Here’s why small groups are a great option for connecting with returning citizens. 1. You don’t need to create the demand. Lots of returning citizens are al- ready deeply into reading Scripture, and they want to keep growing when they’re released. They had a lot of time for reading while incarcerated, and chances are pretty good that the average returning citizen will be more biblically engaged than the average person in your pews. You need these people in your small groups. 2. Many returning citizens have dreamed of growing as leaders. Though, before, they may have used their leadership gifts in inappropriate ways, now they want to use them to serve God and God’s people. They’re open to being shown what it looks like to lead in their community and in your congregation. 3. Small groups are a great crucible for identity transformation. Re- search shows that identity transformation is at the very heart of desis- tance from crime. The topics covered in a robust life-application small group Bible study can constitute the curriculum for identity change—for both returning citizens and your existing congregation members alike. 4. Small groups can provide a great place to belong. Unlike large-group gatherings where people can get lost in the crowd, the small group pro- vides a place where returning citizens can be met, welcomed, known, and appreciated on a personal level. This pro-social bonding and personal acceptance not only give returning citizens a new network of people to do life with but also directly counter the unhealthy shame that many re- turning citizens carry. So, what kinds of small groups are we talking about here? Every person is different, so there’s clearly no one-size-fits-all answer. However, to leverage change and drive engagement, a good place to begin would be to lean to- wards life-application Bible studies where there’s no single “right” answer to questions. Many prison Bible studies (including Bible correspondence class- es) have an approach where the leader didactically transmits knowledge to the student, and the student responds with fill-in-the-blank answers. This ap- proach has its place, but it’s a limited one. If you can track down a copy online, we strongly recommend getting a copy of the Serendipity Bible as a model of the kind of Bible study format that can generates deep involvement. Both content and format matter. A format that allows each participant am- ple opportunity to reflect, share, and listen to others can be a profound new experience for returning citizens. It promotes equality, belonging, and en- gagement. Content that’s sensitive to returning citizens’ needs and concerns
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