Kairos History

The first three day “short course in Christianity” inside a prison was held at Union Correctional Institution at Raiford, Florida in the fall of 1976. It was called Cursillo in Prison. By 1978, six states were presenting a Cursillo short course in prisons. The national Cursillo office determined these Cursillo in Prison ministries should be supervised by a central authority and that their format be modified to more closely align with inmate needs. Cursillo asked the Florida group to design such a program. Nine volunteers, today affectionately referred to as the “nine old men,” redesigned the program and renamed it “Kairos,” which is Greek for Godʼs Special Time. The first” Kairos” weekend was presented in 1979. Following that first weekend, the Cursillo office directed other areas doing Cursillo in Prison to stop using the Cursillo name and join Kairos.

This Program is Now Called Kairos Inside.

K e n

I would undoubtedly still be locked up in prison today except for Kairos. I would still be serving out my 99-year sentence. I owe my freedom to Kairos and it is an understatement to say, “I love Kairos.” (During) my weekend (God) gave me hope and began a process that would eventually set me free inside the fences. And I believe I hit the streets sooner because of my Kairos Weekend and the Christian lifestyle it started. I recently visited two inmates who agreed with me. They were also serving lifetime sentences. They told me through tear-filled eyes that their Kairos weekend was the most important weekend of their lives—it started a process, a change and a faith that ultimately set them free from prison.

God used Kairos to transform the lives of Ken and his two friends

and give them hope for a future.

(The national Cursillo office determined these Cursillo in Prison ministries should be supervised by a central authority and that their format be modified to more closely align with inmate needs.)

K a t e

I recall not knowing what to expect that first night as a “guest” of a Kairos weekend. My initial reaction was to wonder what “those people” wanted from me, for surely I couldnʼt give it to them. I also figured they would judge me. I was hopeless, I was lost, and I was a sinner. Society had judged me so severely – why shouldnʼt the Kairos volunteers do likewise? I expected them to turn away from me in disgust. Instead, to my amazement, I was shown unconditional love. I was told God just wanted to be my friend and I wanted so very much to have a friend. I clung to that simple concept like a drowning woman. This was the beginning of the journey to where I am at today.

When Kate experienced unconditional love, her heart was changed.

(The national Cursillo office determined these Cursillo in Prison ministries should be supervised by a central authority and that their format be modified to more closely align with inmate needs.)