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Discover the roots of Kairos Outside and how the ministry grew to serve families impacted by incarceration.
Kairos Outside began in California in 1989 as an idea from the Chaplain at San Quentin State Correctional Facility. After the first Kairos Prison Ministry Weekend, he felt, along with others involved in this ministry, that those who became involved in the Kairos program were now open to family unity more so than ever before.
Jo Chapman, just a regular Kairos Inside volunteer from California, took the Chaplain’s idea and, with the Kairos Prison Ministry International’s blessings and support, developed the Kairos Outside Program to work in harmony with the Kairos Inside program.
James Rowland, then Director for the Department of Corrections for California, has often said:
“Three things will help keep an inmate from coming back to prison: The first is some type of spiritual awakening while in prison; the second is support by their family during and after incarceration; and the third is a skill to find a job on the outside after release.”
Transforming Lives SINCE 1986-2026
Kairos Outside of East Texas
This is the 50th year of Kairos Prison Ministries’ serving Christ and those impacted by incarceration!
Location: Athens & Lindale, TX Area
Affiliation: Kairos Prison Ministry International
Ministry Scriptural Admonition
Kairos Outside volunteers share a desire to follow Christ’s admonition in Matthew 25:36:
“I was in prison, and you came to visit me.”