What is the measure of success at a Short Course?
It is difficult to say what is the measure of success at a Short Course – the Participant’s comments at the end; no fights; exhausted Team; full bellies; a joy de vivre with Jesus in their lives; happy singing; satisfied officers; over-awed Chaplains? Or all of the above?
It was a good week with many changed lives on both the Participants and the Team and the Staff. The comments at the Closing reflected a strong sense of shift in their understanding and new direction for their lives.
Time was the biggest issue with varied times for starting and finishing. We have lost as much as 2 hours compared with say, ten years ago. So, it is a matter of juggling and reefing times – grabbing a minute or two here and there without losing any of the experiences; or the essence of Kairos. Still the Participants enjoyed every moment of it and took a lot out of the week – just as much as any other Short Course. The Participants are no longer able to take biscuits back to their Sector which also has implications for the ‘Forgiveness Plate of Biscuits’. We need to come up with an alternate creative response so they can express their forgiveness in some other way.
There were changes in Participants, however, we felt that again God had a hand in this, thus allowing others to have a ‘taste of Jesus’ during the week.
We were very appreciative of the Outside Team who worked hard all week to meet our every need. The one time we did not shift were the food times – brunch and lunch. It has been important to keep those times constant.
A Kairos Short Course is built on Prayer. The Prayer Team began a year ago and the Prayer Vigil was full every day by the time we added our church lists. We were grateful for every prayer. The co-operation within the Team was marvellous. Everyone just hopped in and took on extra tasks both in the Team Formation days and during the Short Course.
Thank you.
David – Team Leader MNC #18
Extract of feedback from Participants on day 5:
“Beginning – we had little or no understanding about religion and God. Know now and have a new family. Gained new friends, more knowledge, now got more hope, new foundations. Hope we keep these foundations. We found God. Return with a different outlook, new family. A church to go to and a new experience with God…”
I didn’t really know how much God really cared about me and you. I am truly grateful for the week, and I want to be able to share this with each and every one of you and my friends and family that don’t have that spiritual guidance that we all should have and be blessed from what I have learned to be blessed by God AMEN..”
