Let me start by wishing everyone a Happy New Year for 2024. As many of you know, a primary focus of my ministries has always been in prisons and that will always be true. However, I have also been called to serve in two other churches besides St. Mark’s. On the third Sundays of the coming months, I will also be serving at All Saints Episcopal in Hampton and Holy Communion in Allendale. This means only one Sunday of the month will I miss being with you at St. Mark’s and being available to your needs.
As to the prison ministries, I will serve twice a year, once each in the spring and fall, with Kairos Prison Ministries International at Ridgeland Correctional Institute, S.C. If called, I will serve as clergy inside the prison during a three-day weekend Cursillo event, or if needed, help cook the 700 servings of food consumed by the volunteers and participating inmates. These weekends are supported by St. Mark’s with thousands of home-baked cookies, many hundreds of prayers, and dozens of encouraging letters provided by the congregation. Only male volunteers may serve inside this prison.
The other prison ministry is a Bible study sponsored by the Southern Deanery of the Diocese of S.C. at Estill Federal Correctional Institute where I serve as primary clergy and leader. Serving with me are Mike Seymour from St. Mark’s and Larry Watt and Scott Bester from Christ Church, Denmark. We will serve every other Wednesday for each of the lessons in the eight-session series. While it is a much smaller group than Kairos, it represents eight percent of the prison population of Estill FCI. This ministry can be served by either male or female volunteers.
Look me up any Sunday if you have any questions.
Blessings to all,
Deacon Ken+
