Onesimus Workbook

A PPENDIX • 69

A PPENDIX 13 Standing Together for Christ Inside and Outside the Walls: The SIAFU Network Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis • www.tumi.org/siafu Our Vision At The Urban Ministry Institute (TUMI), we have a strong vision to equip men and women to return to society upon release from prison and jail. The best way to facilitate the process of reentry is to establish a network of friends and family who are ready to walk with men and women when they are released. This must be done the first hour, the first day, the first week, and the first month after they walk out the gate. The second important factor is to create a strong sense of identity and belonging for men and women, while they are still incarcerated. Everyone needs to belong. SIAFU creates an identity for the incarcerated that can be carried forward when they are released. SIAFU chapters create a bridge of godly identity where the formerly incarcerated belong to something that transcends prison/jail. The SIAFU Network SIAFU (pronouned see-AH-foo ) is a practical means to enable urban disciples to stand together for Christ in the city! Mission Statement SIAFU is a national association of Chapters anchored in local urban churches and ministries designed to identify, equip, and release spiritually qualified servant leaders to reach and transform the poorest unreached communities in urban America. The link between incarceration and reentry can be served by local churches or ministries on the outside. Volunteers from these churches or organizations can sponsor and oversee SIAFU chapter gatherings functioning on the inside. And, after these prisoners have been released, the sponsoring church or ministry may welcome these ex-offenders into their chapter on the outside. We are convinced that these SIAFU sponsoring churches and ministries can provide long-term stability and service to institutions where rapid turnover occurs constantly, among inmate populations, chaplains, and officials. How SIAFU ChaptersWork We have designed an elegant, simple structure specifically designed to connect urban believers, both men and women, to come together, pray,