Our Mission
The Onesimus Group Milwaukee equips believers inside and partners with churches outside to strengthen relationships, deepen discipleship and create innovative pathways for meaningful engagement between congregations on the outside. We believe re-entry begins well before release and is sustained when the Body of Christ walks together in unity.
Our Story
Years ago, a Salvation Army preacher stood before a room of incarcerated men—men he had known, mentored, and worshiped with for over 20 years. These weren’t just inmates. These were singers, musicians, preachers, and leaders behind the walls. That preacher was Envoy Thom McMahan, a pillar in correctional ministry who served over 25 years with the Salvation Army’s Wisconsin and Upper Michigan Division, pouring into men who were behind bars but not beyond purpose.
One night during a sermon, Thom looked at the men and said, “I saw you all free. You were outside. And your name was Onesimus Returns.” At the time, none of us were even close to being released. Some had no dates at all. Yet Thom believed in equipping—not just encouraging—the body of Christ incarcerated.
That is the heart of true prison ministry: equipping those behind bars to lead, minister, and disciple their peers. Years later, that vision became real. Many of those men were released. I was one of them.
Today, that same spirit lives on in The Onesimus Group Milwaukee—a ministry rooted in that same moment of vision, shaped by real lives, and driven by a mission: to equip returning citizens to lead with purpose, serve with power, and live out the Gospel. Volunteers who enter prisons do more than give time. They plant seed. They water hope. And sometimes—like Thom—they prophetically name the harvest long before it’s visible.
We are that harvest.
This is the Onesimus Group Milwaukee. This is Onesimus... returned.
Why Onesimus?
Leadership
Minister Roy
Executive Director
Minister Roy Rogers is the Founder and Executive Director of The Onesimus Group Milwaukee, a gospel-driven organization committed to restoring connection between the incarcerated church and the free church. His work centers on developing practical, relationship-based reentry models that equip both returning citizens and the communities receiving them.
Sam White
Creative Architect and Ambassador
Sam White, the Creative Architect and Ambassador for the Onesimus Group Milwaukee is a writer, thought leader, and whose work operates at the intersection of justice, mental health, culture, and redemptive storytelling. Currently incarcerated, his voice is shaped by lived experience, sharpened through reflection, and delivered with a clarity that confronts reality while pointing toward transformation.
Andrae L. Bridges
Vice President of Advocacy and Engagement
Andrae L. Bridges serves as the Vice President of Advocacy & Engagement for The Onesimus Group Milwaukee, where he helps lead relational strategy, advocacy efforts, and community engagement across both faith-based and justice-impacted spaces. His work is central to advancing the organization’s mission of restoring connection between the incarcerated church and the free church, ensuring that engagement is both meaningful and sustainable.
Demetrous Elam Jr.
Director of Youth and Culture Engagement
Demetrous Elam Jr. serves as the Director of Youth & Culture Engagement for The Onesimus Group Milwaukee, where he provides strategic insight into youth development, cultural relevance, and next-generation engagement. A committed follower of Jesus, Demetrous brings both spiritual depth and cultural fluency to the organization’s work, ensuring that its message and methods remain grounded, accessible, and impactful for the emerging generation.
Sherry Bridges
Treasurer
Sherry Bridges serves as Treasurer of The Onesimus Group Milwaukee, bringing financial stewardship, organizational discipline, and a deeply rooted commitment to redemptive work. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and provides oversight that supports the integrity and sustainability of the organization’s mission.