Kairos E-News #112 - Current E-News for Kairos Volunteers – December 2020

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We entered 2020 with high expectations of what the year would bring, then faced an unexpected worldwide pandemic that stopped us in place. We are leaving 2020 hoping for a better 2021. I have confidence we will be back soon working our ministry. We know God built His people for relationships, and Kairos is all about a relationship with Jesus as well as with one another. God will bring us back to a relationship in His perfect time and way. Meanwhile we prepare, plan, and do what we can now to raise funds, recruit volunteers, encourage others, work with the facilities, do Continuing Ministry, and simply become a stronger ministry. We’ve had to pause, and even do things differently, but we know God is still in control. 2020 has given us an opportunity to put even more emphasis on prayer, personal growth, and joining in fellowship in new and unexpected ways. During Christmas, we remember Jesus Christ came to earth in a miraculous way. What a wonderful time to Celebrate Jesus Christ – the forgiveness of sins, His love, provisions, and all that we know is of Him in our daily lives. I know He has Kairos in His hand and has provided us with wonderful volunteers around the world with a heart and passion to serve others. Thank you Lord for these wonderful people in Kairos. As we go into 2021, let’s remember to seek God first in all things, to see His miracles and provisions moment by moment, and celebrate His perfect timing. After all that’s Kairos – God’s Special Time. May God bless you and your family. Merry CHRISTmas! Ways to Stay Engaged With Kairos

Kairos CEO Evelyn Lemly sat down to chat with a few Kairos staff members to discuss what Kairos Volunteers can do to continue the Kairos mission, even if your local facility is still closed to visitors. Many are asking for ideas of what can be done to stay connected to Kairos, to those we serve, and how we can enhance our ministry so

that when facilities open back up, Kairos is even more powerful and effective.

Watch these videos for inspiration: What you can do for Kairos during the Pandemic - https://youtu.be/81oN4tZZcD4 Kairos Tools to Enhance the Ministry - https://youtu.be/8A77YXzOJGM What Kairos Volunteers can focus on for the Rest of 2020 - https://youtu.be/R_-cJzQP14U

Thank You for your Support during this Challenging Year

I don’t know that I have ever been more grateful to be part of the Kairos Board of Directors than I have been this year. During the last nine months, when nothing in the world has been what we expected, I have been inspired and encouraged by the way each member of the Board has prayerfully and meticulolusly worked through each challenge as it has come up and found a way forward. The Board has kept its focus on our mission and tried in every way to keep Kairos on the right path.

I ask that you join me in praying for the members of the Board, our staff that has had to deal with so much change, our Program Coordinators who have worked to find new ways to train and encourage, and our CEO who has worked harder this year than ever. Please continue to pray for all volunteers and those we love and serve. Please also consider how you may support Kairos financially this year.

Blessings to you and Merry Christmas! Steve Smith, Kairos Board Chair

End of Year Fundraising Tools

Bill Holwager, an attorney specializing in estate law gave a presentation on three ways you can donate to Kairos while reducing your personal tax burden. One is donating stocks or bonds directly to Kairos without selling them. Another is to donate directly from your retirement plan such as an IRA or 401(k), especially for Required Minimum Distributions taken by those after turning 72. Both of these methods allow you to

avoid paying taxes on the amount donated, and allows you to write-off the full amount of the donation from your taxes. The last topic covered is to change the beneficiary of assets such as your stock portfolio of a certificate of deposit to fully or partially transfer to Kairos upon your passing.

Watch Bill’s presentation for examples of how you can make the tax laws work for both you and Kairos. His full PowerPoint presentation is available on MyKairos.

To learn more about how you can make a planned gift to Kairos, please contact us for a personal consultation. Please call Becky Dotson at 407-629-4948, e-mail becky@kpmi.org, or visit www.kairoslegacy.org to learn which options are best for you and your family.

Drawing Closer to God During this Unexpected Year

Isaiah 43:19 says “Behold I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” If you feel like 2020 was the wilderness or the desert, be looking for the new things God is doing. He is always doing something, especially in our hearts. As we end 2020 and start 2021, be prepared to see all the things He did in 2020 that you could not see, or you did not perceive. It should be exciting!

A new thing God is doing at Kairos is bringing to us a new Women’s Program Coordinator, Ruby Burris. Change always brings newness and a way to see things with new eyes and a new perspective that opens us up to new insights and vision. Therefore, God is definitely doing a new thing at Kairos.

Isaiah goes on to say in Chapter 61 that God will appoint unto them that mourn the oil of joy; beauty for ashes and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. In America, within the very state hit the hardest by COVID-19, God has begun doing a new thing with Kairos Torch. For many years we have struggled to have our youth program accepted in the state of New York. Just before COVID-19 hit the United States, we were approached by the Head Spiritual Director representing 5 state-run youth facilities in New York with great enthusiasm. He has asked that we bring Kairos Torch to all five of these facilities as quickly as possible. This dreaded virus (ashes) has afforded us the opportunity to do a great deal of strategic planning and recruiting (beauty). What we saw as a dry wilderness has turned into an overflowing river.

We also continue to see recruiting, fundraising, and new community formation happening through all programs during this time. This tells us that while some saw COVID as an opportunity to step back, others stepped forward and said “Okay God, what can I do?” As long as we are on the earth, there is always work to do and goals to accomplish.

Hopefully, a new thing He is doing in your life is drawing Himself closer. God promises if we ‘draw near to Him, He will draw near to us.’ If nothing else has happened in 2020 because of the virus, hopefully you have drawn near to Him.

We are excited for what 2021 will bring and what new things God is doing, not only in our office but out in the field, in the adult and youth facilities and for Kairos Outside! We hope you are preparing for a new season and that you have learned how to minister to one another in new ways.

Blessings for the Advent season. Craig, Kevin, and Ruby – The Kairos Program Coordinators

COVID Related Health Requirements Please remember that for all approved events, the volunteers (and guests for Kairos Outside) must sign the health requirements document. At every meeting, these rules must be reviewed and followed. If someone has been directly exposed to COVID, they must quarantine for 14 days, even if they themselves received a negative test. If a person lives in the same household as someone with COVID, we must be extra careful to adhere to the rules, and the 14 days is from the time all persons are clear from COVID.

End of Year Tasks

Election Reminder: all elections must be entered into KairosMessenger by December 31. If assistance is needed, please contact andy@kpmi.org.

Keep Your Contact Information Up-To-Date: If you have moved, changed your phone number, or e-mail address, please contact your Advisory Council Secretary to ensure your contact information is current.

Join a Prayer Event: Every state and country Kairos serves in is holding prayer events. Join your local prayer event, and if you haven’t heard of this, contact your Kairos State Chair.

Make End of Year Donations: Consider a year-end donation to Kairos at the international, state, or Advisory Council level to ensure we are fully funded for the future.

Virtual Fundraising and Recruitment Events

Did you know you can do virtual events for fundraising and recruiting? We are hearing of great success for the few in Kairos who have gotten creative and done this. Other ministries are sharing that they are having lots of success while reducing the costs of doing fundraising and recruiting events virtually. This is something every Advisory Council can look into doing!