“Inasmuch”

          Two of the activities that I am involved in outside of Santa Teresa Hills involve those in prison.  Twice a month I go to the Santa Clara County Jail (Elmwood) and visit with inmates.  I take them bibles, the Upper Room or other literature.  I talk to them about their faith, their doubt, their hopes and dreams, their plans for their life once they are out.  And I try and let them know they are loved and cared for by God – especially in their present circumstance.

          The second activity is a program called Kairos.  Kairos is the prison version of “Walk to Emmaus,” a 72 hour experience of Christian spiritual renewal and formation for people who are already members of a church.  Recently, I had the privilege to be the Spiritual Director for the Women’s “Walk to Emmaus” retreat in Gilroy. We talk a lot about the grace and love of God.  It is an amazing weekend filled with lots of “ah-ha” experiences.  The spirit is present in rich abundance and I always leave feeling that I have been blessed in a very real and empowering way. 

          Kairos is very similar, except that most of the inmates we serve are not active Christians and some are not Christian at all.  We take the worst of the worst, murderers, rapists, etc. These men are often leaders of gangs inside the prison and others are movers and shakers within their spheres of influence.  Then over the course of three days, we bathe them in Christ’s love and care.  We present talks focused on the Christian walk.  We feed them.  We pray for them. Basically, we present a three day short course in Christianity.

          Central to the weekend is Jesus’ “new” commandment: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples.”  John 13:34-35. 

          Often, this is the first time that these inmates have felt true love and acceptance.  This is the first time they have experienced someone doing something for them without expecting or requiring something in return. 

          Through Kairos, lives are changed – radically changed.  It is an amazing sight to see grown men break down and cry – many for the first time as they realize the love God has for them, that they no longer are alone, that they can trust God’s love and presence in their lives.

          I can honestly say that I have felt the spirit strongest during these weekend retreats. God is in prison. 

          I will be going to San Quentin Prison over the Memorial Day Weekend to serve on the clergy team for a Kairos men’s retreat. Please keep me, our team, and the inmates we will serve bathed in prayer so that lives may indeed be changed.  Jesus is truly in their midst.  They just need an opportunity to find him.

Jesus when asked who the sheep and the goats were was very clear.  Those who fed the hungry, clothed the naked, took in the stranger, took care of the sick, and visited those in prison, were the sheep.  Those who didn’t were the goats. 

          It isn’t easy to do serve those populations on a continual basis.  But Jesus says that when we do these things to the least of his brothers and sisters, we do them to him.  Do we believe this?  Do we really? 

          Not everyone is cut out for prison ministry. But each one of us are cut out for service to Jesus in some capacity.  Maybe it is the homeless, maybe it is the sick, maybe it is those who are oppressed, or maybe it is those whose rights are being trampled.  Or maybe it is ????  Only you and God know the answer to that one.

          My prayer is that we will find where God wants us to find Jesus and then go there and meet Jesus in him or her wherever they may be.

          Be blessed, my friends … and as always, I’ll see you on Sunday!

Pastor Tom