Impact of Kairos Riverbanks at Conferences and Ministries

Living Within the Riverbanks Living Within the Riverbanks Richard Puryear (Indiana) Gail Simpson (Ohio) 2021 Annual Conference

Devotional: Living Life Within the Riverbanks Psalm 46:4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. J. Vernon McGee: I believe the river is a reality that speaks of the supply and the refreshment that God gives even today Isaiah 48:18 If only you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your well-being would have been like a river and your righteousness like the waves of the sea!

What is Kairos Riverbanks? What is Kairos Riverbanks? The Riverbanks defines the boundaries of the ministry

Why Do We Have Kairos Riverbanks? Why Do We Have Kairos Riverbanks? Keeps us consistently true to the essential concepts of the ministry foundations Ensures we are providing God s ministry, under God s authority Ensures Kairos is the same regardless of location Offers the structure needed to understand such a complex program

The Riverbanks are both Wide and The Riverbanks are both Wide and Narrow Narrow 2021 Annual Conference Widest: allows accommodation for institutional variations allows to use of creativity to provide spiritual practice trainings, prison regulations and even Kairos policies and procedures. Narrowest: Strict adherence to policy and procedures Throughout the weekend itself the Riverbanks must be strictly adhered to protect the integrity of the ministry.

2021 Annual Conference How can the Riverbanks be freeing for How can the Riverbanks be freeing for the team and the ministry? the team and the ministry? As a tool it allows focus on the mission and the participants Provides a pathway or map to continue when obstacles arise Provides clear guidance for leaders when individual team members begin to steer off course

The Kairos Ministry The Kairos Ministry The Kairos ministry is one of sacrifice and obedience. Each volunteer must understand and accept the wisdom of Kairos through the non-negotiable pieces of the ministry program Each volunteer must be committed to understanding and following the many aspect of the Riverbanks and Kairos policies and procedures.

FINAL THOUGHTS FINAL THOUGHTS All Kairos volunteers are expected to uphold the Kairos Core Values which include agreements to be obedient to the guidelines of the Kairos Ministry Programs. When we chose to ignore any part of the Riverbanks, we are breaking our covenant with Kairos. Every volunteer has the responsibility to be committed to Living Within the Riverbanks to prevent skewing of the ministry in any way away from our foundational documents! 2021 Annual Conference

What makes living in the Riverbanks difficult or What makes living in the Riverbanks difficult or challenging? challenging? The leadership is not well versed in all aspects of the Riverbanks The leadership is not committed to living in the Riverbanks The leadership accepts the belief that any form of Kairos is better than no Kairos.

How do you view the Kairos Riverbanks... How do you view the Kairos Riverbanks... Liberating or Confining? Guiding or Restrictive?

Lets Share Let s Share Do you feel more confident now that you can help your Advisory Council and weekend leaders better understand and implement the Riverbanks? Is there any part of the Riverbanks your Advisory Council has struggled to implement? Does your institution create obstacles in implementing the Riverbanks? What are some ways you have been able to problem solve to help you and your institution live within the Riverbanks.

Questions???? Questions???? Comments????

2021 Annual Conference How well do you know the Riverbanks? How well do you know the Riverbanks? A Team application is required for every weekend served, not just the volunteers first weekend. (KT p. 8, # 3 A married couple, or a male and female may serve a co-leaders for a Torch weekend as many times as necessary to continue to provide Torch weekends in an institution. (KT p. 8, # 6) A team member can be on an inmate s visitation list as long as that person is not a part of the Kairos weekend. (KI p. 10, #2)

Riverbanks, Riverbanks, Con t Con t The closing should be treated like a party to celebrate the completion of the weekend for the participants before they have to return to the structure of prison life. (KI p.12,#10; KO p.12 #9) Agape is explained as the prayer chains, letters, posters, etc. (KO p.7 #4; KI p.6 #4 Kairos team members must be willing to serve sacrificially, this includes giving up personal agendas and letting go of control over the weekend. (KI, p. 11, #8; KT p. 9, #1,3; KO p. 7, #5

Riverbanks, Riverbanks, Con t Con t Spouses who serve together on a KO weekend are encouraged to show moderate affection toward each other as a model for appropriate male : female relationships. (KO p.9, #8) Kairos Torch strives to provide a safe place for youth to enhance positive self esteem, promote constructive life choices and an interpersonal relationship with Jesus Christ. (KT p. 11, #8 It is important for every volunteer to be in an accountability group. (KI p. 8, #4; KI p. 4, #1

Thank You! Thank You!