Plant Healthy Urban Churches
In partnership with the Charismatic Episcopal Church, we are planting Christ the King Church in Newburgh, NY, which is ranked 15th in the top 100 most violent cities in America. We are excited that God has also opened up doors for us through our World Impact Associate Initiative to be in Miami, FL; Philadelphia, PA; Brooklyn, NY; Alexandria, VA; Hudson, NY; Wilmington, DE; Newark, NJ; Coney Island, NY; and New Brunswick, NJ. God’s Kingdom is advancing among the unchurched urban poor!
Develop Missional Partnerships
“If you are in urban ministry and not in the prisons or jails, you are not in urban ministry.” The Spirit of the Lord is opening some fantastic doors for missional partnerships to help us identify and equip potential pastors and church planters from within the “walls.” Because of this, we have developed an initiative called OTAC (Opportunities Turn Around Cities). One of these partners is The Essex County Jail, which has developed and implemented a new reentry program called, “Staying Connected.” We are teaching the TUMI curriculum Fighting The Good Fight: Playing Your Part In God's Unfolding Drama. Those selected for an OTAC award will receive housing upon release if needed through a missional partnership with the Goodwill Rescue Mission; a job in partnership with a ministry that specializes in providing jobs for released inmates; and become a part of a new church plant that will meet at the World Impact Christian Transformation Center. Our prayer and labors is that these men will be called and gifted to pastor and plant churches among the urban poor.
Resourcing Urban Leaders
The Spirit of the Lord moved as only He can move at our SIAFU East Region Men’s Retreat. It was incredible as men gathered to fellowship, worship and focus around our theme, Unshakable Kingdom! Unwavering Warrior! In attendance were 95 awesome men, representing 14 churches, 12 cities from 6 East Coast states, along with four urban ministries and four TUMI Satellites. They were equipped to represent Christ’s Kingdom by learning the discipline of following God’s Kingdom strategy, unconditionally surrendering all to represent Christ and His Kingdom and enduring trial and struggle as one seeks God’s leading and will. The men went back to their cities resourced to transform their family, friends and neighborhoods.
Demonstrating Compassion and Justice
From Stephen Rizzo, a brother who was recently released from prison: “It’s been another fabulous year serving Christ Jesus. This year past the Lord has moved my service to World Impact in Chester, PA. There is much happening here! After graduating from Culinary School the Lord took me from living at The Whosoever Gospel Mission to the SIAFU Men’s Leadership Home in Chester, PA. Here I am attending TUMI classes to receive seminary training. I have already completed 7 of the 16 classes in order to get to the next degree. I am also one of the chefs at Seven Harvests, which prepares farm fresh food with original unique recipes to raise funds for the World Impact SIAFU home where I live. SIAFU is a partnership with churches, organizations, and church traditions in order to ensure that their leaders are equipped for effective urban ministry, and empowered to display and advance the Kingdom in unreached communities neighboring my own. I am very truly blessed to have the privilege of calling you my family.”
