POSITION: Major Gift Officer
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Open until filled
SALARY RANGE: $60,000.00 - Negotiable
QUALIFICATIONS:
The Orthodox Christian Mission Center is now accepting applications for the position of Major Gift Officer. The Major Gift Officer is responsible for all facets of fundraising for the Mission Center. The successful candidate will identify, cultivate, solicit and steward major donors. He/she will nurture long-term relationships with contributors including individuals, corporations, and foundations.
The Major Gift Officer will report to the Associate Director and work closely with the Executive Director providing support for identification of potential donors, cultivation and solicitation.
Minimum qualifications for the position include experience in major gift fundraising. Managerial, organization, interpersonal, and communication skills are required. Knowledge of fundraising and ability to prepare proposals from start to finish are essential.
TO APPLY: Submit your resume and cover letter, including a brief statement of fundraising qualifications with emphasis on past experience to: Fr. Martin Ritsi, Executive Director, Orthodox Christian Mission Center, 220 Mason Manatee Way, St. Augustine, FL 32086 or by email to missions@ocmc.org. For additional information please contact Fr. David Rucker, Associate Director, by phone at (904) 829-5123 ext. 102 or by e-mail at assocdirector@ocmc.org.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Images of Orthodox East Africa
After months of fundraising and anxious preparation, my son Michael and I finally embarked on our very first mission trip. On July 27th we departed for the remote regions of Tanzania in East Africa. This trip proved to be the most exciting and exhilarating journey I have ever been on, yet at the same time the most exhausting.
Our mission commenced on the shores of Florida’s eastern Atlantic coast in the historic city of St. Augustine. We were warmly welcomed by the dedicated staff of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center who provided us with our final orientation. Joining us in St. Augustine were our team leader Fr. Michael Miklos and Briana Finui, both of the American Carpatho-Russian Diocese. The four of us comprised the American side of our mission team. We met the other half - four members of the Church of Finland - in Amsterdam. Our international team was jointly co-sponsored by SCOBA (Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas) and the Orthodox Church of Finland. Ours was the first OCMC mission team equally composed of four members from two different countries.
As soon as we touched down in Uganda, we knew we had entered another world. The main roads were lined with endless venders selling various goods from small wooden shacks. Women wore colorful tongas with small babies strapped across their backs, yet somehow managing to balance tall round baskets on top of their heads, amid a noisy and never-ending stream of pedestrians, bicycles and speeding automobiles.
We finally arrived in the small town of Kayanga located in the district of Karagwe in the northwestern tip of Tanzania, which was to be our temporary home. Karagwe is near the scenic southwestern shore of Lake Victoria. Our task was twofold: first, to teach courses on Orthodox faith and theology to one hundred students of various ages at a special seminar organized by the local Metropolitan, Jeronymos of Mwanza; and secondly, to be ‘ambassadors of good will’ to the people of Tanzania as we traveled with the Metropolitan to various communities throughout his diocese.
Under the inspired leadership of Metropolitan Jeronymos, the Church in this particular region of Tanzania is experiencing an incredible thirty percent annual growth rate, with a new seminary, churches, clinics and schools. Metropolitan Jeronymos was born in Uganda and educated in Athens, and is fluent in both Greek and English. It was a great honor to work with this man and his devoted staff in such a unique and blessed ministry.
Our teaching mission was only one segment of the longer seminars organized by the Metropolitan, where he gathers selected young people, and future leaders and teachers from various villages of his diocese. Nurses, educators, tradesmen and other professionals are invited to provide workshops on agriculture, construction, economics, health and hygiene. The students return home and pass their newly acquired knowledge and skills to their fellow villagers, improving the overall quality of life in their village.
The poverty we encountered was incredible. Tanzania is one of the poorest places on earth. Many homes in the rural areas are constructed out of mud-bricks and bamboo sticks. The average life expectancy for Tanzanians is only around fifty years. Many suffer from malaria and yellow fever, and in many areas there is no clean water or adequate sanitation.
Despite such extreme poverty, the people were still so joyful and dignified. Most memorable were the smiling faces and joyful voices of the young children who would often flock around us wherever we went, with wide smiles spread across their eager-eyed faces shouting ‘Mzungu!’, ‘Mzungu!’, which means ‘White-man’ in Swahili.
We taught our classes in English, with the help of a translator. It was strange at first, speaking only in short, concise phrases, and then having to wait for each phrase to be translated into Swahili. Somehow it worked out better than expected. It was a joy to see the positive responses and genuine interest reflected in the eyes of our students.
Among our most cherished memories were the opportunities to personally accompany His Eminence Metropolitan Jeronymos on his long journeys through the remote regions of his diocese. It was a moving experience to travel with him as he visited communities and schools and consecrated new churches. This year alone the Metropolitan is scheduled to consecrate thirty new churches! We were warmly received into all the parish communities we visited. The joyous receptions with which they honored us after Liturgy, as they ‘brought out the drums’ and danced for us, will remain with me forever.
Celebrating the Liturgy in Swahili amid the loud and harmonious congregational singing was an experience of a life-time. Many of the faithful knew the Liturgy by heart, and the delight they shared as they sang praises to the Lord was felt by all.
Metropolitan Jeronymos has a very elegant, even regal way about him as he serves the Divine Liturgy. Dressed in his hierarchical vestments, he was always clothed in truly Christ-like love and humility. Watching him interact as an arch-pastor among his young priests and witnessing the loving, pastoral relationship he has with the people of his distant communities - even dancing with them to the beat of their African drums after Liturgy - is to see a genuine missionary at work; a missionary man in the truest sense of the word; a man specially ‘sent out’ by God.
One of the most encouraging aspects of the mission was to see how the Lord used us to reach out and touch the hearts of these young African believers, even through the means of a translator. In a quiet yet sincere way, I could sense an inner connection with the students through the attentive yet endearing looks in their eyes. Somehow, by God’s grace, we pray that the spiritual seeds planted in the souls of those young believers will continue to grow and blossom forth.
Another great lesson learned from the success of our team was the importance of being patient with one another, and how vital it is not to impose our own will on those around us. Our teaching team, despite coming from such diverse backgrounds, somehow gelled so easily together. We felt like family. I realize now how beneficial it was to let God’s will unfold according to His way and His time, and not according to ours. It was amazing to see the wonderful ways the Lord continues to work in His vast vineyard, through so many different, dedicated and uniquely talented people - if we only let Him.
It was remarkable, and at the same time humbling, to see how grateful our African brothers and sisters were to us for coming to Tanzania. They expressed their gratitude through the joyous beat of their beloved drums and the rhythmic movements of their traditional dancing. Such sights and sounds will never be forgotten.
Amid such extreme poverty, I saw and shared in the innate joy of these beautiful people. I found a renewed sense of reassurance in God’s great and fathomless providence for all of his precious children. And I realized how vastly different God measures the true quality of human life; how His values differ from ours; and how contrary they seem when compared with the ways of the world: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.” [Isaiah 55:8,9]
May our Lord continue to bless the holy ministry of His Eminence Metropolitan Jeronymos, and all the faithful throughout the Church of Tanzania, for many, many years. And may He grant me another such opportunity to one day return to the wonderful people of Orthodox East Africa.
By Prof. Harry Boosalis
Our mission commenced on the shores of Florida’s eastern Atlantic coast in the historic city of St. Augustine. We were warmly welcomed by the dedicated staff of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center who provided us with our final orientation. Joining us in St. Augustine were our team leader Fr. Michael Miklos and Briana Finui, both of the American Carpatho-Russian Diocese. The four of us comprised the American side of our mission team. We met the other half - four members of the Church of Finland - in Amsterdam. Our international team was jointly co-sponsored by SCOBA (Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas) and the Orthodox Church of Finland. Ours was the first OCMC mission team equally composed of four members from two different countries.
As soon as we touched down in Uganda, we knew we had entered another world. The main roads were lined with endless venders selling various goods from small wooden shacks. Women wore colorful tongas with small babies strapped across their backs, yet somehow managing to balance tall round baskets on top of their heads, amid a noisy and never-ending stream of pedestrians, bicycles and speeding automobiles.
We finally arrived in the small town of Kayanga located in the district of Karagwe in the northwestern tip of Tanzania, which was to be our temporary home. Karagwe is near the scenic southwestern shore of Lake Victoria. Our task was twofold: first, to teach courses on Orthodox faith and theology to one hundred students of various ages at a special seminar organized by the local Metropolitan, Jeronymos of Mwanza; and secondly, to be ‘ambassadors of good will’ to the people of Tanzania as we traveled with the Metropolitan to various communities throughout his diocese.
