me are facing. The Bible says more than once, “God hears the cries of the prisoners…” God doesn’t let us in on why they are there, just that he hears them. The men I have gotten to know cry out to him. I have heard them. I witness their cries, prayers, praise, and pain every single Saturday in a service they call “Prayer And Share.” These men gather around a fellow Brother in Christ, lay hands on him and pray their hearts out, often they cry with him. I have seen this. In fact, I have been on the receiving end of this very intercessory prayer by my dear “Brothers in blue” as they sometimes are referred to. I should add, I have seen God Himself move in my life, by their request. Top that!
The Saturday program is put together by a group called KAIROS. You can look it up, it’s a Greek word, not dissimilar to the word Chronos, which simply means “time.” KAIROS, the word adopted by the prison ministry, is a reference to “God’s special time.”
Truly, it is just that. I have been privileged to observe the planting of seed during the time of the KAIROS ministry (a four day “weekend” in which the Gospel is proclaimed to those prisoners wishing to attend the meetings), and the growth of the seed planted in good soil. It is marvelous.
So, I will attempt, within the articles gathered in the “Life – Inside” topic, to expound on my findings inside the prison perimeter. Because I am under a promise not to divulge anything at all pertaining to this particular prison without the express permission of the authorities within, I shall not mention the name of the facility, nor the full (or last) name of the folks represented.
My name, though, is Nick. Not that that will matter much at all to you, except when I present a conversation with anyone in particular.
So, let’s get started. I may jump around from time to time, date wise, and I may simply give you a conversation or observation not connected to any day or visit at all. I’ll do my best. My “world has been unmade”, after all. I’m not even sure but what this experience hasn’t altered my mindset on everything I knew, or thought I knew.
Hey… “MOOREEFFOC” all over again!
Well now, let’s start with something I beheld this past week. I am involved with the Gavel Clubs on the compound. That’s an application of the Toastmasters Club International. It is designed specifically for prison and the prisoners. And the men take it quite seriously.
I’ve been involved in three Gavel Clubs now, for a year or so. I am watching lives change before me, both in the way of confidence in communication, and, surprisingly, in a very obvious move of the Holy Spirit. These men are getting saved.
I’ll look through my notes on the meetings – the instances of finding Jesus in and through desperation are abundant though.
The clubs are such:
- The Higher Standards Gavel Club
- The Northern Lights Gavel Club
- The Southern Sea Breeze Gavel Club
Each club operates on its own. They have officers, elected annually or bi-annually. They adhere strictly to the requirements presented in Roberts Rules Of Order – the basis for Parliamentary Procedure, Assembly Rules, Business Etiquette, and Conduct.
I am amazed, constantly. The fluid nature of their speeches; the divulging of the most heart wrenching circumstances – sometimes with tears; and the most sincere grasping of a way out of the circumstances in which they have found themselves.
These are men, far above myself. They have nothing. They have daily to face others who are not of this kindred nature. It is most difficult. I have not this, myself. I am there to lend a hand where I may.
