The Department of Evangelization combines the work of the former OCA Office of Church Growth and Evangelism and the former OCA Missions Ministries Unit, focusing its attention on studying and acting upon the Great Commission of Our Lord to “teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” As such, the Department develops and promotes guidelines for the planting of missions and new communities, offers assistance in revitalizing established parishes and communities in decline, provides resources for evangelization, outreach and Church growth ministries, and offers workshops, consulting services and other resources to dioceses, deaneries, parishes and missions.
The Department also oversees the Church Planting Grant Program, which provides matching grants for up to three years to support full-time clergy in fledgling mission communities. Through the Church Planting Grant Program, dozens of new communities have been established in regions that previously had little or no Orthodox Christian presence. Funding for the Grant program is provided by the annual Mission Appeal.
While the Department’s central committee develops and implements mission, growth, and evangelization strategies, consultants representing their respective dioceses assist in the process and assess needs and potentials on the regional and local levels.
Website: goodnews.oca.org
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Resources
2003 Conference — “Rediscovering the Great Commission: Baptize All Nations”
June 9 - 11th, 2003
Evangelism and Mission 1: The Basis and Nature of the Orthodox Evangelistic Mandate
by Fr. David Rucker
Evangelism and Missions 2: The Historical Legacy: Mission & Evangelism from the Fathers to Today
by Fr. Steven Freeman
Contextualization: Introduction & Overview
by Fr. Edward Rommen
Contextualization 2: The Gospel in the Secularized North American Context
by Fr. Basil Aden
Use of the Demographic Tools: How can we reach them?
by Fr. Jonathan Ivanoff
2004 Conference — “Continuing the Mission of the North American Saints”
August 30 - September 1, 2004
1st Session: Revitalizing Parishes Presentation
1st Session: Revitalizing Parishes Accompanying Notes
by Fr. Jonathan Ivanoff
2nd Session: Inner City Parishes
by Fr. Joseph Hirsch
3rd Session: Ethnic Parishes
by Fr. Vladimir Alexeev
4th Session: Healing Divisions in Parishes
by Fr. Joseph Lickwar
5th Session: Parishes in Declining Regions
by Fr. Thomas Soroka
6th Session: Mission Oriented Parishes
by Fr. John Pierce
7th Session: Building Community in Parishes
by Fr. Eric George Tosi
2011 — 16th AAC Resources
Parish Revitalization Interview
with Fr. Jonathan Ivanoff and Joe Kormos
2012 — March 31 - April 5
The Fields are Ripe for the Harvest
by Fr. John Parker
Additional Resources
Catechism and Evangelization: An Examination into the issues and process of receiving converts into the Orthodox Faith.
Slideshow (PowerPoint presentation)
Notes (PDF)
Church Planting Grant Documentation
The Mission Planter’s Resource Kit
News release on the Mission Planter’s Resource Kit.
Guidelines for Missions