In Virginia there is a very active ministry – Kairos Outside – that supports women whose lives are impacted by the incarceration of a family member such as husband, parent, son or daughter or close friend. When a member of a family is doing time inside a prison, the rest of the family is doing time with them, and this can be very difficult for women on the outside. Kairos Outside is one of three programs of Christian ministry within Kairos Prison Ministries International, headquartered in Florida. Most of the Kairos ministries that take place in Virginia are weekend programs that take place inside a number of Department of Corrections facilities (“Kairos Inside”) to show God’s love to women and men who are serving sentences.
The Rev. Terrie Sternberg is a member of the Kairos Outside of Southwestern Virginia’s advisory council and has served on a number of Kairos Outside weekend programs since 2008. The weekends begin on Friday evening and conclude on Sunday afternoon, and have been held in various retreat centers in central Virginia in order to accommodate participants from all around the commonwealth. Pastor Sternberg shares, “The time we on the leadership team spend with the women who attend as guests is so special – our guests are caring a heavy burden of having a loved one on the inside; its often kept as a secret and is shameful. Kairos Outside weekends create a safe space to share the burdens, find companionship with women in similar situations and feel a whole lot of love and support through talks, meditations, music, and good food. Lives are changed for the better, and I love being a part of God’s holy activity!”
In Kairos ministries, our operating principle is “listen, listen, love, love.” By the end of the weekend, there
is no doubt in the minds of the guests that God’s love is real and trustworthy, and loved shared is a
blessing to all who participate.
Kairos programs in Virginia are always seeking new volunteers to assist with the weekend retreats and
welcome inquiries. For more information on Kairos ministries, go to our state’s website
www.kairosva.org or contact the Rev. Terrie Sternberg at trinitypulaski@gmail.com.
