Service organization seeks to bring people to Christ

The Brotherhood of St. Andrew has been installed at St. Peter’s in Altavista, with seven members. Begun in 1883 in Chicago, and chartered by Congress under President Theodore Roosevelt, the Brotherhood has grown to become a worldwide organization with member chapters in countries around the world.
Tenets of the Brotherhood include a commitment by members to daily prayer, study and service to Christ by emulating Andrew who, upon meeting Christ, brought his brother, Simon, to meet Jesus. Likewise, Brothers are committed to “bringing men and youth to Christ.” (The well-established Daughters of the King, which has several chapters in the diocese is patterned after the Brotherhood of St. Andrew.)
The Altavista chapter began at Easter time, when a group of men of the parish gathered each week for an evening of bible study. Not long after, the Rev. Karen Kelly suggested the group look into forming a chapter of the Brotherhood. Papers were then filed with the national organization, and Southwestern Virginia’s first chapter of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew came into being. After several weeks of prayer and study, the group was officially installed.
In the short period of time it has been chartered, the chapter has taken on many activities in the community and in the parish. Last year, the parish voted to use about $50,000 in seed money to construct a local shelter for victims of domestic violence, who currently must travel to Bedford or Danville for safe haven. The Brotherhood has continued to raise money for the project by sponsoring a concert by visiting guitarist Philippe Bertaud, which raised over $1700 and an additional concert featuring an opera singer that raised $5500.
It has also quietly helped a victim of domestic violence by moving her belongings to a new location, coordinating gifts of furniture and supplies and passing the hat among themselves to pay her electric bill.
This active group has also:
* organized the parish’s Prisoner Angel Tree Ministry, and
* prepared a special dinner for the women of the parish that so delighted the women that they quickly reciprocated with a dinner of their own prepared for the men.
In 2008, the chapter hopes to hold a diocesan retreat at the Phoebe Needles Center and possibly begin a youth mentoring program or prison outreach ministry.
“We’d love to create interest in this organization among other parishes in the diocese. I am convinced it’s an ideal vehicle for men to participate in a deeper level in their Christian mission,” said member Len Rogers.

Members of this group are open to assisting other parishes in the diocese with information on starting their own chapter. Please contact Len Rogers, 434-369-4641 or rrogersjr@ft.newyorklife.com