Partnership with America’s Keswick

We’re excited to announce a partnership with The Colony of Mercy at America’s Keswick! We’ve begun a three-month program that will allow for Colony graduates to join the HCBC family to live, work, and continue to grow in their relationship with the Lord. We’re building upon our decades-long history with America’s Keswick by accepting one of their graduates to move onto the property and begin a transitional period of growth.

Executive Director Jon Oldham and Food Service Manager Michael Russo are working together to develop a structured program that will allow the Colony graduate to take the next steps to live the life Christ has intended for them.

Michael is a graduate of The Colony himself and will be using his experience to establish a safe and effective environment for these men to thrive in. After graduating from The Colony in 2017, Michael has served on staff ever since. He, along with other members of leadership, will be helping these men in multiple areas of their lives including financial guidance, finding a permanent living situation, or transportation to and from ministry opportunities.

The program is also built around a strong relationship with a graduate’s local church. The Colony graduate enters a covenant with Keswick and his local church. We at HCBC will encourage this covenant and establish one ourselves to go hand in hand with the church and Keswick. The men will also have a mentor assigned to them by the church. Accountability lunches with Jon, Michael, the mentor, and the graduate are a wonderful way to be transparent and keep everyone on the same page.

When asked what he benefited from most, Michael said; “Accountability and transparency were absolutely crucial to my success coming out of The Colony. Being honest with Jon about my past and what I needed to be successful in my recovery was a big reason for me being where I am today.”

We are very encouraged by what God is doing here! We believe there needs to be a place that provides employment opportunities and Biblical guidance to men who may otherwise not have many options. A verse that we are leaning on during this journey is 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”