Kairos Prison Ministry International is a Christian faith-based ministry that addresses the spiritual needs of incarcerated men, women, youth, their families and those who work with them. By sharing the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, Kairos hopes to change hearts, transform lives and impact the world.

HISTORY

Kairos Prison Ministry International, Inc. sprang from the Cursillo Movement. Although a separate ministry, Kairos has received the blessing and encouragement of 4th day movements such as Cursillo, National Episcopal Cursillo, Presbyterian Cursillo, Lutheran Via De Cristo, The Upper Room's Walk To Emmaus and independently Ecumenical Tres-Dias.

The first three day "short course in Christianity" was hosted in 1976 in Union Correctional Institute in Florida and began as Cursillo in Prison. Over the next three years the program was adapted to align more closely with the needs of the incarcerated and is now called Kairos Inside.

In 1989 a chaplain at the San Quentin State Correctional Facility in California asked Kairos to create a program that would minister to the female family members of the incarcerated and so in 1990 Kairos Outside was born.

In 1997 Kairos Torch was developed uniquely to address young people (25 and under) experiencing incarceration through one-to-one volunteer mentoring.

Today more than 30,000 volunteers participate in these three programs in 37 states and 9 countries.

KAIROS IN CONNECTICUT

Kairos of Connecticut has been operating successfully in the state since 1996. Weekend programs have been hosted in York CI, Osborn CI, Manson YI, Garner CI, MacDougall CI, Corrigan-Radgowski CC and Danbury FCI.

Since its introduction in Connecticut, nearly 2,000 Connecticut incarcerated men, women and youth have heard the good news of Jesus Christ through Kairos Inside and Kairos Torch progams. In addition, countless women with an incarcerated spouse, child, relative, or friend have found support and encouragement by attending a Kairos Outside Weekend.