Marion Correctional Institution is an adult prison with a large population of youthful (18-24 year old) offenders. Kairos Inside has been active in the prison for about fifteen years. A pilot program of Kairos Torch was begun in 2001. Two major variations from the standard Karios Torch program were included in this pilot.

  1. Peer-to-peer mentoring was done by Kairos Inside graduates who serve on the introductory weekend team and as mentors to the youthful participants.
  2. Participants who had been active in mentoring for the twenty-eight week mentoring program attended a weekend retreat that focused on Kairos Inside topics. Those who completed both the mentoring and the retreat were “graduated” into the wider Kairos Inside community.

The individuals involved in starting and continuing the pilot believed that it was reported to and approved by the Kairos Prison Ministry International, Inc. board. No record of action on the pilot can be found. The KPMI Torch Committee recommends that the MCI Torch version now be recognized as an approved variant of Kairos Torch in those institutions where it would be appropriate.

Reports of the Pilot Program were developed and are attached as Exhibit A (“Report On the Ohio Torch Pilot Program”—2004 Report) and Exhibit B (“MCI Kairos Torch 4 Mentoring Program”—2005 Report). The schedule for the introductory weekend is attached as Exhibit C.

The 2004 Report notes ten (10) areas where the pilot varied from the standard Kairos Torch Program. As noted in the report, most all of the issues that were considered as variances either were not actual variances, or were put into compliance. As listed in the 2004 Report, they are as follows:

  1. Support for Mentoring—Mentoring is the core of Kairos Torch and the program now provides for a twenty-eight week mentoring cycle. The mentoring topics are altered only slightly to reflect the prison environment and the fact that there are not “reunions” separate from the mentoring program.
  2. Age of participants—Kairos Torch includes residents up to the age of 25.
  3. Fingerprinting of volunteers—Kairos Torch outside volunteers participate in the Kairos Torch Clearance Policy.
  4. Resident Team Members—This is the key variant of the MCI Model. Resident team members and mentors are available on a daily basis to mentor the participants and come with a true understanding of the challenges the participants face. These individuals are what make this model work.
  5. Background checks of resident mentors/guides—The Weekend leader (an outside volunteer) is ultimately responsible for selection of the resident team, but due to the special circumstances of the resident team being prison residents, it is vital that they first be cleared by the prison administration. This involves not only the Chaplain, but also approval by the security staff and final approval by the Warden. Without this type of cooperation from the correctional staff, the process is not viable.
  6. Music—The use of a variety of music (Contemporary Christian, traditional, Praise and Worship, hip hop, alternative) and music sources (live, video, CD) is well developed in the Kairos Torch community.
  7. Lite ‘n Lively Icebreakers and Game Type Activities—After some experimentation it became clear that these activities do in fact have a place in this Model and have been used to reinforce the message presented by the talks and other activities.
  8. Presentation of Kairos Inside crosses—This is the second major variation from the Kairos Torch model. Because the residents are housed in an adult institution that has an active Kairos Inside community, these participants seek to be a part of that community. After the twenty-eight week mentoring program and the weekend retreat, they are in at least as good a position to make a commitment to Christ, receive a Kairos Inside cross, and be treated as full members of Christ’s church and the wider Kairos community.
  9. Kairos Torch Reunions—The mentoring program has been adapted to use the weekly meetings for more one-on-one mentoring without the group activity involved in a Kairos Torch reunion. Street volunteers provide cookies and refreshments each week. Once the Kairos Torch participants “graduate,” they are included in the monthly Kairos reunions.
  10. Torch Graduates are Allowed and Encouraged to Participate in Monthly Reunions for all Kairos Grads—As members of the church universal and the Kairos Prison Ministry, it does not make sense to distinguish between different programs. This does not appear to be an exception to the concept that all of Kairos is one ministry.

The conditions that would make the MCI Torch version appropriate are:

  1. An adult facility with an active Kairos Inside program, including ample volunteers, active resident participants, and ongoing prayer and share and monthly reunions.
  2. A youthful population that would benefit from the mentoring aspects of Kairos Torch.
  3. A prison administration that will assist in the selection of mentors who meet the requirements of Kairos and the prison administration.
  4. Enough motivated outside volunteers to adequately monitor, train, supervise and support this alternate version of Kairos Torch.

The reports attached and the positive responses from Kairos volunteers, residents and correctios officials make it clear that the MCI Torch Model is a viable alternative and one that should be approved for use in the situations listed.