Gainesville Torch is a local Christian non‑profit uplifting youth through mentorship, education, and community. Explore who we are, what we believe, and how you can make a difference today.
Kairos Torch offers unconditional love and acceptance, encouraging male and female incarcerated youth age 25 and under to share their life journey through participation in a long-term mentoring process.
The mission of the 2 ½ day Introductory Weekend is to encourage the participants to remove their mask, so that the real person can shine forth – rather that who they pretend to be.
Kairos Torch creates a safe place for the youthful offender to realize their God given potential in a Christian setting that encourages the sharing their life’s journey, and moves them toward making better choices for their lives.
Sadly for some, this is the first tie in their lives that they have freely received compassion and love. The Weekend is followed by a continuing ministry that includes six months of bi-weekly one-to-one mentoring of the youth by Kairos volunteers and monthly group Reunions.
The mentors begin each session with a Bible verse and use a structured guide as a springboard to discuss topics such as self-esteem, anger management, parental relationships, short and long-term goal setting, and forgiveness.
The impact and benefit of the program is that the participants attain a renewed sense of themselves, build self-esteem, begin to make construction life choices and establish positive relations and community – all of which results in hope for the future and a change to break the cycle of crimes.
Kairos has more than 30,000 volunteers who serve in 500+ prisons and communities in 37 states and 10 foreign countries.
Kairos sprang from the Cursillo movement and is supported by volunteers from the 4th Day ministries such as Cursillo, Via De Cristo, Walk to Emmaus, and Tres Dias as well as volunteers from Christian churches. Kairos embraces a diverse group of volunteers working together to fulfill Christ’s call to action in Mathew 25:36.
Each of the three Kairos Programs (Kairos Inside, Kairos Outside, and Kairos Torch) has a unique targeted audience, but the core program is essentially the same.
“Better Together” describes how the three programs working together positive impacts individuals, families and society. The incarcerated adult of youth and their female love ones attend Kairos programs, they have a parallel experience.
That experience provides a common bond, a shared experience, which can create a unique and exponentially positive effect on the family unit. It can also enable unity, positive dialogue, new beginnings, restoration, and hope.
There are many ways to participate in Kairos Torch Program at Gainesville. Here are a few:
The primary goal of the Kairos Torch Ministry is to engage the participants and volunteers in mentoring relationships.
Volunteers from all walks of life share ad desire to follow Christ’s admonition in Matthew 25:36 “I was in prison and you visited me.”
Each Weekend has opportunities for outside support such as preparing meals or helping with fundraising efforts.
Kairos Torch Gainesville is a 100% volunteer organization. This means your tax-deductible donations will be used exclusively to pay for proper and legitimate ministry expenses. To donate, please follow the instruction on our donation section.
All activities are covered with prayer. You can pray for the participants, the volunteers, and the officials at Gainesville
A typical Weekend requires about 500 dozen homemade cookies. No doubt, God blesses the gift of cookie baking.
Agape takes many forms, one of artwork posted throughout thw community room during the Weekend, as well as signed placemats and posters made by children (first names and age only).
We would love to tell the Kairos Torch Gainesville story directly to your church. Our select group of public speakers provides a brief and informative addition to any church service!
Come to a Kairos Torch Weekend Closing as a guest and see for yourself how the testimonies of hearts changed by the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit can touch your heart! Fill Application here
Join us at our upcoming gathering. All are welcome.
Kairos Torch Gainesville is a 100% volunteer organization. This means your tax-deductible donations will be used exclusively to pay for proper and legitimate ministry expenses. You can either pay online or send a check to the Kairos Torch Gainesville PO Box.
Mail your contributions to:
Kairos Torch GainesvillePrefer to donate online?
It's fast, easy and safe!
Please note that the Kairos rules governing each of the units in Texas require that all online donations to the individual units are to be processed through our state chapter website ("Kairos Of Texas") to provide organizational safety, efficiency and control. And to ensure that your donation is properly allocated to Kairos Torch Gainesville, all you need to do is visit the Kairos Of Texas donation page, click the PayPal button there, and then type in "Kairos Torch Gainesville" on the PayPal screen where you see the input box.
Thank you for your donation to the Kairos Torch Gainesville Ministry.
All Kairos Programs, Kairos Torch
The Kairos Torch program begins with a Weekend retreat in the youth detention center or correctional facility for youth 25 and under. The mission is to engage their reasoning skills in seeking balance for their lives.
1379 Farm to Market Road 678, Gainesville, Texas 76240Valerie Schick (Advisory Council Chair)
valeriesonger@yahoo.com
620-330-7190
The people of Kairos are called by God to share the love of Christ with those impacted by incarceration. Kairos encourages believers from a variety of Christian traditions to be volunteers in this Christ-filled ministry. Kairos programs offer to prison residents, their families, and those who work with them, the opportunity to receive God’s forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ, and to grow in their faith and servanthood in Christian community. We stand on the common ground of the following elements of faith: We in Kairos believe: The Bible is God’s authoritative and inspired word for our faith and our lives; In the Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; in the deity, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; friendship with God is a free gift, for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. The love of Jesus Christ motivates His followers to provide food for the hungry, drink to the thirsty, welcome to the stranger, clothes for the naked, and visits to the sick and those in prison. We share the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ with all incarcerated individuals, their families and to those who work with them inside and outside the correctional institution.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF OUR MINISTRY
You can quickly see that there is a wide variety of contributions necessary to make the Kairos Torch Gainesville ministry a successful and meaningful outreach to those so very much in need of the Master's touch. Hopefully, you found one or more items listed above where you feel that you - and perhaps those around you! - can contribute to this ministry.
Please email us with any questions, comments or suggestions, and we sincerely thank you for your consideration.
