Thanksgiving 2004
Thanksgiving, November 25, 2004
Topic: Change
Scripture: John 15 (Vine and Branches, Love God, Love each Other), Luke 10 (parable of the good samaritan)
Going into jail on Thanksgiving is interesting. The guys (inmates) are usually surprised that the Yokefellow volunteers still come to prison when the session night falls on a Holiday. But I think that it's especially important to maintain a regular, weekly schedule with the small group sessions.
This sort of showed in the song request. One guy wanted to sing "America the Beautiful". So we sang it together. There are a handful of patriotic songs in the donated hymnals in the room.
We had a small turnout for the session. Some of our regulars have been released or transferred recently. This happens often with county jails. State and Federal prisons have people with longer sentences, so Yokefellow groups there tend to have the same participants longer.
Then, part way through the session a few of the guys got called out for visits, which gave us an even smaller group. Numbers of participants is not as important to me as it was when I was just starting out. I trust that God knows who to bring to each session.
Usually I have a topic I intend to use for small group discussion before I go into the jail. Tonight I did not. I trusted a topic would come up, and it did: Change.
The topic of change is a fascinating one. What does it take to change? Whether a person wants to stop using drugs and alcohol, quit smoking, lose weight or lead a more contemplative life, what does it take to change?
Many of the inmates we meet express a desire to change for the better. The obstacles are many. Old friends, towns, habits are in the way. Temptation is present.
Too many times we've had a Yokefellow group participant that seemed to be doing well in the group, caring for others, increasing their bible reading, prayer and meditation. And then a week comes when they don't show up. Word comes that they are in isolation or SMU as a result of getting a "write-up" by the guards for being disobedient, an angry outburst or an attack on another person.
Discussion questions: What would you like to change in your life? What steps are you taking to change? What plans do you have for continuing the change once you are released from prison? Why do you think it is hard to change?
Topic: Change
Scripture: John 15 (Vine and Branches, Love God, Love each Other), Luke 10 (parable of the good samaritan)
Going into jail on Thanksgiving is interesting. The guys (inmates) are usually surprised that the Yokefellow volunteers still come to prison when the session night falls on a Holiday. But I think that it's especially important to maintain a regular, weekly schedule with the small group sessions.
This sort of showed in the song request. One guy wanted to sing "America the Beautiful". So we sang it together. There are a handful of patriotic songs in the donated hymnals in the room.
We had a small turnout for the session. Some of our regulars have been released or transferred recently. This happens often with county jails. State and Federal prisons have people with longer sentences, so Yokefellow groups there tend to have the same participants longer.
Then, part way through the session a few of the guys got called out for visits, which gave us an even smaller group. Numbers of participants is not as important to me as it was when I was just starting out. I trust that God knows who to bring to each session.
Usually I have a topic I intend to use for small group discussion before I go into the jail. Tonight I did not. I trusted a topic would come up, and it did: Change.
The topic of change is a fascinating one. What does it take to change? Whether a person wants to stop using drugs and alcohol, quit smoking, lose weight or lead a more contemplative life, what does it take to change?
Many of the inmates we meet express a desire to change for the better. The obstacles are many. Old friends, towns, habits are in the way. Temptation is present.
Too many times we've had a Yokefellow group participant that seemed to be doing well in the group, caring for others, increasing their bible reading, prayer and meditation. And then a week comes when they don't show up. Word comes that they are in isolation or SMU as a result of getting a "write-up" by the guards for being disobedient, an angry outburst or an attack on another person.
Discussion questions: What would you like to change in your life? What steps are you taking to change? What plans do you have for continuing the change once you are released from prison? Why do you think it is hard to change?
posted by Kathy Kolb | 6:31 PM
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