KAIROS Day #3 (Wrapping The Weekend Up and The Closing Ceremony)

After such a stirring day on Saturday, we came back for Sunday and the candidates were noticiably more talkative, friendly, intiating the hugs rather than just a handshake. I could tell the Holy Spirit was at work in that gymnasium. The first talk was a powerful one called "Footprints In The Sand". The speaker gave a wonderful testimony of how God had carried him through the rough times in his life. He walked around the room showing the candidates all the physical scars he had acquired over his rough lifetime and I believe it made an impact.

The highlight of Sunday is the closing ceremony. The inmates are told that previous KAIROS graduates would be there to share in the closing ceremony with them. What they are not told, is that approximately 50 visitors from the outside (primarily church members of the people on the team) came down to witness the closing ceremony also. The candidates are led from the gymnasium, down the hallway towards the visiting room where the closing takes place. I had the honor of leading them down the hallway this weekend as the Observing Leader. Before we reached the door to go in, we were serenaded with repeated choruses of "When The Saints Go Marching In" by a line of visitors, former KAIROS graduates and team members. They form 2 lines and the candidates (and this time myself) got to walk between them into the visiting room. I imagine it must have felt like a football player would feel walking down the tunnel preparing to enter the stadium. It was truly a great experience for them. The looks on many of their faces was priceless.

At the closing ceremony, the candidates are given a chance to speak to those gathered there about what the weekend meant to them and to give a recap of their total experience. They were given 3 questions that they were to answer as a guideline.

1) In what spiritual condition did you arrive at KAIROS?
2) What did you find here?
3) What are you taking with you?

To the first question, many answered they came uncertain, curious, confused, angry, lonely, and some said they came for the cookies.

To the 2nd question, the common response was they found unity, love, acceptance, and a sense of belonging.

To the final question, the common response was they were leaving feeling refreshed, regenerated in their spirit, hungry for more of God, and lasting friendships.

After they speak, a former KAIROS graduate gives the 4th Day Speaker talk. He challenged the new graduates to examine their choices and to stay plugged in with their fellow KAIROS brothers that live with them in their pods and those they see at meals and out in the yard. He gave a great testimony of the choices he made that placed him into prison and told the candidates to look within for the reason they are where they are and not to look to blame someone else.

When the ceremony finished up, we said our goodbyes and told them we would see them in a few weeks. We have a 1 day follow up on November 14th. The purpose is to keep that spiritual fire going and it is also where we teach them in more detail how to get plugged into prayer and share groups and the kinds of things they need to hold each other accountable for.

I learned a lot as the Observing Leader from the weekend Leader, Bernie. I am blessed to be the Leader for KAIROS #23 in April. Each KAIROS weekend I have been on has been better than the last but it almost seems impossible to top the weekend we just had, but I know it will be better, it always is. We had 7 new volunteers on KAIROS #20 which was awesome. I would love to have at least that many new volunteers in April. I remember my first KAIROS, it is quite an experience and confirmed to me what my calling was. With a few rare exceptions, everyone who teams on one KAIROS continues to team on future KAIROS weekends. We are there hoping to bless the candidates but it always seems we come away with as much, if not more, of a blessing ourselves.

It is interesting that a few years ago, I used to take vacation days to go to baseball games. Now, I take vacation to go to prison and I would not want it any other way. I have the time of my life for those 4 days that I would not trade for a trip to the World Series.