While the Colombian cities of Manizales, Pereira, and Armenia form what is known as the “coffee-axis” of the country, and some of the finest beans in the world are grown in this area, outstanding coffee is not the only good thing coming out of this lush and beautiful land.
 

The Anglican Catholic Church is doing good work in the towns and villages of the Quiendo district, and is engaged in a particularly impactful ministry in a small compound on the road between Armenia and Montenegro. This is the site of the Fundacion Manos Unidas de Dios, or the Foundation of the United Hands of God.

Here Father Gustavo Adolfo Gutierrez oversees an elder care home with a special mission—that is to bridge the gap between generations by training young people to care for the indigent elderly in an environment of Christian service.

In a joint program between the ACC, the Catholic University of the North, and Red Salud Armenia, young people serve the elders of the community, while gaining on site training for a career as certified nursing assistant.  While much of the food is grown on site, there is a need for and supplies and medication, Furthermore, many of the trainees at the Fundacion come from families of limited economic resources, and funding for scholarships is a significant need. 

Nestled in one of Atlanta’s historic neighbourhoods, St. Hilda’s is a parish in the ACC's Diocese of the South. While its members are faithful, it is an aging parish; yet despite the challenges posed by its changing demographics, St. Hilda's has great potential for growth. 

Inman Park, like much of the city, is a transforming neighbourhood. Young professionals and families have made this beautiful part of the city their home and see its boundaries as ‘their community’. They walk their dogs through Freedom Park, stroll along North Highland Avenue with their toddlers in tow, bike to work or to the local breweries, and meander along Atlanta’s beautiful pedestrian ‘Beltline’.

Like many landmark neighbourhood  city.
A major theme of the 2023 Joint Synods was evangelism, particularly as a response to cultural apathy towards religion and the decline of the mainline churches in Europe and North America. As part of its North American Mission initiative, the ACC has decided to take on the challenge of planting or revitalising a single parish each year, with St. Hilda's as its first candidate. As such, the SPMS has set a goal for 2024 of raising $100,000 as part of an effort to evangelize this largely affluent, yet un-churched community. 

Some of the funds will go towards outreach, some will go towards renovating St. Hilda's historic building, but the lion's share will go towards supporting Father Creighton McElveen, who has been assigned to St. Hilda's parish as its new Priest-in-Charge. Father Creighton is married to Margaret Ann McElveen, a Certified Nurse Midwife. He holds a B.A. in Intellectual History and Philosophy from Kennesaw State University, an M.A. in Theology, and a Post Graduate Certificate in Theology from St Joseph’s College.

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