Amigos en Cristo Ministries springs from the relationship of local pastors of Juarez, serving in Anapra and Felipe Angeles, two communities just west of Juarez, Mexico.
We focus on afterschool programs, while also supplying nutritious meals for the children though our established garden. AeC enhances educational enrichment with visual and musical arts. All efforts and tasks are accomplished with our dedicated team, serving with fellowship in Christianity.
We established Amigos en Cristo Ministries as a Non-Profit 501(c)(3) organization, understanding the importance of building the foundation of our organization.
With the direct result of the corporation and direction of local pastors and community leaders, we have successfully established two community centers, a garden to supply food for our children, and a fine arts center. We aspire to continue the momentum with the addition of a third community center at the site of the fine arts center.
We hope our enthusiasm in serving Christ in this way, will inspire you to join us as a volunteer and/or as a financial donor. As with everything in life, we require a passion to accomplish, a belief in the power of love to make a difference, and the actions to follow our hearts.
Our immediate and future goals include:
For Both existing centers, our goals include:
Amigos en Cristo is seeking your support for the sustained needs, including:
Lily Angel, Executive DirectorMrs. Angel and her family are residents of Juarez and attend the Olivo Community Church. Lily and her husband, Manuel, lead the marriage ministry in their church and are active in many other evangelistic events serving the youth and adults in their community.
Lily joins AeC Ministries with more than 12 years of experience working in the profit and nonprofit sectors. Mrs. Angel has worked in administrative positions for the Mexican government and for various orphanages in Juarez. While working for the Department of Social Cohesion and Citizen Participation, Lily was responsible for 15 community centers and managed a staff of 112 people. Lily has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and a Master’s Degree in Social Sciences for Public Policy and Design. Due to her previous positions, Lily has gained connections with the business community, as well as the Mexican government, and has knowledge of how the ministry can receive financial support from both. Lily has a heart for serving children and families in need.
Pastors and community leaders said the #1 community need, was an after-school program for children as parents work much longer hours than the public-school day of 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon.
Amigos en Cristo programs run from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. serving 100+ children through the school year, and 80+ during summer camp. Thus far, we have ministered to almost 600 children in the after-school programs and over 500 children in the open school program. All programs follow the educational curriculum of Mexico’s Education Secretary; according to the grade of the student, the teachers prepare the classes to meet the standards of Mexico’s government.
With our programs, kids can be kids, playing, learning, discovering about themselves and learning about Jesus. The staff works with the children with hearts grounded in Christianity.
AeC provides financial support for many of our after-school students. AeC is there to support parents who do not have the financial resources available to pay for their children to attend public school. We believe in the necessity of education and believe that attending the public school will afford our students a better future than their current path. AeC staff collaborates with the public school staff to ensure the success of the children. The public school teachers have demonstrated their support for our students, and report that our students’ test scores are significantly higher than students who are not involved in AeC’s after- school program.
Support for these children requires fees for registration, school supplies, purchase of uniforms, and participation in the after-school program.
A New Start: the 10-14 age and Open School/GED Program at Amistad and New Beginnings Community Centers
The 10-14 Program is a government program to provide students another chance to complete their formal education after having previously dropped out of school. Amigos en Cristo Ministries includes staff members skilled at teaching these students and assist in their completion of elementary and/or junior high school learning requirements.
For those who would like to support a student in this program, the monthly support cost is $50, providing for the cost of staffing this program at both of our community centers.
Amistad was the first community center acquired when Amigos en Cristo Ministries incorporated in 2008. The neighborhood has great need for people to be the salt of the earth, coming together for a better life for all. The uses of our community centers expand past education, to opportunities of family involvement, such as performance programs, celebration of holidays, graduation ceremonies, parenting classes and also teen retreats.
The Amistad property comprises several buildings and amenities including;
A larger building with a fellowship room with a kitchen for daily lunches, after school classes, community programs and mission team meals.
Another building with multiple rooms for an office and classroom.
A guest house is situated on an upper level and is used for small mission groups, families coming to work and visiting pastors coming for training.
An additional building serves as storage for building supplies and tools with a second floor used for crafts and other classes.
A caretaker’s apartment is included on the property.
Also included is a playground, and an open area used for soccer practice and parking as necessary.
Behind the larger building is the garden, attended to by Professor Alex and the open school students.
A high fence surrounds the grounds, with a secure gate that is kept locked, and opened to allow entry for each approved person.
New Beginnings Community Center was acquired by AeC Ministries in 2010 with the desire to expand our outreach to a larger number of wonderfully deserving children and families. As with our Amistad Community Center, New Beginnings welcomes the community for celebrations and other events. This center is additionally the base for a teen ministry, with meetings on Friday nights. Teens also meet in various locations within the community for outreach to other teens, fellowship passing from one heart to another.
The New Beginnings property includes the following amenities:
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