“Even a soldier, when he’s surrounded by God’s army, knows when to surrender.”
“When I came to Kairos I ran a gauntlet of love.” [The team lines the hallway as they enter.]
“I found, ‘mi familia de amor’.” “My family of love.”
“My Christianity had grown cold, internalized and self-centered. Some of us were brothers in our heads but now we are brothers spiritually. Our Christianity will no longer be inward but will now be outward. What we’ll take from Kairos: We’re going to change this prison for Christ.”
“I will take away the seed, and it won’t fall on the rocks.”
“The cookies are good, but y’all must have put somethin’ in that makes a man break down and cry in front of his brothers.”
“These were the first letters I’ve received since being in prison.”
“I found that God loves me and a lot of people do, too.”
“My whole life I’ve been searching for love and all I knew was the streets. Now I found in prison a real family that loves me.”
“We found hope, new brothers, that we’re not alone and the unconditional love of Christ. Yeah, we made bad choices, but this showed us that someone loves us and that was just too much for us. We love you!”
“I found a real God.”
“I stopped attending church and this weekend has really pulled me back into it.”
“You showed me a different side – there’s people who love me.”
“I don’t trust my own family or even myself, but I’ve taken the step to become a Christian.”
“This is the first time in 46 years [of living] that I’ve seen the love of God manifested.”
“For 25 years I’ve been a Wiccan, but I cried hard today. It’s because of all you here that I can trust people again. You gave me a reason to hope and to start trusting.”
“I found a waterfall of agape love that doesn’t stop flowing.”
“Every letter brought an abundance of tears.”
“I questioned God’s existence and His love for years. When I turned around and saw a placemat saying, ‘Tony, Jesus loves you’, I know He and his love were real. My middle name is what I go by and it’s ‘Tony’.”
“God is no respecter of persons. What He’s done for others he’ll do for each of us.”
“I came as a Muslim in the oldest order in America and was 2nd in charge. I found more love here than anywhere in the MSTA and I am now a Christian.”
“I’m tired and God’s been chasing and chasing me. Pray for me that I can make my walk.”
“I found spiritual leadership.”
“I found intimacy and friendship.”
“Now God is my attorney and I’m free”
“I’ve been down for 12 years and this morning [Sunday] is the first day I’ve ever woke up happy.”
“[My cellmate] told me I’d be crying during the weekend. I said ‘No, way!’ I started crying on Thursday.
“I’ve been in prison 26 years and have read the Bible from the begining and my favorite verse is 1 John 4:8. My question to God has been, ‘Why is the world the way it is?’ I didn’t know how to love, but the past 3 days His love has been manifested. You loved me like Jesus loves me – unconditionally.”
“I found a new concept: Strangers that would love us unconditionally.”
“I came as an Odinist but didn’t participate to not be deceitful. I watched and listened. I watched you when you weren’t talking and the changes in people and I’m impressed. I don’t make hasty decisions as the last one cost me 60 years. I took the cross and gave up my hammer [of Thor].”
“I found a new love we all share.”
“God speaks to you through different people. I praise God that I know Jeremiah 29:11 for real now. God really does have a plan for me.”
“I’ve been straddling the fence and I found a church family that would teach me about love.”
“I found outward Christianity.”
“I’ve been running from God having a call on my life. God wants me to deliver His word and I promise I will do that.”
“I found love, friendship, happiness and security at Kairos”
“I’ve been an elder in the church for a long time. We say we knew agape love until these men came here – we didn’t have a clue. I just cried like a baby when I got those letters.”
“What I found…Finally, a family.”
“I’ve learned to take action and accept God in my life.”
“I’ve been kicked out of two prisons and I’m the one, the original bad boy. I’ve been locked up for almost 34 years. I got away from church real early and did terrible things in the streets. I’ve learned that God never leaves you and hope God can forgive me. I thank Him for giving me this KAIROS family and hope I can give back.”
“Tomorrow, where will we be when tomorrow comes? My purpose for coming was the food, but when I got here I began lots of thinking and soul searching and I knew something has to give. But now I’ve started a new journey as I gave up my life to Christ today.”
“I built this big old wall up and in 3 days all this agape kept tearing this wall down. I wasn’t going to cry but it happened the first day and I don’t even know why.”
“I found love, family, people who pray for me, and a love that would touch our hearts and take us out of prison”.
