Tag: The Tug

“I was in prison and you came to me.” ~ Matthew 25:36 ESV

“An inner tug,” is the best way I could describe my inclination toward the incarcerated. By worldly standards, I was always a “stay out of trouble” kind of guy, and my friends were of similar ilk. Still, there was this ongoing tug toward those behind bars—the marginalized, scorned, or forgotten—a call I resisted until one day in 2009 a friend invited me to serve on a Kairos Prison Ministry weekend. I said “yes” then and have been saying “yes” ever since. Over the years, I’ve heard many Kairos volunteers describe their calling the exact same way, an inner tug. Maybe you’ve felt it, too, but like me, been reluctant to heed the call. So, today let’s look beyond the tug toward the imprisoned and glimpse the other side of “yes.”

Kairos is a sacrificial ministry. For a Weekend, each volunteer is responsible for: 1) raising financial contributions; 2) securing 100+ dozen home baked cookies for prisoners and staff; 3) writing a letter to each of the 42 Weekend prisoner participants; 4) preparing for the Weekend through 30+ hours of formation meetings; and 5) gathering for a 3½ day Weekend inside the prison. It’s a lot. Yet the volunteers keep coming back, reupping for another Kairos Weekend. What could possibly be worth such effort?

The answer: forgiveness of sins, birth of hope, eternal life in Christ, inner freedom, restored relationships, and pure joy. Don’t take my word for it; listen to these inmates from a recent Kairos Weekend.

“For twelve years I didn’t speak to my son. I wouldn’t allow him on my property. When I came to prison, he was texting me from day one but I wouldn’t call him back. Last night, I called my son and asked him to forgive me, and now we’re talking.”

“A father is supposed to teach his child. I had to come to prison to ‘get’ this, but my life is no longer just me—it’s my kids, my family and others. I now have peace and peace of mind and I can give peace to them.”

“I have been angry all my life. I was bullied throughout school and tried to kill myself multiple times. I don’t like people, but I learned this weekend it is possible to have a family and trust other people.”

“It was tough growing up. My dad made me feel I didn’t have any value. . . I grew up not trusting anyone. But the [Kairos team] saturated us in love—like you saturate chicken in spices. They made us feel good. Now I want to saturate others. It makes you want to make others feel that love.”

If you have felt the Spirit’s tug toward prison ministry, but not known how to pursue it, please visit Kairos Prison Ministries International at: https://kairosprisonministry.org/volunteer-opportunities/

“Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them . . .” ~ Hebrews: 13:3 ESV

Father, please grace me to hear your call and obey your tug to wherever and however you would have me serve you and others in your name today. In Christ I pray. Amen.