148: Movement on Death Row – Steve Addison

In this episode, our friend and movement author Steve Addison shares powerful stories from his global travels as he researches how God is at work. One of the most remarkable movements he has encountered is happening inside maximum security prisons in Houston, Texas, where disciple-making is transforming ‘death row’ into ‘life row.’ God’s Glory on ‘Death Row’ In six of the fourteen prison sections, 80 out of 168 prisoners have turned to Christ, forming multiplying disciple-making groups and churches. Over the past three years, 24 men have been executed, and 20 of them were disciples of Jesus—a powerful testimony of transformation behind bars. Prisoners are putting it this way: “This isn’t death row for us—it’s life row because we have found Jesus.” So What Can We Learn? The movement in these prisons challenges us with key lessons: • Raising the Bar of Discipleship – Only those serious about change are invested in. • Baptism = Commissioning – Like Jesus’ baptism, every believer is ordained to make disciples. • Simple, Reproducible Methods – Disciple-making training and equipping at its core. • Deep Love and Generosity – A community marked by sincere love. • Partnership – Working with prison authorities to see transformation. Movement in the West God is starting movements in prisons, what about us on the world outside? These same principles can bring transformation anywhere. Steve’s Encouragement for Us Are we practicing simple, reproducible disciple-making like Jesus and the early church? Our identity isn’t in the results—trust God for the fruit and stay faithful in the basics of discipleship. Let’s take what’s happening in prisons as a challenge: If it can happen there, it can happen anywhere.