What a Yokefellow session is.
The Yokefellow sessions we lead are 90 minutes long. There is one session per week at the prison we go to.
Our understanding of small groups has developed since 1994 when we first went into a Federal prison with a Yokefellow group from our church. At first, my husband and I treated the 90 minutes more like a bible study. But now we understand it a bit better.
Here's an outline of our sessions:
Gathering - we (volunteers) come early, set up several chairs, get our bibles and song books and spend a bit of time in prayer before the inmates show up.
Greeting - we welcome the men as they some into the room, calling as many by their first name as we can remember from previous sessions. The men get their bibles and songbooks and pull up chairs and form a circle. Everyone is on the same level.
Beginning prayer - Someone will pray and ask God to join the group. Sometimes my husband gives the prayer, sometimes one of the inmates will give the prayer.
Introductions - we go around the room, in order, and everyone gives their first name and says how they are doing. This allows for a broad response. Often the answer is "I'm doing OK" or "I thank God for waking me up this morning." while sometimes the answer has to do with recent legal proceedings or family news. The Yokefellow volunteers also introduce themselves.
Song - We offer to lead the group in song. This is optional. Most sessions we do sing several songs. The favorites are Amazing Grace, Blessed Assurance, Jesus Loves Me and Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.
Psalm reading - We read a selection from the book of Psalms. We all take a turn reading a verse or a sentence of the Psalm. We stop for difficult words and talk about their meaning and their use in the Psalm. We point out key themes of the Psalm. We ask the inmates if they have ever felt the way the Psalm writer is describing (example: "Have you ever felt as though you were walking through the valley of the shadow of death?").
Recently we've been encouraging the guys to try to memorize some Psalms. Then during sessions we allow time for the fellows who want to recite them to do so. Imagine waiting for 4 hours in a holding room at the court house, waiting for your court session, having nothing to read or do. Recite comforting Psalms from memory can make a real difference in attitude for walking in the court room when the call finally comes. Or, it can help when you get told you're going back to prison and your session has been rescheduled and you won't be seeing the judge today.
Bible reading - Next, we read the scripture that is the basis for the lesson. Many times it's a parable. We've taught on Adam and Eve, Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Gideon, David and other Old Testament favorites. Jesus and grace are obviously top topics. We take turns (going around the room in order) reading the scripture. Sometimes we re-read sections over. We talk about what the verses mean, what they meant then, what they mean now, what they mean to us today.
Discussion - I try to ask questions that help make the men think things through. Often I'll tell a story from my life and then ask questions like "what should I do?, what would you do?" Then. I'll turn the situation around and the guys can see that they have a similar situation and option for faith.
It's important to understand how important this discussion part is. Everyone's voice is welcome. Everyone's opinion is valued. Of course, we need to maintain order and respect. That's the leader's job to quiet the group down when they get out of order, but still welcome good thoughtful discussion. It's through discussion that we can share, bond and learn from each other.
Sometimes, during a session, an older inmate will give a young inmate some advice. Like, "Don't be like me kid, when you get out, stay clean and don't throw your life away like I have". This advice, given by an inmate is worth a million words given by me, a middle class white lady.
Yokefellow circle - To end the session, we stand, join hands (hand over hand usually) and offer prayer. Sometimes my husband offers prayer on behalf of the whole group. Sometimes we go around the group and take turns praying.
Sometimes I'll give the inmates homework, like a chapter of Bible to read to prepare for next week's session.
Our understanding of small groups has developed since 1994 when we first went into a Federal prison with a Yokefellow group from our church. At first, my husband and I treated the 90 minutes more like a bible study. But now we understand it a bit better.
Here's an outline of our sessions:
Gathering - we (volunteers) come early, set up several chairs, get our bibles and song books and spend a bit of time in prayer before the inmates show up.
Greeting - we welcome the men as they some into the room, calling as many by their first name as we can remember from previous sessions. The men get their bibles and songbooks and pull up chairs and form a circle. Everyone is on the same level.
Beginning prayer - Someone will pray and ask God to join the group. Sometimes my husband gives the prayer, sometimes one of the inmates will give the prayer.
Introductions - we go around the room, in order, and everyone gives their first name and says how they are doing. This allows for a broad response. Often the answer is "I'm doing OK" or "I thank God for waking me up this morning." while sometimes the answer has to do with recent legal proceedings or family news. The Yokefellow volunteers also introduce themselves.
Song - We offer to lead the group in song. This is optional. Most sessions we do sing several songs. The favorites are Amazing Grace, Blessed Assurance, Jesus Loves Me and Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.
Psalm reading - We read a selection from the book of Psalms. We all take a turn reading a verse or a sentence of the Psalm. We stop for difficult words and talk about their meaning and their use in the Psalm. We point out key themes of the Psalm. We ask the inmates if they have ever felt the way the Psalm writer is describing (example: "Have you ever felt as though you were walking through the valley of the shadow of death?").
Recently we've been encouraging the guys to try to memorize some Psalms. Then during sessions we allow time for the fellows who want to recite them to do so. Imagine waiting for 4 hours in a holding room at the court house, waiting for your court session, having nothing to read or do. Recite comforting Psalms from memory can make a real difference in attitude for walking in the court room when the call finally comes. Or, it can help when you get told you're going back to prison and your session has been rescheduled and you won't be seeing the judge today.
Bible reading - Next, we read the scripture that is the basis for the lesson. Many times it's a parable. We've taught on Adam and Eve, Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Gideon, David and other Old Testament favorites. Jesus and grace are obviously top topics. We take turns (going around the room in order) reading the scripture. Sometimes we re-read sections over. We talk about what the verses mean, what they meant then, what they mean now, what they mean to us today.
Discussion - I try to ask questions that help make the men think things through. Often I'll tell a story from my life and then ask questions like "what should I do?, what would you do?" Then. I'll turn the situation around and the guys can see that they have a similar situation and option for faith.
It's important to understand how important this discussion part is. Everyone's voice is welcome. Everyone's opinion is valued. Of course, we need to maintain order and respect. That's the leader's job to quiet the group down when they get out of order, but still welcome good thoughtful discussion. It's through discussion that we can share, bond and learn from each other.
Sometimes, during a session, an older inmate will give a young inmate some advice. Like, "Don't be like me kid, when you get out, stay clean and don't throw your life away like I have". This advice, given by an inmate is worth a million words given by me, a middle class white lady.
Yokefellow circle - To end the session, we stand, join hands (hand over hand usually) and offer prayer. Sometimes my husband offers prayer on behalf of the whole group. Sometimes we go around the group and take turns praying.
Sometimes I'll give the inmates homework, like a chapter of Bible to read to prepare for next week's session.
posted by Kathy Kolb | 6:18 AM
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