Called to Heal the Brokenhearted : Stories From Kairos Prison Ministry International

In this stirring book, William H. Barnwell tells the stories of prison inmates and the Kairos Prison Ministry volunteers who work with them. Set mostly at the huge Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, Barnwell's narrative illustrates how offenders who have done the worst can and do change, becoming model inmates and, if released, productive citizens. The stories also reveal how Kairos volunteers have found healing for broken hearts. Given that the United States incarcerates more people per capita than any country in the world, reformers are seeking radically new ways to reduce our prison populations. Kairos volunteers and inmates alike have much to contribute to the ongoing reform discussions. Now serving 300 state and federal prisons, 30,000 Kairos volunteers work with 20,000 inmates each year. They take part in long weekend retreats with the inmates and follow up with regular prison visits. Since its beginning in 1976, Kairos has served over 250,000 inmates. Broad-based, nondenominational, and nonjudgmental Christian, Kairos seeks to carry out its slogan--"listen, listen, love, love"-- among inmates who have had few to listen to them, and fewer still to love them. In Called to Heal the Brokenhearted are stories of undeniable redemption. They point the way to personal transformation for the inmates and the volunteers. One Kairos inmate speaks of the change this way: he makes guitars out of the good wood "hidden beneath the surface" of throwaway pianos. "I find my work incredibly fulfilling," he says. "I see myself in every piano, discarded by society but redeemed and put to use in a new way." Cover 1 Called to Heal the Brokenhearted 2 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 8 Contents 10 Introduction 14 PART I: BEFORE KAIROS #53 34 Chapter One: Beginning a Prison Ministry 36 Chapter Two: My First Experiences with Kairos 44 Chapter Three: Kairos Begins at Angola, 1993 62 Chapter Four: What About the Victims? 73 PART II: KAIROS #53, NOVEMBER 10–13, 2011 90 Chapter Five: Kairos #53, an Overview 92 Chapter Six: Stories from Inmates and Former Inmates at Kairos #53 101 Chapter Seven: Stories from the Volunteers at Kairos #53 147 PART III: AFTER KAIROS #53 188 Chapter Eight: From Kairos to Death Row 190 Chapter Nine: Kairos in Other States 208 Chapter Ten: Louisiana Prison Reformers 227 Chapter Eleven: Kairos #56, November 8–11, 2013 256 Chapter Twelve: My Hopes for Kairos 279 Chapter Thirteen: My Day in Court, April 14, 2014 287 Afterword: A Secular Journalist Responds to Kairos, by Jed Horne 296 Appendix A: The Resolution on Kairos Ecumenism 308 Appendix B: A “Working Paper” from the Louisiana Sentencing Commission 310 In Appreciation 314 Index 316 In This Stirring Book, William H. Barnwell Tells The Stories Of Prison Inmates And The Kairos Prison Ministry Volunteers Who Work With Them. Set Mostly At The Huge Louisiana State Penitentiary At Angola, Barnwell's Narrative Illustrates How Offenders Who Have Done The Worst Can And Do Change, Becoming Model Inmates And, If Released, Productive Citizens. The Stories Also Reveal How Kairos Volunteers Have Found Healing For Broken Hearts. -- From Publisher's Website. Beginning A Prison Ministry -- My First Experiences With Kairos -- Kairos Begins At Angola, 1993 -- What About The Victims? -- Kairos #53, An Overview -- Stories From Inmates And Former Inmates At Kairos #53 -- From Kairos To Death Row -- Kairos In Other States -- Louisiana Prison Reformers -- Kairos #56, November 8-11, 2013 -- My Hopes For Kairos -- My Day In Court, April 14, 2014. William H. Barnwell ; Afterword By Jed Horne. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.