The SIAFU Guidebook

Part I I : Making the Case

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Objection 2: The puny actions of a single, little urban church can’t possibly make a difference on the massive problems of our city.

The Argument: “Our city is so big and intimidating and sick. We’re such a small congregation with very limited resources – we don’t have much money, we have very few folk who are faithful, and we are lucky if we get them interested in our own activities, let alone some outside group. Maybe if we were bigger, a little stronger, we might consider it. We’re barely surviving now – how can we do something like this?”

The Answer: SIAFU is designed to connect your church’s efforts and activities to those of thousands of others Chapters nationwide.

Your sense of the intimidation of the city and the smallness of your footprint within it is well defined. We can easily become overwhelmed when we view the hulkiness and unholiness of urban sprawl on our own, through the lens of our little local “platoon,” viewing the city’s wildness and oppression without the support, encouragement, and challenge of other churches and leaders. The SIAFU Network is specifically designed to fight against the tendency to see the entire fight against the enemy in the cities where we live through the resources of our own small congregation. This is akin to the ten spies who, after looking at the cities of Canaan with their fortifications and armaments, felt that entering the Promised Land was futile and wrong. Viewing the forces of evil over against your own meager personal resources can easily intimidate and confuse. In a similar way, if we view the city only through the lens of our own church’s resources and activities, it is very easy to become overpowered, confused, and disturbed. You should consider starting a Chapter to connect your efforts to those of thousands of others who share your love for Christ and for the city.