Cidade de Deus (City of God) is one of Brazil's most disadvantaged communities. Built in the sixties to provide a new start for Rio de Janeiro's urban poor, it has become a notorious shanty town, far from being a new hope for the oppressed.

In 2002, Fernando Meirelles' award-winning film brought City of God to international attention. But in spite of new injections of cash, the community continues to experience appalling levels of deprivation:

- Only 3% of local people have completed secondary education;

- 22% of residents are unemployed;

- Life expectancy is just 66 (the Brazilian average is above 70);

- 14% of teenage girls are pregnant;

- Average income is just US$ 100.00 per month.

Few people can have failed to have heard of our community since its tragic story was brought to the big screen five years ago. The Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil is committed to staying in City of God and participating in the building of a New Jerusalem.

To say that Christ is King is to say that love has the last word in a hostile world. We invite you to stand by us and let there be love in Cidade de Deus.