Christ the Savior ~ Holy Spirit Orthodox Church; V. Rev. Steven Kostoff, Rector

Orthodox Church in America

| Midwest Diocese

Kairos Prison Ministry:

Kairos Archive

Kairos #8 Weekend at Warren CI, Nov 3-6, 2011

Christ in Prison
Christ in Prison

Updated September 19, 2011

Dear CTS Family,

Our next prison ministry weekend – Kairos #8 – is getting near. Training for the inside team began on Friday, September 16, and the weekend inside Warren Correctional Institution will take place November 3-6. So far there are 3 men from our church who plan to serve inside, and one more maybe. Others plan to help on the outside team preparing meals. And many more will be praying and baking cookies.

First, if you are interested is serving on the inside team, contact Terry Morgan. He will answer any questions and can get you the registration form.

Second, if you might be interested in serving on the outside (kitchen) team for a few hours or longer, (up to a full weekend), e-mail Terry so you can be put into the e-mail chain to get full information.

Third, we will have a prayer vigil sign-up chart in the church hall later this month. Pick the day and time you will commit to pray for the team and the 30 prisoners God is bringing together.

As always, we will need home baked cookies – lots of them. The weekend uses about 5,000 dozen cookies. The cookies are needed by Sunday, October 30. Full details about cookies will come out by the end of this month.

Thanks to each of you for all the service you have given in the past. It makes a real difference in the lives of the prisoners. “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners.” Heb. 13:3

In His Service,
Terry Morgan
agapeterry@gmail.com
><((((((°>

About the 'Christ in Prison' icon: It came to pass because some of us who were going to the prison each week commented that it was true that we meet Christ when we visit His brethren. I had been talking to Fr. Ted in Dayton about his prison ministry, and he told me that one of his guys wrote icons. I got in contact with the inmate, and he did this icon for us. It is a very traditional image, except that Christ is wearing an Ohio prison uniform. The icon was a blessing to several of us at the OCPM gathering in Denver, and the original went home with a man whose son is in prison.

August 2, 2010

Brothers and Sisters,

The 30 men whom God brought to the recent Kairos #6 and #7 at Warren Correctional Institute want to thank all those who prayed, baked, cooked, and served during that weekend. They put their thanks on the attached greeting. The art work was done by the men, themselves. Just click on the photo for the full-size version.

Terry Morgan
><((((((°>

Updated May 23, 2009

From Fr. Steven:

Last Sunday evening, Presvytera Deborah and I were invited to the Warren Correctional Institute by Terry Morgan and Dan Georgescu, to attend a graduation ceremony for the Kairos Weekend Program, also known as a short course in "Practical Christian Living." This was an intense course that lasted from Thursday - Sunday on the grounds of the WCI. Many prisoners may know of Christian teaching, but this program is meant to assist them in taking a much deeper look at the Gospel, to embrace Christ and to seek the forgiveness and grace of God. We heard from some of those who did so at the graduation ceremony on Sunday evening. Articulate or inarticulate, their personal witnesses were all moving. We also heard a good solid talk by the prison warden, Wanda Jackson. While there, we noticed at least one of our posters prepared by our Church School students. This one had recognizable Orthodox crosses and the Jesus Prayer written on it.

Terry's role through the weekend was that of "table clergy," and Dan was a "table servant." Nicholas Georgescu volunteered to be a cook and his contribution was greatly appreciated. Also with us were Bernice Morgan and Cristiana Georgescu. Just this briefest of encounters with the atmosphere of the WCI impressed upon us the great challenges and difficulties of a prison ministry.

We deeply appreciate the efforts of both Terry and Dan in taking on this most difficult of ministries as they represent authentic Orthodox Christianity and our parish at the WCI. May God continue to bless their ongoing work. Let us all keep them in our prayers. Coincidentally, if you go to www.scoba.us you will find an encyclical statement from the Standing Conference of Orthodox Bishops in America (SCOBA) on Prison Ministry Awareness Sunday, designated for this coming Sunday, May 24.

These developing, expanding and essential ministries to prisoners (MATT. 25:31-46) and to "abandoned, abused and orphaned children" [via our mission efforts for the Hogar Rafael Ayau orphanage] (DEUT. 24:17, 21; JM. 1:27) are a deeply encouraging sign of spiritual maturity within the parish. It is the application of Gospel principles to real-life situations and needs. I hope our parish circle of participants will continue to grow. And may the Lord continue to bless and strengthen our endeavors.

~ Fr. Steven

For more info, go to the Kairos of Ohio website.