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Instructional Day

A Pillar of Kairos Continuing Ministry

The Kairos Prison Ministry International, Inc. weekend experience is often described as a life-changing event for those incarcerated ("participants") and the volunteers ("Team") who serve. However, the true efficacy and lasting impact of Kairos at Polunsky rely heavily on the structured and sustained efforts of the Continuing Ministry. Following the initial four-day weekend, the continuing ministry of Kairos ensures the lessons of Christ's unconditional love and the framework for a new, supportive community—the "Agape community"—are reinforced and lived out daily.

A critical component of this Continuing Ministry is the Instructional Day, a required, structured, gathering for Kairos community members held the weekend after the four-day experience.   
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The Purpose of the Instructional Day

The Instructional Day serves multiple essential functions, all aimed at deepening the spiritual growth and commitment of the participants:

  1. Reinforcement of Kairos Principles: It provides a necessary forum to revisit and internalize the core talks, concepts, and scripture of the initial weekend. This prevents the "high" of the weekend from fading and ensures the foundational spiritual truths remain relevant in the daily reality of prison life.
  2. Skill Building for Christian Living: It moves beyond theoretical concepts to offer practical, instructional tools for living out a Christian life in a challenging environment. This includes conflict resolution, forgiveness, repentance, and responsible communication.
  3. Community Accountability and Support: The Continuing Ministry of the Instructional Day provides a vital structure for participants to hold each other accountable to their commitments (Pillars of the Agape Community) and to offer mutual support, prayer, and encouragement.
  4. Volunteer Engagement and Connection: It is the primary means for the Kairos volunteers ("Team") to re-enter the facility monthly, maintain the relationship of agape love, and demonstrate ongoing commitment to the men in white participants.

Structure and Content

The Instructional Day is a highly structured event, typically lasting 6 hours hours, and is led by the Continuing Ministry Coordinator and a rotating team of team volunteers. The content is prescribed by Kairos Prison Ministry International guidelines to maintain consistency across all environments.

I. Opening and Review

Welcome and Prayer: The session begins with a formal welcome, an opening prayer, and, often, a short period of praise and worship, setting a focused and reverent tone.

Agape Community Check-in: A crucial element where participants review the Pillars of the Agape Community they committed to:

  • Daily prayer.
  • Reading the Bible.
  • Fellowship.
  • Sharing Christ with others.
  • Service to others.
  • Following the rules of the institution.
  • Attending CM sessions.

Discussion: Participants are encouraged to briefly share successes or struggles they have had in living out these pillars over the past month.

II. The Instructional Component

The core of the day is the instruction itself, which cycles through material designed to build upon the Kairos weekend talks.

Core Topic Category | Example Instructional Themes | PurposePillar Deep Dive | "The Power of Daily Prayer," "What is True Forgiveness?" | To provide concrete methods and deeper theological understanding of the foundational Kairos commitments.
The Talks | "Repentance and Confession," "The Fullness of Life," "Obstacles to Forgiveness." | To re-read and dissect the original weekend talks, often using the participant's original materials.
Scripture Study | Book Studies (e.g., James, Romans), Parables of Jesus | To deepen biblical literacy and relate scripture directly to their current circumstances.
Practical Application | "How to Share Your Testimony," "Handling Conflict Biblically," "Positive Communication." | To equip them with practical social and spiritual skills necessary for successful re-entry or improved prison life.

III. Small Group/Table Discussion

Following the main instruction, participants break into small groups, often with 1-2 team volunteers, for more intimate discussion. This time is vital for:

  • Personalization: Applying the instructional content directly to individual experiences and struggles.
  • Mutual Encouragement: Building trust and vulnerability within the peer group.
  • Confidential Sharing: Offering a safe space for men/women to share prayer requests and burdens.

IV. Closing and Commitment

The session concludes with a renewed commitment (a "promise") by the community members to practice what was taught over the next month, closing prayers, and a final benediction by the volunteers.  This establishes a foundation for the weekly prayer and share and future monthly reunions.

The Significance of Consistency

The Instructional Day’s success hinges on its consistency and intentionality. In an environment often defined by instability and arbitrary rules, the unwavering monthly presence of the Volunteer Team and the predictable, loving structure of the Instructional Day communicate a powerful message:

"Christ's love is constant, and your community is faithful."

This constancy is a testament to agape—unconditional, self-sacrificing love—that is offered without expectation of return. It helps the Guests practice discipline and commitment, reinforcing the idea that change is a process, not a one-time event. The Instructional Day acts as a spiritual and social check-up, preventing isolation and backsliding, and continually drawing participants back to the core commitment they made on the Kairos weekend.

In conclusion, the Instructional Day is not merely a meeting; it is the lifeline of the Continuing Ministry. It transforms the inspiration of the initial weekend into sustained transformation, giving participants the essential instruction and relational support needed to build an enduring relationship with Christ and a life-changing community amidst adversity.
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Providing spiritual support and guidance, Kairos Polunsky offers hope and transformation to inmates in the Polunsky Unit in Livingston, Texas.

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4321 Kingwood Dr, PO Box 111
Kingwood TX 77339

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Statement of Faith

The people of Kairos are called by God to share the love of Christ with those impacted by incarceration. Kairos encourages believers from a variety of Christian traditions to be volunteers in this Christ-filled ministry.

Kairos programs offer to prison residents, their families, and those who work with them the opportunity to receive God’s forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ, and to grow in their faith and servant hood in Christian community. We stand on the common ground of the following elements of faith:

We in Kairos believe:

  •  The Bible is God’s authoritative and inspired word for our faith and our lives.
  •  In the Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
  •  In the deity, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
  •  Friendship with God is a free gift, for God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
  •  The love of Jesus Christ motivates His followers to provide food for the hungry, drink to the thirsty, welcome to the stranger, clothes for the naked and visits to the sick and those in prison.
  •  In sharing the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ with all incarcerated individuals, their families and to those who work with them inside and outside the correctional institution.

Agreement

By my signature, as a faithful member on a Kairos Inside team:

  1. I will obtain a current Kairos Inside manual. I will read the manual and I will follow the program as it is presented in the Kairos Inside manual with no unauthorized additions or deletions.
  2. I will make every effort to attend ALL team meetings. I understand that if I miss these team meetings, I could be dismissed from the team.
  3. After becoming familiar with the program, as a Christian I agree to support, in good faith, the Weekend activities, as well as the theological and scriptural content of the Talks/Meditations outlined in the Kairos Inside manual.
  4. I am a Christian and I have read and agree with the Mission Statement, the Vision Statement, the CORE Values, and the Statement of Faith of Kairos Prison Ministry International, Inc.