The Anglican Church Men's Council of the Anglican Diocese of The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands is boasting of the formation of yet another branch. This time the branch is in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

President of the ACM Council, Kevin Ryan attended the special mass at the Church of St. Monica in Providenciales on Sunday October 30, where he presented the members of the new branch and its executives to the Rector Rev'd Father Bernard Been for induction and installation.

Father Been received the membership and installed the officers charged and encouraged each in their respective positions to carry out their duties to the best of their ability. Installed were: President Eugene Burns; Vice President Wayne Garland; Secretary Allan Robinson; Asst. Secretary Alvin Garland; Treasurer Avi Adams; Asst. Treasurer Manfred Smith; Chaplin Chester Delancy; and Special Advisor Tony Garland.

Taking his text from the Gospel of John 19:5b "Behold the man!", Father Been charged the men in his homily to follow the pattern of manhood given by Christ Himself. He additionally said, "While you men look very dapper in your new uniforms, remember the importance of this moment. Remember that this is an historical moment in the life of this wonderful congregation as this helps to mark our 150th celebration. Remember that Christ Himself is depending on each of you to live out your objective and in so doing impact your homes, your church, your community and your world."

Ryan congratulated the executives and the members of the ACM and encouraged them to grow from strength to strength. He directed them to strive to raise the spiritual awareness of its members and actively respond to the needs of the parish and community at large.

Ryan said, "The aim is to have this organization so active that it is in every Anglican parish in the diocese."  The focus of the ACM branches he said is a Big Brother/Little Brother program. A program he has endorsed for the diocese. "The rearing of boys into manhood, although it's something that is done within the churches must now be extended to the wider community."

Burns, reminiscing of how it all came about, said back in 2008, he along with 5 other men from the parish began to meet twice per month for the sole purpose of fellowship, prayer, and study and to discuss ways to assist the church in whichever way they could.

Burns said, "It was in 2010 after Father Been was instituted as rector and priest in charge of Church of St. Monica, that he issued a challenge to the Men's Fellowship to take it to higher heights and to become a branch of the ACM."  The men accepted the challenge and were very excited about it. Burns said within several months the numbers grew in Men's Fellowship.

 The newly installed president said, "The transition from Men's Fellowship to ACM is seen as merely a name change by the members of the organization as who have pledged to continue to meet, pray, study, fellowship and reach out to the wider community." He said he feels the only difference is that they are now governed or subjected to the constitution of the ACM.

President Burns said the Big Brother Program is something they are eagerly anticipating. "Could you imagine the response from the young men in the diocese who are mentored by a member of an ACM organization?" Burns said the program will have a positive impact on the lives of the young men in particular the troubled young men and the communities in which they reside in this country and in The Bahamas.

He said, "The ACM of Church of St. Monica will continue to be an active organization, one that will make its presence felt in the church and indeed in the wider community. We will work with the Big Brother Program and will continue to work along with other men's groups from other denominations." Burns said it is his vision that the ACM of the Church of St. Monica grows from strength to strength and hopefully by 2012 will have in access of 60 members.

The ACM has 34 members whose ages range from 28 to 62. The ACM will meet the first Tuesday of each month and invites young men who are interested to join.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian