Orthodox Missions at a Glance in 2010

Orthodox Missions at a Glance in 2010

by Alex Goodwin

Four billion. This is the estimated number of non-Christians in the world today. With conservative estimates of global population reaching nearly 6.7 billion, only 33% of people the world over count themselves as members of the Body of Christ. What is the vision of our Church for the other 66%? What is our individual response to this vision?

Traditionally, one of the functions of the Church has been to invite those outside the Body into a relationship with Christ. Historically, the form this work has taken has varied from generation to generation; and over the centuries, the chapters of the Church’s disciple making efforts have been colored and characterized in many ways. But, what is the current state of the missions movement among the Christian faithful? How will this impact the four billion non-Christians in the world?

Among Orthodox Christians, interest in missions and missiona ry activity seems to be on the increase. The Church appears to be growing in countries where it is newly emerging or remerging. Leading this charge is a cadre of mission-minded hierarchs deeply committed to sharing Christ with the world. Orthodox mission agencies from Greece, Russia, Finland, and North America to name a few are undertaking disciple-making initiatives across the globe; the administrative heads of these agencies will be meeting in Minsk later this year to discuss these efforts.

For over 20 years, the current generation of North American Orthodox Christians have been cultivating and growing an expression of their faith to take to others. They have been learning from the past and applying the tools of today. Each year the Orthodox voice in the world grows louder, resulting in more people coming into the open arms of the Church.

But what are North American Orthodox Christians doing toward missions in the coming year? In 2010, through the Orthodox C hristian Mission Center (OCMC), the Orthodox Church will continue to offer a witness to the Faith by ministering to the spiritual and physical needs of others in over 20 countries.

Eighteen long-term missionaries who will be, or have been, dedicating two or more years of their lives to missions will coordinate and operate ministries of the Orthodox Church in Albania, Romania, and Tanzania. Fourteen mission teams comprised of volunteers from nearly all the canonical Orthodox jurisdictions of North America will serve in 12 countries, supporting the mission efforts of the Church by teaching catechism, providing health care, organizing youth camps, and offering outreach. Ten philanthropic ministries of the Church in seven countries will receive funding from grants awarded by the OCMC; 400 priests in 19 countries will receive the support they need to continue serving the needs of their growing parishes.

As much as the scope and interest in this vital work of the Church has grown, more resources and a deeper dedication to making disciples will be needed if we are to see profound changes in the percentage of people who identify themselves as Christian. We would be hard pressed to find any work of greater importance. After all, what do we have to share with others if not the fulness of the Orthodox Faith? What cure to the ills of the world is there but Christ?

It is when the missionary vocation is unapologetically embraced by all Orthodox faithful that this generation’s proclamation that Christ is Risen, which began as a whisper, will become a shout; and then all those who have never heard will be filled with the good news of the Gospel and the hope of eternal life.

The Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) is the official missions agency of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) dedicated to fulfilling Christ’s last command to make disciples of all nations.

Zimbabwe, and eleven other countries around the world, will receive mission teams in 2010. Mission teams are but one example of the OCMC ministries that will share Christ and work toward making disciples of all nations in the coming year.

For more information contact:
Mr. Alex Goodwin
Communications Director
Orthodox Christian Mission Center
1-877-463-6784
communications@ocmc.org

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