Doing Music with
Kairos Prison Ministry
I have been serving with the Kairos Prison Ministry since 2016. Music is a very important part of the program as we go on “the inside” of the women’s prison in Goochland, Virginia. The songs we sing are old hymns, contemporary Christian, and older Christian songs, as well as children’s songs, and songs with motions. We have a ton of fun and lead the inside ladies into the fun, letting them know it’s okay to have some fun during our retreat. During our four-day weekend, the music starts out fun and light and by the end of the weekend it is much more serious and reflective. Music is important. Cookies are important, too. We take many dozens of homemade cookies into the prison with us for the Kairos weekend.
We have two four-day retreat weekends each year, along with several one- and two-day retreats. One of the most important features of the Kairos program is that it encourages a community of sharing and support on the inside, which is tough in a prison environment. We go back into the prison two Sunday evenings each month to support them even further for prayer & share and reunion. During the reunion evenings, the inside ladies lead the program and chose the songs. We encourage women who are musicians and singers to get even more involved in the Kairos music.
Prison is a spiritually dark place. Through Kairos we watch as the inside women (Kairos graduates) find a brighter and better way to do life, even in that place. Below I have shared a few short videos that will give you a better idea of what this ministry is about. The first shows Kairos in a women’s prison; and the second is a video a group of men in Marion Correctional Institution. The third video is simply about the impact of Kairos cookies and how “cookies save lives”. Enjoy.
https://youtu.be/zJP9r7agcPc?si=3Uj8Te1o3AMwlp3R
https://youtu.be/MOziDdpHHmg?si=Aigw_NoqL7wFxyps
https://youtu.be/NXV_lgVWwA4?si=EPGbCqqYX4Jb3PpN
More links for Kairos Prison Ministry
