Kairos Bartlett #2

www.kairosbartlett.org

Dearest Kairos Supporter,

"How is our rock doing?" It was the question I'd been dreading. The "rock" was a mistake, a misunderstanding. At rector training we been given a "new" commitment service. The old service used bread and was too easily confused with communion. The new service uses rocks and a candle in a plastic bowl. Designed to show how different people can be joined in a single body, the service is based on 1 Corinthians 12: 12-27.

Each person is given a rock and to demonstrate his intention to be active in the Kairos community, each is asked to place his rock in the bowl. As the candle burns, the wax is supposed to melt and thus form the rocks into a single solid mass.

The whole concept had gone wrong. We couldn't use an open flame so we used plaster of Paris and explained that white was the color of purity and of the Holy Spirit. We didn't have a small container so we used a big five gallon bucket. We hoped for a nice smooth "rock"; instead it was distinctly lumpy! About the only thing that did go right was everyone seemed to understand that each vaguely heart-shaped rock was a symbol of one of us. When we pulled our rock from that bucket, I said "This rock represents our commitment to Christian community. We are going to build Kairos at Bartlett on this rock."

My evaluation of the service was that, at the very least, it needed a lot of work and I recommended rectors at two other units not to use it. The symbolism could too easily be misunderstood as building a new church. Kairos is not a church but supports the Church Universal.

So, there I sat on a Monday night Prayer and Share, when a very black man grinned at me and said, "I've brought a new Christian tonight, I'll need to help him because he doesn't read very well. A bunch of us have gotten together to read the Bible to him in the dorm so he can hear the Word."

It was quickly obvious that the new Christian, a white man, had significant learning disabilities. His new brother did help him and carefully explained the six questions that we try to answer each week. Later, to illustrate a point about the need to work where Christ has planted us, the black inmate pulled a letter and began to read advice from his sister. He stumbled a time or two, then stopped and said "I have a hard time with my sister's writing, would you see if you could read the rest, Reb?"

His sister's block printing was beautiful, but it was plain that the black man couldn't read either. He had brought a new Christian to our Kairos fellowship and he had made every effort to guard his dignity and pride. He was trying to show Christ's love. That is what Kairos is all about.

Our "rock" is doing very well thanks to you, your support, and your prayers. Please continue to pray for us.

Reb

There are letters, testimonials, and a slide show at: www.kairosbartlett.org

Dearest Team member,

I wanted to take one last chance to give thanks to God for your willingness to serve, and to say what a pleasure it has been to work with you on Bartlett #2. After I wrote that last line, I went down the team roster saying a prayer for each of you. I thought about writing separate letter, but I realized that in this endeavor, we weren't individuals, but rather a team whose many parts were bound by the Holy Spirit into one body to accomplish the work God had set before us. That makes this about the only time that I think it's better to write one letter rather than individual letters.

Thinking about this team fills me with joy and a twinge of sadness. The team, this particular incarnation of the body of Christ has been magnificent, but it will never exist again. The next Kairos team might have many or even most of the same members, but it will not be the same, and this team was precious to me. It was a blessing to be a part of it.

Experience is a two edged sword for a rector. It certainly helps to accomplish the task, but it also makes me painfully aware of all my mistakes and shortcomings. It is a wonderful example of God's Grace that this team was able to work together to overcome my failings.

I said at the first team meeting that I didn't pick this team, or assign any task on it. I prayed about each assignment and member. I believe that God called each of you, for the role you played. I know that my hearing of God's will was less than perfect. Thus, I give special thanks for those who overcame my putting square pegs into round slots. I know that as I saw God add or subtract team members I sometimes felt like Gideon as the Lord pared down His army. I thought we needed a larger team, but God has accomplished more by your servanthood than ten times your number could have done relying on human leadership. I give thanks and praise to God for allowing me to see how He worked to do what I could not.

Finally, I believe that it is a rector's obligation to share what he has learned from the experience with his team. My favorite quote on evangelism is from G. T. Niles, "Evangelism is one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread." I pray that you understand that these insights comes from a beggar and a sinner.

I see Kairos at Bartlett as a wonderful collection of denominations and traditions. We also come to this unit with varied experiences in this ministry. This presents us with opportunities and dangers. It is only human to see someone doing something very differently than is our tradition and assume they are making a mistake. It's sometimes VERY hard to see miscues or accidents and not ascribe them to mal intent. In Kairos, where schedules are always changed by events at the unit, pastoral responsibilities, or team family emergencies, it requires us to exercise a tolerance only possible with the help of Christ.

This is especially true because the Opposer is always at work, trying to destroy what Kairos is building. Communications will always be a problem on Weekends since only the Leader knows all the details of what is effecting the program at any given moment. I think it is vital that everyone remember that fact, and always spend as much time talking to the team Leader as possible. It is ALSO vital to remember that as our Weekend poster (shown in the middle of the photo) proclaims, Jesus is always our team Leader! I pray that all our members will continue operate with the sprit of charity, slowness to anger, strength of discernment, and quickness to forgive as they were on Bartlett #2. This is the Lord's work, not man's. He will take our weakness and use them. He doesn't need our strengths... He has His own.

Your Brother in Christ

PS

I've included the letter that is being mailed to all our sponsors. I trust God, I don't always trust the US mail. Please check with those who gave you money, and make sure that they got their picture and a letter from me. Not everyone got a letter from an inmate, but all those inmate letters, as well as a new slide show are available on the internet.