Develop<strong>in</strong>g MissionsMissionsat the Heart of Local Parish M<strong>in</strong>istry“Church is a reality of the love of God for this world. It is not man’s response,and it is not self-centered, but precisely a missionary community whosepurpose is not salvation from, but salvation of, the world.”—Fr. Alexander SchmemannFr. Andrew Harrison, St. Luke <strong>Orthodox</strong> Church (OCA), Palos Hills, Ill<strong>in</strong>ois“Inspired by the missionary sa<strong>in</strong>ts who first established the <strong>Orthodox</strong>Church <strong>in</strong> Alaska and the call ‘to preach the gospel toall nations,’ St. Luke parish was founded with the mission statebyKenneth KiddLEFT : Holy CrossAntiochian <strong>Orthodox</strong>Church <strong>in</strong> Yakima,Wash<strong>in</strong>gton, whereFr. Joseph Copelandserves and holds astrong belief <strong>in</strong> the importanceof missionsstewardship.Many <strong>Orthodox</strong> parishes across the country, both large andsmall alike, recognize that missions, while a vital aspect <strong>in</strong>our personal walks with Christ, is also central to the m<strong>in</strong>istriesand life of the local parish. Many years ago dur<strong>in</strong>g a visit toSt. Anne <strong>Orthodox</strong> Church (OCA) <strong>in</strong> Oak Ridge, Tennessee, I rememberbe<strong>in</strong>g immediately struck by missions as I walked throughthe front door of the church. Not only was there a bullet<strong>in</strong> boardpromot<strong>in</strong>g missions opportunities available through the OCMC,along with prayer cards for long-term missionaries, but <strong>in</strong>formationand opportunities from our sister agencies, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g IOCC andOCF. Likewise, it was practically impossible for me to hang up mycoat because scattered across the floor were b<strong>in</strong>s and barrels collect<strong>in</strong>gfood, clothes, and other items for local community m<strong>in</strong>istries.Among these b<strong>in</strong>s was a large box collect<strong>in</strong>g Bibles to be sent to missionpriests served through OCMC m<strong>in</strong>istries, which prompted myvisit. I left Oak Ridge <strong>in</strong>spired by the vision and connection that thissmall Appalachian Mounta<strong>in</strong>s mission parish felt with their brothersand sisters not only <strong>in</strong> their community, but throughout the world!Through my work at the OCMC, it has been a bless<strong>in</strong>gto serve, as well as learn from, many small parishes who arebuild<strong>in</strong>g beautiful missions m<strong>in</strong>istries. I recently got to knowFr. Andrew Harrison, priest of St. Luke <strong>Orthodox</strong> Church(OCA), <strong>in</strong> Palos Hills, Ill<strong>in</strong>ois.This small parish <strong>in</strong> suburban Chicago has cultivated numerousopportunities for the faithful to participate <strong>in</strong> missionsboth <strong>in</strong>ternationally as well as <strong>in</strong> their own community,and he sees the two as complement<strong>in</strong>g each other. OCMCm<strong>in</strong>istries have regularly benefited from its members serv<strong>in</strong>gon mission teams as well as from an endowment this parishhas grown that matches parishioner gifts, and <strong>in</strong> turn, doublesit! Fr. Andrew offered the follow<strong>in</strong>g reflection on why missionsis so important <strong>in</strong> parish life:22 OCMC MISSION MAGAZINE • WWW.OCMC.ORG
ment to become an 'Icon of an American<strong>Orthodox</strong> Church.' In order to fulfill thisvision, the found<strong>in</strong>g members conceivedthe mission as hav<strong>in</strong>g two prongs: mission<strong>in</strong> North America and mission <strong>in</strong>ternationally.“<strong>The</strong> faithful of St. Luke have a beautifulpresence here <strong>in</strong> our community. Overthe years, they have cultivated local m<strong>in</strong>istriesthat <strong>in</strong>clude: monthly prayer serviceand fellowship at a home for mentallychallengedadults; annually host<strong>in</strong>g an ecumenicalmemorial service for September11th; weekly host<strong>in</strong>g of homeless womenand children as part of a network of localchurches; offer<strong>in</strong>g meet<strong>in</strong>g space for threeself-help groups; and mak<strong>in</strong>g availablean open air public shr<strong>in</strong>e so anyone canpray and light a candle 24 hours a day. Amonthly offer<strong>in</strong>g is taken to help a varietyof charitable causes and this amount collectedis matched by an endowment fund.“Missions beyond our community beganat St. Luke with Project Mexico, andhave s<strong>in</strong>ce grown to also <strong>in</strong>clude work onNative American reservations throughYoung <strong>Orthodox</strong> <strong>Christian</strong> AmericanMissions Association. Through OCMC,short-term mission team members havebeen sent for teach<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> India, two youthcamps <strong>in</strong> Romania, church constructionand medical mission <strong>in</strong> <strong>Tanzania</strong>, andserv<strong>in</strong>g at the Hogar Raphael Orphanage<strong>in</strong> Guatemala. This year, six <strong>in</strong>dividuals areprepar<strong>in</strong>g to serve <strong>in</strong> Alaska as part of anOCMC team!