We stand on the common ground of the following elements of faith.  We believe: 

• The Bible is God’s authoritative and inspired word for our faith and our lives.

• In the Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

• In the deity, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

• Friendship with God is a free gift, for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

• The love of Jesus Christ motivates His followers to provide food for the hungry, drink to the thirsty, welcome to the stranger, clothes for the naked, and visits to the sick and those in prison (Matt 25:36).

• In sharing the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ with all incarcerated individuals, their families and to those who work with them inside and outside the correctional institution.

Statistics show that one out of every 147 Americans is in prison (Department of Justice Statistics, April 2000).  The United States provides 5% of the world's population, while having 25% of the world's incarcerated population.  The United States currently has more than two million incarcerated or under correctional supervision.  Incarceration has become a $60 billion dollar a year industry.  Studies have shown by attending and participating in faith-based activities, such as Kairos, the recidivism (inmates that return to prison after getting out) rate can be decreased from 66-88% to 14-20%.  The prison administration supports Kairos since it is one of the most effective programs for inmates and does not cost the prison any money.

Kairos of San Diego thrives at Richard J Donovan Correctional Facility (RJDCF) with the spiritual and financial support of the local Christian community, a dedicated council of  lay-ministers and leaders, and the Warden and staff of the prison, assisted by the greater state and national Kairos organizations.  For more history of Kairos of San Diego which includes Kairos Inside and Kairos Outside of San Diego, click here.

Want to read some testimonies from recent Kairos Inside graduates?  Click here.

What exactly does the Kairos of San Diego do?
A Kairos Inside weekend is an introductory 3-day weekend, described as a short course in Christianity.  This weekend program is modeled after the Cursillo method and is based on a series of talks by laymen and clergy.  Interspersed throughout the weekend is music, prayer, activities, a chance to form relationships and demonstrate Christ’s love.  Kairos of San Diego currently supports programs in two yards:  Yard A (level 3) and Yard C (level 4).  All attendees for the Kairos Inside weekends are nominated by previous graduates of the Kairos Program.  Normally there are over 100 nominations for the 36 available open spots for the weekend in each Yard.  The Kairos Inside Leadership team, with input from the Yard Pastor, will decide which 36 inmates plus several alternates will be chosen to attend.   Because of the success of the Kairos Inside program, there is never a shortage of people that desire to attend. 

Kairos of San Diego organizes and oversees the following events at RJDCF:

• Conducts two Kairos Inside weekends in Yard A and Yard C, twice a year, within RJDCF (total of 4 Kairos weekends).

• Holds monthly Kairos Inside reunions in both yards to instill community and encourage small groupings.

• Plans twice yearly two-day retreats for the inmates (Kairos Inside Graduates and volunteers).  These retreats are used to reinforce the Kairos weekend message.

• Joint sponsors special holiday events or activities at RJDCF for inmates and volunteers.

• Conducts special in-prison food sales to raise money for the Kairos community and prison chapel programs.

• Works closely with the Pastors-to-Prisons Program.

The current prison population, in addition to Christians, is composed of Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Atheist, Wiccan, Satanists, Odinist, and other beliefs.  Kairos brings an inter-denominational team of Christian volunteers, both clergy and laypersons, into the prison environment to establish relationships with the inmates.  By bringing the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ into prison, Kairos provides an effective program to positively change inmate attitudes, behaviors and lives.  In addition to Kairos Inside weekends, Kairos volunteers make a commitment to continue with monthly visits for Kairos Reunions for at least one year.  These Kairos Reunions are a way to instill community, show continued support by volunteers and encourage inmates in their weekly small “Prayer and Share” group meetings.

Kairos Outside of San Diego provides support to the adult female loved ones of the incarcerated though the Kairos Outside program.  To learn more about Kairos Outside of San Diego, click here.  Kairos Outside of San Diego does the following:

• Twice yearly Weekend retreats for the women of loved ones affected by incarceration.

• Twice yearly reunions open to all Kairos Outside graduates and volunteers and their families.

• Ongoing support for Kairos Outside graduates through retreats and special events.

How could I become part of the Kairos Ministry program?
Kairos of San Diego community is an organization of well organized and trained volunteer teams of men and women, drawn from the Christian communities surrounding RJDCF.  The Kairos program is governed by the Kairos of San Diego Advisory Council.  This council organizes and oversees all Kairos activities at RJDCF.  The council and community is comprised of an inter-denominational team of volunteers, both clergy and laypersons.  The Kairos ministry team works in cooperation with the RJDCF Protestant Chaplain and Yard Pastors to carefully select 36 inmate plus 4 alternates to attend a Kairos Inside weekend in each Yard.  This same group selects  the "Outside" (volunteers) and "Inside" (inmate) teams.  The Inside team consists of inmates who graduated from a previous Kairos Inside weekend.  The Outside and Inside teams meet separately and together to finally form the complete Kairos Inside Weekend team.   

To become part of the Kairos Community and work inside the prison on a Kairos Inside Weekend, you need to do the following:

• You must be male - women are currently not allowed to participate on the Kairos Inside weekend in prison.  However, there are many women that volunteer to help with prayer support, logistics and baking cookies.  Women also work the Kairos Outside weekends.

• Your Own Experience:  Complete a weekend experience of your own.  Qualifying events include Cursillo, Walk to Emmaus, Alternative Qualifying Weekend, Kairos Graduate, or Eighth Table Observer.

• Prison Clearance:  The Protestant Chaplain at RJDCF will submit your name for an annual clearance for Chapel Volunteers.

• Volunteer training: You must submit a Clearance Request package that includes a Clearance application signed by the Prison Chaplain and a copy of a recent TB test (within 1 year). Once the package is submitted and processed, you will be contacted by RJDCF with a date for your Volunteer Orientation.  Once you complete the Orientation, you are cleared to enter RJDCF.

• Health certificate: The prison requires printed results of a current TB skin test.

• Warden's Approval: You must be approved to participate in Kairos activities within the prison.  The Warden reviews any criminal record and individually approves participation by ex-offenders.

• Be selected:  The Weekend Leader chooses members of the Kairos community to serve as a volunteers on the Kairos Inside Weekend team.  All prison-cleared members of the community are invited to the closing ceremony at the conclusion of the Kairos Inside Weekend.  Of course, all members of the community actively support the weekend through prayer and financial support.

• Have a strong desire to bring the message of Christ's unconditional love to those who thirst for it behind prison walls.

• Not quite ready to volunteer for a weekend, but would like to learn more?  Consider coming to one of the Kairos Inside Weekend Closing Ceremonies and see how God has changed lives.  You can apply to attend by completing the form here.

Both Kairos Inside and Kairos Outside spread the gospel through: 

• Unconditional love and acceptance in a Christian setting.
• Encouraging the sharing of life's journey.
• Fostering spiritual growth.
• Promoting participation in support groups.
• Creating an opportunity for a relationship with God.
• Building relationships with other Christians, both in prison and outside.

We provide just the acceptance and love that Jesus Christ brings to each person through the team members. The volunteers      (both lay and clergy) demonstrate the Love of Jesus Christ in a tangible way through testimonies and actions.

Testimonies from recent Kairos Inside graduates:

• The testimony of Kairos Inside Graduate "B" is here.

• The testimony of Kairos Inside Graduate "T" is here.

Site Map