Under the inspired leadership of Metropolitan Jeronymos, the Church in this particular region of Tanzania is experiencing an incredible thirty percent annual growth rate, with a new seminary, churches, clinics and schools. Metropolitan Jeronymos was born in Uganda and educated in Athens, and is fluent in both Greek and English. It was a great honor to work with this man and his devoted staff in such a unique and blessed ministry.
Our teaching mission was only one segment of the longer seminars organized by the Metropolitan, where he gathers selected young people, and future leaders and teachers from various villages of his diocese. Nurses, educators, tradesmen and other professionals are invited to provide workshops on agriculture, construction, economics, health and hygiene. The students return home and pass their newly acquired knowledge and skills to their fellow villagers, improving the overall quality of life in their village.
The poverty we encountered was incredible. Tanzania is one of the poorest places on earth. Many homes in the rural areas are constructed out of mud-bricks and bamboo sticks. The average life expectancy for Tanzanians is only around fifty years. Many suffer from malaria and yellow fever, and in many areas there is no clean water or adequate sanitation.
Despite such extreme poverty, the people were still so joyful and dignified. Most memorable were the smiling faces and joyful voices of the young children who would often flock around us wherever we went, with wide smiles spread across their eager-eyed faces shouting ‘Mzungu!’, ‘Mzungu!’, which means ‘White-man’ in Swahili.
We taught our classes in English, with the help of a translator. It was strange at first, speaking only in short, concise phrases, and then having to wait for each phrase to be translated into Swahili. Somehow it worked out better than expected. It was a joy to see the positive responses and genuine interest reflected in the eyes of our students.
Among our most cherished memories were the opportunities to personally accompany His Eminence Metropolitan Jeronymos on his long journeys through the remote regions of his diocese. It was a moving experience to travel with him as he visited communities and schools and consecrated new churches. This year alone the Metropolitan is scheduled to consecrate thirty new churches! We were warmly received into all the parish communities we visited. The joyous receptions with which they honored us after Liturgy, as they ‘brought out the drums’ and danced for us, will remain with me forever.
Celebrating the Liturgy in Swahili amid the loud and harmonious congregational singing was an experience of a life-time. Many of the faithful knew the Liturgy by heart, and the delight they shared as they sang praises to the Lord was felt by all.
Metropolitan Jeronymos has a very elegant, even regal way about him as he serves the Divine Liturgy. Dressed in his hierarchical vestments, he was always clothed in truly Christ-like love and humility. Watching him interact as an arch-pastor among his young priests and witnessing the loving, pastoral relationship he has with the people of his distant communities - even dancing with them to the beat of their African drums after Liturgy - is to see a genuine missionary at work; a missionary man in the truest sense of the word; a man specially ‘sent out’ by God.
One of the most encouraging aspects of the mission was to see how the Lord used us to reach out and touch the hearts of these young African believers, even through the means of a translator. In a quiet yet sincere way, I could sense an inner connection with the students through the attentive yet endearing looks in their eyes. Somehow, by God’s grace, we pray that the spiritual seeds planted in the souls of those young believers will continue to grow and blossom forth.
Another great lesson learned from the success of our team was the importance of being patient with one another, and how vital it is not to impose our own will on those around us. Our teaching team, despite coming from such diverse backgrounds, somehow gelled so easily together. We felt like family. I realize now how beneficial it was to let God’s will unfold according to His way and His time, and not according to ours. It was amazing to see the wonderful ways the Lord continues to work in His vast vineyard, through so many different, dedicated and uniquely talented people - if we only let Him.
It was remarkable, and at the same time humbling, to see how grateful our African brothers and sisters were to us for coming to Tanzania. They expressed their gratitude through the joyous beat of their beloved drums and the rhythmic movements of their traditional dancing. Such sights and sounds will never be forgotten.
Amid such extreme poverty, I saw and shared in the innate joy of these beautiful people. I found a renewed sense of reassurance in God’s great and fathomless providence for all of his precious children. And I realized how vastly different God measures the true quality of human life; how His values differ from ours; and how contrary they seem when compared with the ways of the world: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.” [Isaiah 55:8,9]
May our Lord continue to bless the holy ministry of His Eminence Metropolitan Jeronymos, and all the faithful throughout the Church of Tanzania, for many, many years. And may He grant me another such opportunity to one day return to the wonderful people of Orthodox East Africa.
