“You’re going to prison with me.”

That unexpected challenge came from fellow church member Jason Severson, who handed Aric Vonasek a flyer outside church. Aric was immediately intrigued, and his curiosity deepened moments later during worship when Pastor Barrett Grebing described prison ministry as one of God's "Special Operations" ministries.

"That spoke to me," Aric said. "I signed up that day."

That single invitation ultimately led Aric to serve on multiple Kairos weekends before being called by the Holy Spirit to serve as Weekend Leader for Kairos #55.

The Impact: Breaking Down Walls

Kairos #55 takes place September 24–27 at the Hughes Unit, a maximum-security prison in Gatesville, Texas. During the four-day weekend, volunteers from local churches & denominations go inside the prison and share the love of Jesus through talks, small-group conversations, prayer, and shared meals. The men also receive homemade cookies baked by church members, and handwritten letters of encouragement from people outside the prison praying for them by name.

“For many, it's the first time anyone has shown them love with no strings attached,” Aric said. “Walls come down, tears flow, and men who walked in hardened and skeptical often walk out changed by the grace of God.”

How You Can Serve

Kairos #55 is currently recruiting volunteers to serve both inside and outside the prison.

Inside Team (Men)

Serve inside the walls as part of the team leading discussions, sharing meals, praying and other activities during the four-day weekend. Inside team members from St. Paul and other churches will gather for four Saturday training sessions on August 8, 15, 29, and Sept 12 from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. at Lampasas First Methodist Church.

For those hesitant about entering a maximum-security prison, Aric offers reassurance. "Your safety is taken very seriously, and you'll spend most of your time in the chapel,” he said. “You don't need to be a biblical scholar. The Holy Spirit will give you the words when you need them. We want folks who have a heart for Jesus who are willing to put in the time to share that love with these men. That’s it—very simple. We say: 'Listen, listen. Love, love.' If you have a heart for Jesus, you're qualified."

Outside Team (Women & Men)

Support from the outside and help prepare meals, organize cookies, manage supplies, and pray over handwritten requests. Women on the outside team are also invited inside on Sunday to witness the powerful closing ceremony.

Other Ways to Support

Bake cookies: Participate in the upcoming St. Paul cookie bake-off closer to the weekend or bake at home following Kairos guidelines. More details will be shared as the weekend approaches.

Write letters of hope: Write personal letters of encouragement to the incarcerated men participating in the weekend.

Join the prayer chain: Commit to a 30-minute prayer slot during the weekend. Aric hopes St. Paul can help surpass the previous record of 2,150 prayer chain slips.

Give financially: Support the ministry by sponsoring a participant or making a financial gift. Checks payable to KPMI-Hughes can be mailed to KPMI Hughes, P.O. Box 29163 Austin, TX 78755. You can also give online or text GIVE2KOT to 53555 to receive a giving link. Be sure to designate your gift for Hughes Kairos.

Every person who serves, prays, writes, bakes, or gives becomes a vital part of what God is doing through Kairos. It is a powerful reflection of St. Paul's core value of Living Generously—giving of ourselves so others can experience the love and grace of Christ.

Take Action Today

"The very first saint was the thief on the cross next to Jesus," Aric reminds us. "Behind these walls, His light shines bright, changing lives inside and outside."

Ready to answer the call? Contact Aric by clicking the button below.