Mentorship
One‑to‑one and group mentoring relationships that foster hope, accountability, and growth.
Gainesville Torch is a local Christian non‑profit uplifting youth through mentorship, education, and community. Explore who we are, what we believe, and how you can make a difference today.
One‑to‑one and group mentoring relationships that foster hope, accountability, and growth.
Tutoring, life‑skills, and faith‑based guidance to help every student thrive.
Partnerships with families, churches, and local leaders to uplift our city.
Kairos-Allred began its Christian prison ministry activity inside the Allred Unit back in 2001 and since then has conducted numerous successful Kairos Weekends, hundreds of Prayer & Share services, and touched the lives of thousands of Allred inmates, many of whom have never officially taken part in actual Kairos ministry functions. Such is the scope and meaning of this ministry and its labor of love inside the high security Allred Unit. Here then is a quick tour of the basic elements of the Kairos-Allred ministry. For a list of all that goes into this grand mosaic effort to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to the Allred Unit inmates, please visit our Something for Everyone! page, while the list below will give you a brief overview of our ministry activity.
Twice a year a diverse group of forty-two inmates is selected by the warden in consultation with the chaplain's office. These active and willing participants are then allowed to attend the weekend activities which begin on Thursday evening and conclude at a closing ceremony on Sunday afternoon. They willingly come for many different reasons - curiosity, conviction, cookies! - but they are treated for three days with Christian care and intellectual respect. Nothing is forced, nothing is contrived, nothing is manipulated. To accomplish this takes a true group effort and the team members, both those going inside the Unit as well as the outside support team, join together for several training sessions prior to the Weekend to prepare their hearts and minds, unified in Christ. Kairos Weekends are a straightforward presentation of the love of Jesus Christ for all men and a clear announcement of the salvation that is freely offered to all sinners. They offer music, food, fellowship, and the opportunity for all participants to reflect on their past and make meaningful changes for their future!
Those weekend participants who accept the open invitation will gather the first Saturday after the weekend to be instructed in the basic format of the Prayer & Share services which are available weekly. These services include all previous Kairos Weekend attendees, including those who were weekend participants at other prison units.
These weekly services are truly the heart of Kairos. It is in the Prayer & Share gatherings that the inmates themselves will renew their understanding of Christ's salvation and grow their faith with one another's prayers and support. They will learn leadership and discipleship skills and how to function in faith as a part of the larger body of Christ. Kairos Reunion - These are the Prayer & Share gatherings on the third Saturday of the month which include the Kairos free world volunteers so they can attend the services to offer fellowship and encouragement to the ongoing ministry of all the Kairos participants inside Allred Unit.
Twice a year the Kairos volunteers conduct one day retreats as "refresher courses" on the basics of living a life for Jesus Christ. Like retreats conducted in Christian churches everywhere, these seminars give the participants the chance to reflect on their progress, areas requiring improvement, and a deeper understanding of the Christian life experience.
The people of Kairos are called by God to share the love of Christ with those impacted by incarceration. Kairos encourages believers from a variety of Christian traditions to be volunteers in this Christ-filled ministry. Kairos programs offer to prison residents, their families, and those who work with them, the opportunity to receive God’s forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ, and to grow in their faith and servanthood in Christian community. We stand on the common ground of the following elements of faith: We in Kairos 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. 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. We share 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.
Join us at our upcoming gathering. All are welcome.
Name: First Last
Email: weekend.leader@example.com
Phone: (000) 000-0000
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Email: support.leader@example.com
Phone: (000) 000-0001
There is a practical way for everyone to help bring the light of Christ into Allred prison. Including you. Or perhaps especially YOU! Below is a list of the things that need to be done virtually on a year round basis to prepare for the two Kairos-Allred Weekends for which our support team of volunteers trains and prepares diligently.
For specific details and guidelines regarding each of these important contribution categories, please find the information you need in the Volunteer's Guide. (See Forms&Links page for available forms and downloads - or simply contact us by email.)
Your prayers are essential to the success of Kairos-Allred Weekends. Prayer is the one ingredient that ensures hearts will be open to His Word and for His will to be accomplished. Please print these on color paper! (Form available.)
Homemade cookies by the hundreds! It's a Kairos brand that expresses God's grace to Kairos-Allred Weekend participants, guards, and administrative staff. (See Cookie Guide.)
Write a short letter to each of the 42 weekend participants to demonstrate the loving presence of the larger Christian community. The impact is truly transforming!
At each meal individually created place mats are provided as yet another outreach message of God's love. A great activity for Sunday schools, preschools, children and grandchildren!
These messages of love from the Body of Christ are designed to express the very tangible hope found in Jesus. A scripture, a greeting, or simply a hand print - all are most welcome!
You can help an inmate come face-to-face with the love of God by financially sponsoring an individual for the weekend. Individuals and groups can help sponsor a new life in Christ.
By purchasing a meal ticket you provide a meaningful reminder that each meal has been purchased by a Christian on the outside as a direct expression of God's love. (Printable form available.)
Come to a Kairos Weekend Closing as a guest and see for yourself how the testimonies of hearts changed by the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit can touch your heart! Check out the TOP-10-REASONS to attend a closing ceremony! And the current closing form is available here: Fillable-Closing-Application
We would love to tell the Kairos-Allred story directly to your church. Our select group of public speakers provides a brief and informative addition to any church service!
Certainly no one will be surprised to discover that a Kairos-Allred Weekend requires donations. We make every penny count - and accountable! - but your individual and corporate financial help is crucial.
It's a real commitment of time and energy, of course, but everyone who has taken the plunge has come away having contributed and received a blessing quite unlike any other. Here's a link to some frequently asked questions about the weekends FAQs and for additional information you can always Contact-Us directly!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF OUR MINISTRY
You can quickly see that there is a wide variety of contributions necessary to make the Kairos-Allred prison ministry a successful and meaningful outreach to those so very much in need of the Master's touch. Hopefully, you found one or more items listed above where you feel that you - and perhaps those around you! - can make a contribution to this ministry.
Please email us with any questions, comments or suggestions, and we sincerely thank you for your consideration.
There’s a place for you in this story. Commit to pray, serve on a team, give to fuel programs, or share Gainesville Torch with your church and friends. Every step helps a student take their next step with Jesus.
Your generosity fuels mentoring, meals, supplies, and safe programs for local youth. Thank you for being a light.
Donate NowKairos-Allred is a 100% volunteer organization. This means your tax-deductible donations will be used exclusively to pay for proper and legitimate ministry expenses.
Mail your contributions to:
Kairos Torch GainesvillePrefer to donate online?
It's fast, easy and safe!
Please note that the Kairos rules governing each of the units in Texas require that all online donations to the individual units are to be processed through our state chapter website ("Kairos Of Texas") to provide organizational safety, efficiency and control. And to ensure that your donation is properly allocated to Kairos-Allred, all you need to do is visit the Kairos Of Texas donation page, click the PayPal button there, and then type in "Kairos-Allred" on the PayPal screen where you see the input box.
Thank you for your donation to the Kairos-Allred Prison Ministry.
All Kairos Programs, Kairos Torch
The Kairos Torch program begins with a Weekend retreat in the youth detention center or correctional facility for youth 25 and under. The mission is to engage their reasoning skills in seeking balance for their lives.
1379 Farm to Market Road 678, Gainesville, Texas 76240Valerie Schick (Advisory Council Chair)
valeriesonger@yahoo.com
620-330-7190