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Amazon ends support for Kairos!

Amazon.com announced that the AmazonSmile charitable donation program ends in February of this year. Thanks for your support! To learn more about this decision see the article at the bottom of this page.

“God is NOT done with this ministry!

“God is NOT done with this ministry!” So said Evelyn Lemly, CEO of Kairos Prison Ministry, at a recent (May 29, 2022) Kairos gathering at the Wesley Center in Woodworth, La. While in Louisiana to attend a New Orleans conference of the Correctional Ministries and Chaplain Association, Lemly arranged to meet with the wardens at Angola and Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women (LCIW). She carved time out of her schedule to meet with West Louisiana Kairos and Kairos Outside volunteers on Memorial Day Sunday afternoon to discuss the question of the day: Where are we with Kairos?

Citing both international and national statistics, Lemly remarked that we currently do not have access in Canada or the United Kingdom, but are in various stages of startup in the other seven foreign countries where Kairos has a presence. In the U. S., Florida is the most open state, with some institutions implementing their third weekend since the post-COVID return. In some states, however, there is absolutely no movement.

Kairos in Louisiana is getting started!

Evelyn Lemly, Kairos CEO

“Louisiana is getting started,” she added. “Angola will schedule a Death Row Weekend as soon as a team can be pulled together. LCIW has a September retreat scheduled. KO there is planning weekends and has some fundraising events scheduled. In the West, KO has plans in the works for a spring 2023 weekend. Conversations with Wade are under way, so we’ll keep them in our prayers also.” [Ed. note: As of January 2023 there seems to be no movement for Kairos at David Wade Correctional Center. Conversations with the chaplain have yielded nothing thus far.]

Lemly invited everyone to attend this year’s annual conference, scheduled for July 26-31 in Dallas. She also encouraged everyone to check out a series of short videos, “Until We Come Back,” available on the Kairos website. These can be downloaded and shared with anyone.

The complete interview (about 35 minutes) is available, as is the introductory episode of “Until We Come Back.” For the full list of “When We Come Back” topics, please visit Mykairos.org.

Light at the End of the Tunnel…perhaps, but

DWCC Kairos #45 Still on Hold

Kairos #45 at David Wade Correctional Center, first scheduled for March of 2020, is still on hold. The La. Department of corrections (DOC) is in discussion with various councils about a timeline for resuming weekend support activites such as monthly reunions. The final decision on when we in Louisiana can return will be determined by the Department of Corrections and the individual institutions. Kairos Prison Ministry International is working with all Kairos state committees on a number of scenarios to return to ministry, each dependent on where a particular council was in their weekend preparation.

News will be shared here as it becomes available. Thanks for your continuing prayers.
(Updated January 2023)

DWCC Kairos #44 – Another Success Story!

Thirty-six residents of David Wade Correctional Center completed Kairos #44, the largest group in several years. Their adventure began on Thursday, March 14, 2019, and concluded with the closing service on Sunday afternoon, March 17. Participants and outside team met again on Saturday, March 23 for a followup workshop that helped the participants prepare for their new lifestyle within the walls of DWCC.

The Wade Kairos #44 team

AmazonSmile ends in February 2023

This is the notice sent in January to all beneficiaries of the Smile.Amazon charity support program:
“In 2013, we launched AmazonSmile to make it easier for customers to support their favorite charities. However, after almost a decade, the program has not grown to create the impact that we had originally hoped. With so many eligible organizations—more than 1 million globally—our ability to have an impact was often spread too thin. We are writing to let you know that we plan to wind down AmazonSmile by February 20, 2023”.
Here’s a related article on CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/18/amazon-discontinues-amazonsmile-charity-donation-program-amid-cost-cuts.html
Thanks to the many who have supported Kairos Prison Ministry through Smile.Amazon.com. You HAVE made a difference!

Website Updates make financial support even easier

Kairos Prison Ministry is a recognized 501(c)(3) by the IRS. Documentation of our status is now available on the “Support Kairos Financially” page along with the details of how you can be a vital part of Kairos even if you can’t go into the prison.

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