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Orthodox Mission Teams

By Andrew Anderson

WE OFFER ASSISTANCE

The Orthodox Christian Mission Center is the mission and evangelism agency of S.C.O.B.A. (Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas). We are steadily growing in our efforts to provide materials, technical, and physical assistance to the numerous needy Orthodox communities spread across the globe.

It is the task of the Mission Center to facilitate the spread of our Holy Orthodox faith, both at home and abroad. We have been doing this overseas by supporting our sister churches in their efforts to construct a solid Orthodox foundation so that they themselves can continue on with missionary endeavors.
The Mission Center is not in a position to address all of the needs of the greater Orthodox community, but we try to respond to different problems as they are presented to us. We have mailed basic material needs such as school supplies, Bibles, liturgy books, icons, vestments, etc. We have sent volunteers to our sister churches to provide long-term technical assistance. We provide financial support.

We stand ready to help our brothers and sisters abroad. One way the Mission Center is bridging the distance between our churches is with the utilization of Orthodox Mission Teams. We have sent teams of Orthodox Christians to offer assistance on various projects. The teams have been establishing a stronger bond of love and friendship among Orthodox communities everywhere.

ORTHODOX MISSION TEAMS

The Orthodox Christian Mission Center utilizes Mission Teams in its efforts to bolster needy Orthodox communities. Mission Teams are groups of Orthodox Christians, representing all jurisdictions (Albanian, Carpatho-Russian, Antiochian, Bulgarian, Greek, O.C.A., Romanian, Serbian, and Ukrainian), who are sent on a short term basis (three to six weeks) to Orthodox communities all over the world. They help the hosting church complete one of its ongoing projects. Mission teams have contributed in building churches, homes, schools, and a medical clinic. They also participated in the restoration of several church properties, teaching, and outreach programs.

The Mission Center will consider sending Mission Teams to any country which has the need and desire to accept one. The Mission Board of Directors will review each request it receives for this new form of cooperation among our Orthodox churches.

BE PART OF A MISSION TEAM, MAKE A DIFFERENCE . . . . .

Orthodox Christians are invited to spend time each summer, offering their witness to the Orthodox Faith, providing physical labor, and being a visible expression of Love, Unity, and Support to needy Orthodox communities.

Persons interested can call or write the Orthodox Christian Mission Center to receive information and applications for the Orthodox Mission Teams.

PROGRAM QUALIFICATIONS:

  1. A completed application
  2. All applications must be accompanied by a letter of recommendation from an Orthodox priest.
  3. You must be an active member of the Orthodox Church.
  4. You must be a spiritually mature individual with good social skills.
  5. You must be at least 18 years old.
  6. You must be in good health.
  7. Orthodox Mission Teams are dependent on the prayers and support of others. Each participant will be required to raise his/her full support.

Those accepted to participate on one of the teams will be expected to be culturally sensitive, motivated, and mature. They will need to be flexible and capable of adapting to the difficult, unfamiliar, and many times uncomfortable realities of life in other environments.


FOR additional information and an application for Orthodox Mission Teams, please contact the Project Coordinator at:

Orthodox Christian Mission Center
P.O. Box 4319
St. Augustine, FL 32084-4319

or call (904) 829-5132; fax (904) 829-1635


We pray that our efforts will be successful in spreading the Holy Orthodox Faith to an ever increasing number of people in the years to come.

Andrew Anderson is a member of the staff of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center, St. Augustine, FL.

Taken from the OCA Resource Handbook for Lay Ministries