Missions and Evangelism
The Department of Missions and Evangelism was established in 1988 to "Make America Orthodox," in the words of His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP. To fulfill that dream, the department endeavors to: 1) build new missions in North American cities of over 100,000 population which have no Orthodox Church of any jurisdiction; 2) respond to invitations of lay groups of Orthodox Christians who desire an English-speaking parish; 3) cultivate relationships with independent (generally Protestant) communities which desire to become Orthodox; 4) work with non-Orthodox pastors who desire to become Orthodox; 5) cooperate with College Ministry to develop mission parishes adjacent to major college campuses with no English-speaking Orthodox Church nearby; and 6) train and encourage Antiochian Orthodox priests and lay leaders to promote Orthodox Christian evangelism in their communities and begin new missions in nearby localities.
Since Metropolitan PHILIP founded this department 108 missions (excluding Western Rite parishes) have been established by the Antiochian Archdiocese. Of these, fifty-five have grown to full parishes. At present the department is developing missions in seven cities across the United States and Canada, and is exploring possibilities in several more.
"The Orthodox Church is not only for one nation, one civilization, one continent. It is like God Himself, for all and for every place."
-Patriarch Ignatius IV, February 6, 1987
"I feel strongly that our best gift to America will be a stable Christianity that is rooted in the Bible, holy tradition and the Fathers of the Church."
-Metropolitan PHILIP in Christianity Today, March 13, 1987
"Our Fathers brought Orthodoxy to America. Now it's our responsibility to bring America to Orthodoxy."
-Fr. James Meena
New missions and parishes founded by the Antiochian Archdiocese
Discovering Original Christianity in Oklahoma City
Fr. Jeremy Davis, Deacon Ezra Ham, Fr. James Bernstein, Matthew Gallatin, John Maddex and Fr. Constantine NasrConciliar Media Ministries under the direction of CEO John Maddex coordinated an evangelism project in Oklahoma City June 19 and 20 with funding provided by the Antiochian Archdiocese as well as Charles Ajalat of the Orthodox Vision Foundation. Central Oklahoma was saturated with a four-week media blitz that included newpaper, radio, television, billboards, yard signs, and internet advertising. The advertising campaign was led by St. Elijah members Richard Yeager, John and Kathi Larson, and Mark Loftis.
On the local level Fr. Constantine Nasr, Sr. Pastor of St. Elijah Church, headed up a pan-Orthodox effort that included Fr. John Tsaras of St. George Greek Church, Fr. Raphael Moore of St. Mary Ukrainien Church, Fr. Anthony Nelson of St. Benedict Russian Church; and Fr. Justin McFeeters of Holy Ascension, Fr. Basil McMurry of St. James Mission, and Fr. Mark Wallace of St. Andrew Church (all Antiochian).
Guest speakers for the two-day event were Fr. James Bernstein and author Matthew Gallatin. Over 800 attended with as many as 90% of those attending being non-Orthodox.
Click here to visit the website for the Discover Original Christianity project.
The 2009 Orthodox Conference on Missions and Evangelism
September 4-7
Antiochian Village, Ligonier, Pennsylvania
The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese Department of Missions and Evangelism is proud to welcome as our keynote speaker for the 2009 Orthodox Conference on Missions and Evangelism...
His Beatitude the Most Blessed
JONAH
Primate of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). Archbishop of Washington and New York, Metropolitan of All America and Canada
“One Faith, One Church, One Message: the Necessity of Orthodox Unity in America to Bring America to Orthodoxy”
