Jesus called his followers to take salvation to all people in all nations. Throughout the Great Plains, congregations are taking this message of salvation into correctional facilities and making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Through Kairos experiences and DISCIPLE Studies, inmates can experience Christ's love and grace.
DISCIPLE Bible Study, Kairos, and Brothers-in-Blue programs are present in most facilities. If you are interested in volunteering or have the name of an inmate, contact Nancy Jackson at 316-990-2149.
The DISCIPLE Bible Study program aims at transformation of the individual. DISCIPLE in prison offers inmates the opportunity to study and reflect on Scripture and strengthen their faith as part of a covenant group. Outside volunteers provide leadership for the weekly classes at the Winfield, Hutchinson, Ellsworth, Larned, Lansing and the El Dorado correctional facilities. DISCIPLE’s disciplined program focuses on the disciple as learner, believer, follower, proclaimer and servant within the fellowship of a small group for study, prayer, preparation, support and servant hood.
This ministry, sponsored by the Great Plains Conference United Methodist Women, reaches out to families who are suffering because of incarceration both directly or indirectly. It aims to enable these persons to become more effective parents, responsible citizens and to lessen the hurt and pain inflicted upon their children.
The program was born in 1987 with grants from the then Women’s Division and Call to Prayer and Self Denial to the Kansas East Legacy Conference. This ministry functions under the Women’s Activity Learning Center (WALC) at the Topeka Correctional Facility (TCF). 
Around 10-12 UMW volunteers, work with around 150 women at the WALC to fund programs and classes for the female inmates. They also offer:
Read Ministry to Incarcerated Families' brochure to learn more about the program.
To make a financial donation to the ministry please contact Linda Griffiths, 6024 NE Olympia, Topeka KS 66617. Financial donations help purchase parenting books, fund parent retreats, purchase reading program books, etc.
To make donations for "ditty bags" please contact Teresa Tuchscherer (contact information below). Ditty bags are bags of goodies given to the children/grandchildren as they leave a parent/grandparent retreat. The bags are filled with small items usually purchased from dollar stores - hygiene, small toys, books, etc. All donations to the ministry are welcome and appreciated.
If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, please contact Teresa Tuchscherer, Ministry to Incarcerated Families chairperson, at 785-266-7575, 785-845-3406 or teresatuch@gmail.com.
Kairos is a Christian, lay-led, ecumenical, volunteer prison ministry in which men and women volunteers bring Christ's love and forgiveness to incarcerated individuals and their families. Kairos has three programs — the Men's and Women's Ministry, Kairos Outside and Kairos Torch.
The Great Plains Conference is a part of Kairos Torch, a program at the Kansas Juvenile Correctional Facility, that serves juvenile offenders by working to bring Christ into the lives of the youth at this all-male facility. The program was founded in 1997 and brought to Topeka in 2000.
Every six months, 28 young men either volunteer or are selected by the prison's chaplain to be a part of Kairos Torch. These young men begin the program by going on a weekend retreat that begins on Friday night and ends the following Sunday morning.
During the retreat, the youth are divided into families with one volunteer per participant. This provides one-on-one mentoring for the youth. During the weekend, the boys attend church services, eat meals, listen to music and hear seven different talks on topics like forgiveness and choices.
For the next six months after the weekend retreat, these young men meet with a volunteer for one hour a week. At the end of the six months, they graduate from the program stronger in their faith and prepared to make better decisions.
Many of these youth go on to help plan and prepare for the next group participating. Kairos Torch builds the participants' faith and self-confidence while teaching them life skills to help them succeed in a crime-free life once back on the streets.
Kairos Torch is always in need of volunteers, funds and prayers. For more information, visit the Kairos Prison Ministry International website or to volunteer, please contact:
Charlotte Milroy
Click to email: Charlotte Milroy
New Day Prison Ministry began on April 4, 2005, with only three people. Today, less than five years later, 43 volunteers work to continue its growth and vitality. New Day Prison Ministry offers various programs for the spiritual, mental and physical needs of prisoners. These programs, Prison Fellowship, Gracious Promise, Life Connection, Arts in Prison and Prison Fellowship, all aim to meet the different needs of prisoners from providing them clothing to teaching participants about the Bible. This ministry is offered in the Kansas City area in Leavenworth, Gardner, Olathe, Lansing and Kansas City, Kansas.
If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, email Gerry Lewis.
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