Small Groups In Prison Ministry

Tonight is the fourth night of a weekly small group I have had the pleasure to help lead in a prison. What a great experience!

The men are genuinely hungry and need such a format for their mutual confirmation and edification.

I am seeing positive results using the discussion group format that I also use during our Sunday Morning group discussions. Even though the men are less spiritually mature (in my humble opinion) than most in the Sunday School setting, I am actually seeing a better interaction because we are not pressed for time 2 hours versus 1 hour.

Tonight ought to be fun...Freedom is available inside a jail cell - always has been and always will be.

Recording the Small Group?

I had the idea to record our small group and put the results on the internet so that others can interact; and, if a group member misses the class they can compare notes....however: my wife and others think it would stifle the conversation

As it turns out the thing failed anyway because the microphone was ok but would only record if held up to your lips....that would stifle the conversation for sure, not to mention slow it down and perhaps just kill it....so I gave up on the idea (for now)

What do you think of the idea if the technology was available where you did not have to pass a microphone around?

Is it worth it or do I shut it down?

I am confident it could help some lost people somewhere in the world...hmmm maybe another format...oh well back to the drawing board

Progams versus Relationships

Last week I was reading Josh McDowell's new book "The Last Christian Generation". In the book he talks about how churchs need to focus less on programs and turn our attention more to building relationships - with God, each other and the lost.

I immediately thought of the small group concept and how appropriate it is for such a process.

The Best Discussions

My wife and I were talking about our small group discussions today and we "discovered" a mutual point of agreement. We believe that the best discussions occur in small groups where group members share his or her experience with, application or non-application of the Biblical principal(s) we are discussing at the time.

This type of discussion is more of a step of faith for the member and is more risky in terms of being subjected to inappropriate judgment from other group members. In non-Christian or Biblical small group formats members would naturally be reluctant to share intimate personal experiences. This reluctance is the natural result of a lifetime of interaction in various types of groups such as school, work, families where the following can occur:

• a dominant opinion or person can dictate the "acceptable" procedures for offering comments or opinions
• group members can ridicule others
• GroupThink can set in
• group members might not participate honestly by withholding thier true feelings due to not feeling comfortable in a group they percieve as hostile or ill-intentioned
• trust may be based on a shared value that is self-centered e.g. "scratch each other's back etc"

What is so different in a Christian small group scenario is the basis for being there and the shared common value system. Although you may have chosen the groups to join in a work, school or family small group experience, often there are a wide variety of beliefs systems. Some may be shared among the group members but often they are not, especially in school and work circumstances. Christian small groups are different in that each member is or is purporting to be seeking a relationship with God Almighty and is therefore disposed to set selfish motivations aside. They willingly defer a focus on self and allow for a mutual focus on building an individual relationship with God through His son Jesus Christ.

Small Life Groups Versus Large Life Groups

Let's compare the advantages and disadvantages of each.

After all, both group versions exist and if we establish there stregnths and weaknesses, then we can effectively evaluate their suitability for a weekly Bible Study.

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Strengths of Large Groups:

There are more potential future leaders of new groups.

There are more skills available for ministry or mission projects.

There are more experiences to draw from for sharing and learning.

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Weaknesses of Large Groups:

Harder for new folks to become involved in discussion.

Less time for discussion opportunities for all attendees.

Less intimate setting, feels like a "class".

Harder for the leader to allow for participation time for each member.

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Strengths of Small Groups:

Easy to allow time for participation of all group members.

Can physically fit small group format in homes, churches, schools, libraries etc

New folks will be more obvious to the "veterans" and will be ministered to

Friendship and bonding can occur easily between and among multiple members


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Weaknesses of Small Groups:

New folks (and veterans) may prefer a large group as a place more easy to "hide in"

A feeling of insignificance can creep into member perspectives if the group is especially small

Facilitation of discussions is a learned art and may take some time to develop in small group leaders

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What are some other strengths and weaknesses?

Neighborhood Discovery Group

I attended the Billy Graham evangelistic Association training for counselors for the Celebration of Hope in New Orleans recently following Hurricane Katrina. The training was excellent and the organization of the whole program was really something to behold. They are EXPERTS at organizing and training volunteers (see previous post).

I then attended the Neighborhood Discovery Group training seminar in the event there were men who would seek to lean more after coming forward at the Celebration of Hope. It was excellent training also and I really like the discussion format they use. It is very similar to what I have used in the past.

I attended both sessions of the Celebration of Hope and had the honor to lead a man to the Lord! I am very excited about that. Also I am excited to say that the Association has asked me to lead a Neighborhood Discovery Group in my area. Of the eight men I have been asked to contact only two have responded positively but I know the Word of God never comes back void.

How Do You Keep Your Small Group from Becoming a Clique?

clique 'klEk, 'klik

a narrow exclusive circle or group of persons; especially : one held together by common interests, views, or purposes


Nothing wrong with common interests, views or purposes but the great commandment tells us we cannot be exclusive because we love God and people, therfore we are to share the Good News and not become or stay exclusive