Cursillo-related Movements > for special groups > Keryx
Keryx
Meaning of "Keryx"
Keryx is a greek word meaning "herald". In the ancient world, A herald was one sent by his master to proclaim in public the master's message. He dared not change the announcement because it was not his own. His responsibility was only to proclaim it accurately. That is how Paul understood his gospel ministry. We, in Keryx, as Paul, are mere servants proclaiming our Master's Good News.
Keryx is a volunteer-based prison ministry with the goal of trying to Christianize the prison compound. We do this through a three-day weekend based upon the "Cursillo" format. Keryx is an interdenominational ministry, seeking to glorify Jesus Christ by the spreading of His Word inside the prison walls.
Keryx is primarily a layman's ministry, one that brings Christian denominations (both Catholic and Protestant) together in unity to introduce Jesus Christ to those incarcerated. Because a Keryx weekend is in nature very similar to a 3-day "Cursillo"-type weekend, all volunteers are required to have attended a weekend of their own before becoming involved in a Keryx weekend.
The purpose of Keryx is the Christianization of the correctional institution through the actions of small apostolic prayer support groups of prison residents, trained and encouraged by Keryx volunteers, working within their environment.
The Keryx strategy is to identify leaders from the key environments of the institution - leaders who have the greatest potential to impact their environments with the message of Christ's love. These leaders are then invited to attend a 3-day short course in Christianity where they are introduced to the Keryx community.
Weekends are held by the Keryx Michigan Prison Ministry in the following correctional institutions: Carson City, Chippewa, Ionia, Kinross, Marquette, Pugsley and Traverse.
Excerpt from the Chippewa Area Keryx page. See Keryx websites.