Kairos - I can't explain it.

I haven't written since returning from Kairos because, well, it's just hard to summarize an experience that changes your life.

In the picture above, Rick and I are outside one of the Kairos trailers. It reads "God's Special Time." Don't you love our huge name tags?

Rick and I have both spent the last week synthesizing what we learned, saw, felt and experienced. We have talked non-stop about the 42 men in white, our team, and the miracle of what happened within the walls of a maximum security prison - Beto Unit.

It is simply impossible to summarize it for you, so you'll just have to trust me when I say that God was there. He was already there when we arrived, and he was there when we left. Some of the hardest of the hard, the big bad guys, let their guard down long enough to realize that they are not un-redeemable. They are precious children of God. They are not alone.

You may not agree with me. Perhaps your life has been altered because of a crime, or you have lost someone dear because of a senseless act of violence. I have not been in your shoes, so I don't know how I would feel. I can only imagine the anger and hurt.  

So I can only speak for myself. For me, I was humbled. Serving someone else did that to me. When I was able to leave behind the questions of "if they deserve it" or "I wonder what they did?" the serving became true and pure. That's what it was about for me.

I want to thank each of you that prayed for us, baked cookies, gave money, or attended the Closing Service. Your participation made this weekend what it was. Honestly, it would not have happened without everyone's participation.

If you are interested, even in the slightest, about Kairos, PLEASE consider attending the next Closing Service in November. Rick and I are going to serve again, and for those of you that know my mother, she will be joining us this time as well!

** For FUMC Newsletter Readers **

**For FUMC Newsletter Readers**
As you may know, Rick and I are part of a larger team serving 42 inmates at Beto Unit next weekend. 

Last week, I printed out some copies of my previous blog posting to mail to our out-of-town friends and to hand to some friends at church.

The piece I printed inadvertently ended up being included in our church newsletter (hence, you found your way to this blog.) And while the facts included in the article are accurate, it was not written with the intent of the newsletter publication.

I wrote it from my personal perspective, about Rick and me participating in Kairos, and it was "exclusive" to the Browns.

The piece that WAS intended for the newsletter would have listed all of the team-members, and was much more "inclusive" of the entire team experience and our church support of this ministry.

The other team members from FUMC Mabank are:
Sharon & Kenny Underriner, Sherry Nash, Debbie Wrinkle, Tyson Johnson, and Bonnie Turner. 

Kenny and Sharon have been the heartbeat of Kairos at FUMC. They have poured their time, resources, and leadership into this particular ministry because they feel called to serve in this way.

Sherry, Debbie, Tyson and Bonnie are also integral to the team, and each of them are so very important to me!  They each feel passionately about sharing God's love with these men and I am honored to serve with them.

I have shed tears over this. I did not intend for it to happen....and I sincerely hope that my fellow team-mates do not feel slighted in any way. I will speak with them in private, but wanted my church family to know my heart in this matter. 

Thank you for understanding,
Kristen

Kairos - coming up!

Kairos (καιρός) is an ancient Greek word meaning the right or opportune moment (the supreme moment). It's also been referred to as "God's time."

On May 13 - 16, Rick and I will be experiencing Kairos #42 at Beto Unit, Tennessee Colony. This is a maximum security prison outside of Palestine Texas.

Our team (pictured below) has been preparing for weeks to take God's unconditional love and & acceptance into Beto Unit. We are very excited, and want you to participate with us, if you wish.

But first, what is Kairos? It's an intense weekend designed for 42 inmates, who each apply to participate. Some want to participate because they have heard that Kairos weekends involve homemade food...quite the change from their normal fare. Others will apply to participate because they want to get out of their normal job/routines. And maybe, a few will apply because they have an interest in spiritual matters. Whatever the reason, they are welcomed as they are, and accepted as they are. The inside team, which Rick will be part of, will spend all day with them in sessions learning the basics of God's love and grace. They will have activities, singing, and eating. Walls will come down between the hardest of hard - it's seen every time. Barriers will be broken and grown men who have been locked away and forgotten -  gang leaders, drug dealers and worse - will experience a miracle on this weekend.  They will realize that they are NOT forgotten, that they ARE accepted, and that they CAN know God's love. It is witnessed at every Kairos event, bar none.

This is where you come in. Our team needs prayer support. AND, the 42 inmates need prayer support. That's the most important thing you can do for us! If you are willing to participate in this way, please email me at kbrown@cornerstonebiz.net. We are filling in time slots so that we have 24/7 prayer coverage during the weekend. You can pick your time and know that your participation is a crucial component to this weekend.

Another way you can help is by donating to sponsor a participant ($160). This helps underwrite the cost of the weekend for us. It costs over $9000 for us to have this weekend. And, obviously, the participants do not pay to attend. So it's up to us.

You can also donate money for the food that we will be cooking all weekend. Just think, you could buy a home-grilled cheeseburger with all the trimmings for one of our participants for $5.00! Think of it as sponsoring a cheeseburger!

Do you like to bake? Then consider baking cookies for the weekend. On a typical 3 day Kairos weekend, we go through 1500 dozen (yes, I said 1500 dozen) cookies. Obviously, we need help baking cookies!  If you would like to help in that way, there are some guidelines to follow. I can email you the details if you are interested. They can be baked now and frozen, so you don't have to wait to the last minute.

And if you are local, I invite you to attend the closing service on Sunday afternoon (5/16) at the unit. You'll enter the gates of the prison and be invited into the chapel. You will hear first hand from the participants what this weekend has meant to them. It is an incredible moment to see the men up close and hear them as they attempt to put into words what has transpired over the last few days. I promise, if you attend Closing, you will not regret it. But you have to be screened to attend, so let me know asap so I can get you on the list.

Rick and I are excited about this weekend, and are hoping that you will want to be involved in some way. Please consider it, and get back with me!