One Effective (and Fun) Way to Start House Churches in Prison

We were invited to lead a group of inmates at the Wynne Unit in Huntsville, Texas, to learn about house churches. We had an idea inmates might need to start a house church when they got out so they would have a place for Bible study and fellowship. 

We knew that a large percentage of the inmate population was illiterate. Research showed that up to 80% of the inmates in Texas prisons were illiterate. Even though many inmates learned to read and even earned high school diplomas, they still preferred oral communication. Like many who live in oral-preference cultures, using oral methods seemed the best way to disciple and equip inmates. 

Getting Started

We met once a week. So we set aside three weeks for them to learn and experience storying.  The first week, I modeled a story and then used an oral method to teach them the story. I usually shared the story of the paralyzed man out of Mark 2 because it is short and easy to learn and retell.  

First, I would tell the story. The second time, I might read the story from Scripture and ask them to tell me the difference between the two presentations. The third time, I would ask them to tell the story as a group. I would start the story with a few sentences and ask someone in the group to jump in and continue for a few sentences. I would start the next sentence and pause, waiting for someone in the group to keep it going. 

The fourth time through the story, I broke them up into groups of four and asked them to tell the story as a group. The group was tasked with keeping the story pure. The fifth time, I asked them to get in groups of two, and each person would tell the story to their partner. The partner was tasked to coach the teller if they needed help. In the end, I asked for a brave soul to share the story with the group.  

Setting Up the Group

I introduced them to a few basics—opening and closing. I also included a few tips on how to learn the story. Their favorite method was storyboarding because it looked like a comic strip. Some of the guys were accomplished in creating storyboards. 

I kept stressing that the goal was to have fun and enjoy the Word of God in a new way. The first year we tried this, we lost several members of the class along the way because they were intimidated by this learning experience. Since we started stressing the fun of storying methods, we have not lost anyone. 

At this point, I would show them how they had experienced the story six times. I encouraged them that every one of them could leave and share that story with someone else. I also gave them a “homework assignment”—to share the story with someone next week. It was fun to hear their reports the following week. Many of them received favorable feedback on their stories.  

The guys then signed up to share two Bible stories—one Old Testament and one New Testament. These stories came from a core list of stories for evangelism from J.O. Terry. We would add others depending on the class size. 

The Stories

Our Old Testament stories included: creation, the creation of man and woman (Genesis 2), the fall (Genesis 3), God’s punishment for sin—either Cain and Abel or Noah, stories about Abraham—including the substitution of a ram for Isaac, Passover, the 10 commandments, the sacrifice for the forgiveness for sin, and the prophecy of a coming Savior.

The New Testament stories included: Jesus’s birth, his baptism, Jesus’ power to heal, Jesus’ power over nature, Jesus’ power over demons, Jesus’ authority to forgive sin, Jesus’ power over death, the Lord’s Supper, Jesus’ trial and crucifixion, and his resurrection and ascension.  

One of their favorite stories was The Gadarene Demoniac out of Mark 5. Many said they could identify with the demoniac. One inmate even fell on his knees when he told the story and got to the part where the demoniac was sitting at Jesus’s feet, clothed and in his right mind. 

We spent the first week sharing the Old Testament stories chronologically and the third week sharing the New Testament stories chronologically. To make it fun and encouraging, I asked the men to complement each storyteller on something he did right.  

Putting It All Together

The two nights of storytelling were fun. One brave volunteer started with Genesis 1. Learning to storyboard helped him keep the days in a correct sequence. The men were encouraging, and those storytellers who followed jumped in enthusiastically.

As they worked through the Old Testament stories, they learned the prophecies of Jesus. When they worked through the New Testament stories, they saw how these prophecies came true.  

Here are just a few comments from these storying groups:

• “When you tell the story, it is like watching a movie in my head. It is like I can see it happen.”

• “I really understand it when you tell the story. It makes sense.”

• “I can share the story anywhere, and they listen.”

I am not the greatest storyteller, but many are experiencing the Bible for the first time in the way they learn. These Bible stories become fresh and new.  

The wonderful thing about telling stories is that no props or commentary are required—just the story. It’s so simple!  Stories help God’s Word take root in the heart of oral learners, and it’s worth learning how to reach them well.

Sally Hinzie is a Church Consultant who has worked at UBA for many years. Her primary areas of ministry focus include church planting, bible storying training, organic church, and ministry implementation.

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