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State agency honors volunteers for justice and mercy work with juveniles
Written: 5/16/2008
Vicki Spurgeon, a member of Lawton-St. Paul's UMC, volunteers for Kairos Torch at the facility in Manitou.
United Methodist volunteers who minister to incarcerated juveniles were honored April 30 at the state Capitol.
The state Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA) presented 2008 Outstanding Volunteer Awards to individuals and groups. United Methodist recipients included: Vicki Spurgeon, a member of Lawton-St. Paul's UMC and a Kairos Torch volunteer at Southwestern Oklahoma Juvenile Center in Manitou; and members of the Kairos Torch team for Central Oklahoma Juvenile Center at Tecumseh.
"Thank you for the efforts you make on behalf of children who are not yours by blood, but by heart," Lt. Gov. Jari Askins told the group assembled in the Blue Room at the Capitol. "You are modeling behavior for them that I believe sometimes breaks the cycle" for them.
Robert E. "Gene" Christian, OJA executive director, reported 16,173 total volunteer hours and $59,000 donated in 2007.
"It is my honor to recognize some of the finest volunteers in all of Oklahoma. You have made a difference in a troubled young person's life. We know you do this out of love," Christian said.
Judge George Lindley chairs the OJA Board of Directors. "You help these kids know there is another way of life. (Your) patience and understanding is a gift not many people have, and I applaud you for that," said the retired judge.
"A plaque and a ceremony will never be enough," Jamie Dukes, volunteer coordinator at the Tecumseh site, declared in an e-mail message. "You are a blessing. I am so fortunate to work with wonderful people!"
The interdenominational Kairos programs are undergirded by Oklahoma Conference's Criminal Justice and Mercy Ministries (CJAMM). According to the CJAMM Web site, the purpose of Kairos is to establish strong Christian communities in correctional institutions.
Specifically, Kairos Torch volunteers lead weekend spiritual retreats at three juvenile detention centers in Oklahoma.
"This Emmaus-like ministry is a very effective in breaking the cycle of bad behavior and continued incarceration. It is for juveniles--average age 16--who choose to participate in this faith-based program," the CJAMM site reports.
"There are many ways to help with the retreats. Offer agape--expressions of God's unconditional love--through donating food and supplies, joining a prayer chain, making posters of encouragement, or giving money to sponsor a teen's participation. Volunteers can also be table leaders, cooks, guides, musicians, or serve in the prayer room."
Lesa Rhoads, CJAMM assistant director-Administration, can connect you to the Kairos ministry. Contact her at 405-530-2014, lrhoads@okumc.org.
At the Capitol, Kairos Torch volunteers accept a service award from the state Office of Juvenile Affairs. The volunteers, many of them United Methodists, serve at the Central Oklahoma Juvenile Center. Gene Christian, OJA executive director, is third from left. Lt. Gov. Jari Askins is fourth from left.
