Jesus Cookies and Prayer Vigil

Jesus Cookies due Sunday November 2nd.

This next weekend November 7-9, is the Kairos weekend at Westville Correctional Facility.  A prayer vigil begins November 6th and continues through the 9th.  While we are celebrating that all the prayer slots have been filled, we ask you to continue to keep Kairos' efforts in prayer.

This outreach uses Jesus cookies to help reach their hearts and soften them to hear God's Truth! People throughout the community help in the effort to supply 3500-5000 DOZEN cookies!  To be a part of meeting this need and show of love, please carefully follow the instructions below and return them to Life Bridge by Sunday morning.


Kairos Cookie Preparation
Since the cookies will be taken into a prison, there are some very rigid requirements that must be followed.  Every cookie is inspected before it is allowed in the facility, and any that are over sized, broken, or stuck together must be removed.  These instructions for Kairos cookies are very important!

The No-No's for Kairos Cookie Preparation:
Do Not add icing, powdered sugar or any other topping or coating on the outside.
Do Not use pre-made, dry, refrigerated or frozen cookie dough.  The impact of agape love felt from homemade cookies is overwhelming when the inmates realize the sacrifice of time in mixing and baking cookies from scratch.
Do Not use butter or margarine.  The ones made with butter break easily.
Do Not bring bought or no-bake cookies.  Do Not use raisins or nuts.

The size should be 2" diameter or the lid of a Pringles canister.


PLEASE BAKE ONLY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES USING THE RECIPE BELOW! (and this recipe will help prevent breakage of the cookies)

COOL - PACK - FREEZE

Cool!  Cool!  Cool ... each cookie thoroughly.  Chocolate chip cookies tkae a long time to cool completely.

Bag thoroughly cooled cookies in a sandwich sized, press zip type bag. (NO bags with tab sliders) FYI - when you bag the cookies please put them standing on end (like coins in a toll or lifesavers).  This makes for easier packing and transporting.

6 Cookies per bag and freeze them.

Jesus Cookies (Basic Cookie Dough Recipe - Makes 5 dozen)

1 cup Crisco
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

Cream shortening and sugar until fluffy. add eggs one at a time.  Sift dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture.  Beat in vanilla.  Add chocolate chips.  Drop onto cookie sheets by spoonfuls.  Bake at 325 degrees until medium to dark brown (From 13-20 minutes).  Cookies should be 2 - 2 1/2 inches in diameter (Size of a Pringles lid).

The Key Ingredient: Prayer.  Pray individually or as a family over the ingredients before and during mixing.  Pray over the cookies as you drop them onto the cookie sheets and bake the,  Ask God to use your cookies as a source of His love to shine on the prosoners and staff on the Kairos weekend.  Pray that each cookie brings the inmate, officer, or warden who eats it closer to God.  We want every person to become part of the family of God.

Bill Bennett, Kairos Prison Ministry, will be collecting these Sunday after 2nd service.  

"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' "He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'  (Matthew 25:44-45 NIV)