Contact: John A. Thompson, Jr., Kairos Prison Ministry International, Inc., 407-629-4948

OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 5 /Christian Newswire/ -- Kairos Prison Ministry volunteers and guests enjoyed their annual Summer Conference at Holy Names University, Oakland, California during the week of August 5 - 10, 2008. The California Conference Committee did an outstanding job hosting this event.

The Kairos Board of Directors met for a 2-day workshop on Wednesday and Thursday prior to the board meeting on Friday morning. Committee meetings, various workshops and area tours rounded out the agenda during the daytime. Every day began with a morning devotional and song and ended with thankful prayer to Jesus Christ for His many blessings.

Unique programs were presented every evening. The Thursday evening program was a very special celebration of Kairos Outside and how it has evolved over the last 15 years. Kairos Outside ministers to female loved ones of men and women who are or have been incarcerated. On Friday evening, the memorial service was a touching tribute to all of the Kairos volunteers and friends who have left this world to be with the Lord.

The 5-day celebration concluded on Saturday evening with a wonderful, entertaining banquet. Texas Chaplain, Bill Pierce, gave an inspirational talk. The keynote speaker was Warden Debra Dexter from Ironwood State Prison in California who spoke about the value of community volunteers and thanked Kairos for their many years of service to the California Department of Corrections.

Kairos ministers in 401 communities/institutions in 31 states and 8 countries. Representatives, volunteers and board members from the U.K., Canada, South Africa, Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, as well as the U.S. participated in the conference. The international expansion of Kairos is moving forward with much interest in the ministry from a variety of countries including Uruguay, Peru and the Dominican Republic.

While Kairos Prison Ministry International, Inc. continues its growth, the ministry still holds to its fundamental values - to share the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ with inmates and their families. It is impossible to track the number of the incarcerated and their family members that the ministry has assisted since 1976, when Kairos was founded, but we believe the number is well over 200,000. However, the need continues for the Christian community to hear God's call in Matthew 25 to visit His children in prison. To those in community with Kairos, we appreciate your financial support and prayers.

The 2009 Summer Conference will be held in St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada, July 28-August 2 at Brock University and the 2010 Summer Conference will take place in San Antonio, Texas.

Most of us in Kairos are living proof that God changes lives through the persistence of others. We as Christians have a continuing responsibility before God to help penetrate the darkness often found in prison.