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Living Within the Riverbanks

Living Within the Riverbanks. Paul Soriano (Florida) Gail Simpson (Ohio). Living Within the Riverbanks Devotion – Floating Feather. My precious child,

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Living Within the Riverbanks

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  1. Living Within the Riverbanks Paul Soriano (Florida) Gail Simpson (Ohio)

  2. Living Within the RiverbanksDevotion – Floating Feather My precious child, Your life is so precious to Me.  I know your innermost concerns, thoughts, and desires.  Rest, My child.  I want you to know that life isn't about what you can do for Me.  It is about what you can do with Me.  It's about communion - our being together every moment of every day.  It's about sharing our day and experiencing life together with absolute trust between us...total confidence. I have made it so simple. Think of a feather floating down a stream. It doesn't struggle.  It simply allows the movement of the water to direct it, and the current takes it around every obstacle it meets. As you do life with Me, you will be like a feather.  I will take you where you need to be.  I will help you go around every obstacle in your life and give you joy in your journey. Never forget.  You are My beautiful feather.  You are unique and one of a kind. I love you so much.  I am always with you.

  3. All In!! • What does it mean to be all in? • Can you do anything successfully without being all in?

  4. What is a Kairos Riverbank? “Defines boundaries of the ministry that must be honored. Only by honoring the boundaries is the framework and integrity of the ministry securely maintained as Kairos.” • A Tool to keep us true to God’s mission and a Safety Net • Provides Security and Predictability • Frees us to be Relaxed, Open, Welcoming and Loving

  5. History of Riverbanks • Prior to 2005, the Kairos Manual contained only “Do’s and Don’ts” • Kairos Inside introduced the concept of the Riverbanks and Ezra in 2005 (Blue Manual) • Kairos Outside introduced Riverbanks in 2011 • Kairos Torch included Riverbanks in 2016. • It was a more positive approach of guiding teams to a standardized way of learning Kairos.

  6. Why does Kairos need the Riverbanks? • To honor our history by following all policies and procedures • As a global ministry, to ensures standardization • Keeps the program Ecumenical • Helps us to be obedient to God’s will

  7. Why does Kairos need the Riverbanks? • Structure for volunteers to understand a global ministry • Provides explanations of our key components • Reminds us of the importance of each element through the Weekend. • Our 3 Kairos programs have very similar elements- One Ministry.

  8. One Ministry with Three Programs Kairos Inside Kairos Outside Kairos Torch

  9. Why are the Riverbanks Wide in some areas and Narrow in others? • Wide regarding Team Formation Meetings • allows Weekend Leader to be creative and avoid “veteran” member boredom, i.e., meeting times, # of meetings, agenda • Narrow regarding Total Time for Formation Meetings • every team is different and formation requires time for group dynamics and spiritual preparation (minimum hours 34, 36, 40 ) • Narrow regarding Talk Previews during Formation • all talks are to be reviewed during team meetings to ensure obedience to outline and relevant witness

  10. Why are the Riverbanks Wide in some areas and Narrow in others? • Wide regarding Institutional Issues • Institutions/Youth Facilities vary greatly in what they will/can allow for the Kairos volunteers on a Weekend • Narrow regarding Institution, Facilities, Guests • Torch Advisory Councils must have MOU with the institution • Inside does not allow volunteers to be on a resident’s visitation list • Outside Guests must be at least 20 years of age

  11. Why are the Riverbanks Wide in some areas and Narrow in others? • Wide regarding Sacrifice and Obedience • As Faithful Stewards there are no specific fundraising guidelines, but a responsibility to fund weekends and startup ministries • Narrow regarding Sacrifice and Obedience • As a team member you make a commitment to be present for the entire Weekend.

  12. Why are the Riverbanks Wide in some areas and Narrow in others? • Wide regarding Continuing Ministry • Following the Weekend experience participants are encouraged to gather regularly for accountability, support and prayer. • Narrow regarding Continuing Ministry • Reunions are specifically required to provide the connection needed for the support system to grow. • Kairos Torch Mentor’s Guide • Kairos Outside “Share Witness Account Pray” • Kairos Inside Prayer and Share Groupings

  13. Why are the Riverbanks Wide in some areas and Narrow in others? • Narrow during the Kairos Weekend • There are not many paths that can be chosen by the leader • Everything in Sequence • Nothing Substituted, Nothing Added • The Wisdom of Kairos has established the program as the best method!