“One may ask, has all this missionaryactivity added numbers to the congregation?<strong>The</strong> answer to this question is‘slightly. Our parish of 80 families has replacedthose who move on and has addeda few new members each year. <strong>The</strong> purposeof this missionary activity is not to ga<strong>in</strong>new members. <strong>The</strong> Lord will send themif His work is be<strong>in</strong>g done. <strong>The</strong> purpose isto fulfill the grand commission of JesusChrist. Jesus Christ calls all <strong>Christian</strong>s tothis task. People who jo<strong>in</strong> St. Luke parishare expected to heed the call. Christsaid, ‘<strong>The</strong> fields are ripe for harvest but thelaborers are few.’ To be a member of St.Luke parish, it is expected that a memberwill take on some m<strong>in</strong>istry. All m<strong>in</strong>istrieshave but one purpose, to fulfill the grandcommission: from parish council presidentto candle stand cleaner. <strong>The</strong> grandcommission <strong>in</strong>cludes mak<strong>in</strong>g disciples. Ifall members cont<strong>in</strong>ue to fulfill their m<strong>in</strong>istry,then they are becom<strong>in</strong>g disciples andwill eventually jo<strong>in</strong> the mission field.”Another community that I havecome to know is Holy Cross Antiochian<strong>Orthodox</strong> Church <strong>in</strong> Yakima,Wash<strong>in</strong>gton. For many years now, HolyCross has offered a generous monthlystewardship offer<strong>in</strong>g to the OCMC. Fr.Joseph Copeland, priest at Holy Cross,offered the follow<strong>in</strong>g reflection on whymissions stewardship is important:LEFT : In the midst of grow<strong>in</strong>g m<strong>in</strong>istries and capitalprojects, Fr. Joseph Copeland ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>s missionsas a core activity that the parish must cont<strong>in</strong>ue tosupport on a monthly basis.ABOVE : Missions is just one of the m<strong>in</strong>istries centralto the work of the faithful at Holy Cross <strong>in</strong> Yakima. <strong>The</strong>St. John of Kronstadt School is another, pictured here.Fr. Joseph Copeland, Holy Cross Antiochian<strong>Orthodox</strong> Church, Yakima, Wash<strong>in</strong>gton“In 1987 our little group of 75 folkswas received <strong>in</strong>to the communion of the<strong>Orthodox</strong> Church through the lov<strong>in</strong>gk<strong>in</strong>dness of His Em<strong>in</strong>ence MetropolitanPhilip of the Antiochian <strong>Orthodox</strong>Church. We are now about 300 soulsand have planted, participated <strong>in</strong> plant<strong>in</strong>g,and are plant<strong>in</strong>g other missions <strong>in</strong>our area. If we believe that the <strong>Orthodox</strong>Church is the True Church establishedby Jesus Christ accord<strong>in</strong>g to the Apostolicwitness, that the Church is the sacramentalreality of Christ’s K<strong>in</strong>gdom onEarth, and that it is <strong>in</strong> that sacramentalreality that we are jo<strong>in</strong>ed to Christ andparticipate <strong>in</strong> His eternal life, then it isour greatest call<strong>in</strong>g and privilege to laborfor the plant<strong>in</strong>g of that Church allaround us and throughout the world!That is why we are so glad to supportthe work of OCMC with our small offer<strong>in</strong>geach month. May God bless itand the work of OCMC.”Parishes are discover<strong>in</strong>g the joy thatresults from a holistic approach thattouches both the local community aswell as around the world. <strong>The</strong> witnessoffered by those who serve and/or support<strong>in</strong>ternational missions <strong>in</strong>spiresand encourages those serv<strong>in</strong>g the localcommunity and vice versa. <strong>The</strong> OCMCrema<strong>in</strong>s a resource for <strong>in</strong>ternationalmissions for all <strong>Orthodox</strong> faithful asyou consider your response to Christ’sGreat Commission to “make disciplesof all nations,” whether as an <strong>in</strong>dividual,with<strong>in</strong> your family, or as part of yourlocal parish. We are able to offer a varietyof resources for your Bible Study,Sunday School, Youth Group, as well asyour family!To bra<strong>in</strong>storm and discuss opportunitiesto further engage your parishcommunity or group <strong>in</strong> the work of<strong>in</strong>ternational missions, and beg<strong>in</strong> theprocess of build<strong>in</strong>g an <strong>in</strong>ternationalmissions program, please give OCMCAnnual Gifts Officer Kenneth Kidd acall at 904-829-5132, ext. 161, or sendhim an e-mail at kenny@ocmc.org.OCMC MISSION MAGAZINE • SPRING 201323
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