Church Planting Grant Program receives anonymous donation funding four additional missions in 2008

SYOSSET, NY [OCA Communications]

The OCA Central Administration and the Department of Evangelization are pleased to announce that an anonymous donor has stepped forward to fund Church Planting Grants for four additional missions in 2008. The gift totals $60,000.00.

The donor expressed the belief that the Church’s new Central Administrative Team is demonstrating a genuine commitment to carrying out their duties in a transparent and accountable manner. An example of this commitment, the donor said, was the OCA’s six-month financial report and other financial information posted earlier this week. The donor chose to show support for the Administrative Team’s efforts through a donation to one of the Church’s ministries.

Having learned that only two missions were to be awarded Church Planting Grants in 2008, due to low response from the 2007 Mission Appeal, the donor focused on this program. There is nothing more fundamental to the life of the Church, the donor said, than fulfilling the Lord’s Great Commission to “Go and make disciples of all nations.”(Mathew 28:19) The gift was given with the expressed intent that the funds go to supporting qualified missions that applied for the Planting Grant.

The Church Planting Grant is used exclusively to pay part of the salary for a full-time rector at a qualifying mission. Statistics have shown that full-time pastoral leadership in a mission is crucial to its long-term success. The remainder of the salary comes from the mission itself. The number of Grants awarded is directly decided by the amount that was brought in by the OCA’s Annual Mission Appeal, which takes place every February.

“This is a great gift for the Planting Grant Program,” stated Archpriest Eric George Tosi, Chairman of the Department of Evangelization. “It demonstrates in a tangible way the good work that has been done by the Grant Program in the past and confidence in the work for the future.”

The two missions initially awarded Planting Grants for 2008 were:

• St. Christina of Tyre Mission, Fremont, CA (Diocese of West). Under the pastoral charge of Priest Michael Anderson, this mission now has 38 adults and 14 children. It is very active, with a host of ministries in the area. Although challenged with being located in a very high income area, St. Christina of Tyre Mission has made huge strides and has built for itself a firm foundation.
• St. Herman of Alaska Mission, Fairbanks, AK (Diocese of Alaska). Located in an economically challenged area of Alaska’s second largest city, this mission was founded in 1977 but was unable to get firmly established for many years. After completing just one year of the Planting Grant, with full-time rector Priest Fr. Mikel Bock the mission has increased membership to 55 adults and 29 children, with an average attendance of 40. “The mission has done everything right,” Fr. Tosi said, “and has shown the value of giving a Grant to an established, older mission in a challenging area.”

The four additional missions that will now receive Grants in 2008 are:

• Christ the Savior Mission, Stafford, VA (Diocese of Washington and New York). Under their new rector, Archpriest Michael Sekela, this mission has a membership of 47 adults and 22 children, with and an average attendance of 35 people. Christ the Savior Mission is exclusively renting a beautiful Episcopal church in an area that is rapidly growing.
• Holy Cross Mission, Greensboro, NC (Diocese of South). This mission has met an urgent need for an English-language Orthodox community in the area. In its first year the mission grew by 82%. Currently it has 41 adults and 21 children, with an average attendance of 51. “This is an area where we must be establishing missions,” Fr. Eric stated. “The region has demonstrated remarkable growth.” The rector of Holy Cross Mission is Priest Christopher Foley.
• Holy Ascension Mission, Olympia, WA (Diocese of West). Located in the State capital, this mission has been firmly established and done very well. With rector, Priest Athanasius Shaw there are currently 28 adults and 19 children, with an average attendance of 31. The Department has followed and assisted Holy Ascension Mission over the last year and is very confident in its success.
• Holy Apostles Mission, Mechanicsburg, PA (Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania). The Membership of this mission has rapidly grown to 65 adults and 25 children, with an average attendance of 84 people. They have found excellent facilities and are very active. “Holy Apostles Mission has been a bright star in Eastern Pennsylvania,” Fr. Eric said, “and has demonstrated that growth is possible in the region.” Their rector is Priest Timothy Hojnicki.

“We are very grateful to this donor for offering support to the Planting Grant program,” said Director of Ministries and Communications, Archpriest Andrew Jarmus. “These are not easy times; we have made progress but we are not out of the woods yet. Nevertheless, regardless of the context in which we find ourselves, our Church’s basic work, laid out for us by Christ Himself, cannot be put on ‘hold’. The good will and support expressed by this gift is tremendously encouraging to the new Administrative Team.”

It is hoped that, in the spirit of this donor, other potential benefactors would step forward and offer their support to our OCA Departments as they do their part in fulfilling our Church’s mission in North America.