  14. How can the Riverbanks be freeing for the team and the ministry? • Allows the entire team to focus on the mission with specific references • Provides a the pathway when unforeseen obstacles arise • Provides clear guidance for the leaders when team members may want to wander ashore with personal changes or enhancements. • Understanding the Riverbanks keeps the team in flowing waters and allows the programs to be successful.

  15. What makes living “All In” the riverbanks difficult or challenging? • Leadership and volunteers are not well versed in all aspects of the Riverbanks • The AC and Weekend Leaders are not fully committed to the Riverbanks • The leadership and volunteers adopt the belief that any form of Kairos is better than none

  16. How well do you know the Riverbanks? • Is a Team application required for every weekend served, or just for the first team? • Every Weekend Served (KT p. 8, # 3) • Can a married couple, or a male and female serve as co-leaders for a Torch weekend as many times as necessary to continue to provide Torch weekends in an institution? • No (KT p. 8, # 6)

  17. Riverbanks, con’t • Can women who have been incarcerated but not selected for a Kairos Inside Weekend attend a Kairos Outside once released? • Yes (KO p. 9, # 3) • Can a volunteer provide a Kairos Inside graduate, due to be released soon, their church name, address and phone number only so they have a contact on the outside? • No (KI p. 10, # 4) • Can the weekend leader prevent conflicts by closely following the Riverbanks? • No (KO p. 10, # 10; KI p. 9, # 10)

  18. Riverbanks, con’t • Can Kairos Torch volunteers reestablish their mentoring relationship with the youth once they are released? • No (KT p. 12, # 9) • Should the closing be treated like a party to celebrate the completion of the weekend for the participants before they have to return to their everyday world inside the institution? • No (KI p. 12, #10; KO p. 12 # 9) • Does a willingness to serve sacrificially, including giving up personal agendas and letting go of control over the weekend, apply to the team leaders? • Yes (KI, p.11, # 8; p.6 # 5; KT p. 9, # 1,3; KO p. 7, # 5)

  19. Riverbanks, con’t • Does Kairos Torch strive to provide a safe place for youth to enhance positive self esteem, promote constructive life choices and an interpersonal relationships with Jesus Christ? • Yes (KT p. 11, # 8) • Since participants are never celebrated in prison, is it a good idea to have a birthday cake to acknowledge and affirm participants with birthdays during the weekend? • No (KI p. 12, #3) • Can a team member be on an inmate’s visitation list as long as that person is not a part of the Kairos weekend? • No (KI p. 10, #2)

  20. Riverbanks, con’t • Is “3 on, 1 off” is a requirement for Torch? • Yes (KT p. 8, # 7) • Are talk outlines merely a general guideline for new volunteers and not necessarily a requirement that must be followed? • No (KI p. 9, # 4; KO P. 14, # 5) • Should volunteers dress up to give a talk to let the participants know how special and important the talk is? • No (KO p. 11, # 2)

  21. Riverbanks con’t • Are spouses who serve together on a KO weekend are encouraged to show moderate affection toward each other as a model for appropriate male/female relationships? • No (KO p. 9, # 8) • Is it an expectation for every volunteer to be in an accountability group?) • Yes (KI p. 8, # 4; KI p. 14, #1

  22. Let’s share • Was there something that surprised you? Something new? • How can you help your Weekend Leader or your AC understand and implement the Riverbanks? • Does your institution create obstacles to any Riverbanks? Have you been able to overcome these obstacles? • Does your AC struggle with any Riverbanks? • Do you have any suggestions to help others understand or implement the Riverbanks?

  23. Final Thoughts • All Kairos volunteers are expected to uphold the Kairos Core Values which include agreements to be obedient to the guidelines of the Kairos Ministry Programs. • When we chose to ignore any part of the Riverbanks, we are breaking our covenant with Kairos. • Every volunteer has the responsibility to be committed to being “All In” to prevent skewing the ministry in any way away from our foundational documents!

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