ONE_Conference

© Cindy Lykins 2013

Kairos Staff Conference 2013

ONE_ Conference

Remember when you were a kid and Mom or Dad called the family together for a family meeting? As a kid you thought that one of two things was happening: 1. Someone passed away or 2. The family was going on a trip to Disney World. As you grew up you learned that family meetings occurred when Mom or Dad had something important that they wanted to discuss as a family. Mostly the meetings were pretty straightforward, but every once in a while you had a meeting that changed the direction of your family life. The Kairos Staff Conference 2013, held in Lansing, MI from January 4-6, 2013 was one of those direction changing family meetings.

Kairos is the branch of the Sword of the Spirit (SOS) that supports SOS youth and university outreach, mainly high school youth groups, Saint Paul’s Outreach (SPO), and University Christian Outreach (UCO). Kairos works specifically with youth as youth must decide if they want to follow Christ, and to what extent. This conference pulled together 160 Kairos staff workers from nine UCO chapters, seven SPO chapters, numerous high school youth groups, and a brotherhood.

This conference’s theme was oneness. We spent time exploring our common culture, call, and mission. We heard talks on Our Common Nucleus, The Post-modern iWorld, A Return to Reason, The Need for a Comprehensive Solution, and Responding to a Call from God. In the men's and women's sessions we looked at growing in Christian manhood, and womanhood respectively.

The highlight of the retreat for me was our Saturday night prayer meeting. After celebrating the Lord's Day together we turned to the Lord to see what he had for us. The Lord spoke clearly to us in three prophetic words:

1. Be Not afraid
2. Give Generously
3. Take More Ground

The word to give generously really struck me. As a staff worker I can sometimes roll my eyes when encouraged to give more. Haven’t I already sacrificed my career, living situation, and personal life for the mission? Then I realized that my sacrifice does and always will pale in comparison to Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross. The prophecy reminded me of the words from John 12:25, “the man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in the world will keep it for eternal life”

I’m grateful for the opportunity to attend such a powerful family meeting. It was great to catch up with family members who live all over North America, and meet some new ones. I returned to Pittsburgh with a new heart, and vision for the work. It’s a privilege to be part of such a supportive, interesting family.