By Prof. Harry Boosalis
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Sudden Death of Tanya (Mitchell) Kallaur - Daughter of OCMC Board Member Scott Mitchell
At 4:06 pm, on September 21, 2009, Tanya (Mitchell) Kallaur, daughter of Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) Board Member Scott Mitchell, fell asleep in the Lord following a car accident in Maine. Tanya leaves behind two children: Anthony, age 4, and Anastasia, age 3. We at the Mission Center ask that the Mitchell and Kallaur families, especially Anthony and Anastasia, be kept in your prayers. Donations for the children are being accepted in lieu of flowers by St. Alexander Orthodox Church. Gifts in memory of Tanya (Mitchell) Kallaur should be made out to St. Alexander Orthodox Church with "Kallaur Children" noted in the memo line and sent to:
St. Alexander Orthodox Church
C/O Scott Mitchell
27 Elizabeth Street
Kent, CT 06757
Thank you for joining with our OCMC staff and missionaries as we pray for Tanya's blessed repose and for the family that will continue to experience this loss.
May her memory be eternal!
St. Alexander Orthodox Church
C/O Scott Mitchell
27 Elizabeth Street
Kent, CT 06757
Thank you for joining with our OCMC staff and missionaries as we pray for Tanya's blessed repose and for the family that will continue to experience this loss.
May her memory be eternal!
Friday, September 11, 2009
Give the Gift of the Gospel this Nativity Season - Give an OCMC Gift Card!
This Nativity Season, the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) is offering a wonderful way for you to honor someone you love while also supporting the training and care of long-term Missionaries through OCMC Gift Cards. Consider honoring Godparents, priests, Sunday School teachers, family, and friends by assisting Orthodox Missionaries who are sharing the light of Christ with others around the world. Give these loved ones an OCMC Gift Card as a Christmas gift!
There are currently more more than 20 Orthodox Christians from across America who are in the process of becoming new Orthodox Missionaries. As these families and individuals prepare to serve alongside Hierarchs and mission priests in countries where many long for Christ's live-giving message, they need to be trained and equipped so that they can prayerfully apply their gifts and talents to work in the Lord's harvest field. These Missionaries will offer a living witness to the faith by training future Church leaders, ministering to children, providing healthcare, and helping the church to welcome others into the Body of Christ.
Matushka Maria Kotar, Administrator of the St. John of San Francisco Orthodox Academy in San Francisco, has purchased these in the past for use by her students. She shared that she sees these cards as a “beautiful opportunity to share the Church and missions with the families of the children attending the Academy.”
Gift cards can be purchased in $10, $25, and $50 amounts. The cards will be sent to you so that you can present them to your loved ones directly. The cards feature a beatiful icon of the Great Commission and a Nativity greeting (the gift card amount is not displayed). For more information about OCMC Gift Cards, or to place your order, visit www.ocmc.org , call 877-GO-FORTH , or email phyllis@ocmc.org. Place your order by December 10th to guarantee delivery before Christmas!
There are currently more more than 20 Orthodox Christians from across America who are in the process of becoming new Orthodox Missionaries. As these families and individuals prepare to serve alongside Hierarchs and mission priests in countries where many long for Christ's live-giving message, they need to be trained and equipped so that they can prayerfully apply their gifts and talents to work in the Lord's harvest field. These Missionaries will offer a living witness to the faith by training future Church leaders, ministering to children, providing healthcare, and helping the church to welcome others into the Body of Christ.
Matushka Maria Kotar, Administrator of the St. John of San Francisco Orthodox Academy in San Francisco, has purchased these in the past for use by her students. She shared that she sees these cards as a “beautiful opportunity to share the Church and missions with the families of the children attending the Academy.”
Gift cards can be purchased in $10, $25, and $50 amounts. The cards will be sent to you so that you can present them to your loved ones directly. The cards feature a beatiful icon of the Great Commission and a Nativity greeting (the gift card amount is not displayed). For more information about OCMC Gift Cards, or to place your order, visit www.ocmc.org , call 877-GO-FORTH , or email phyllis@ocmc.org. Place your order by December 10th to guarantee delivery before Christmas!
Friday, September 4, 2009
Communicating Love Without Words - Reflecting on My Team Experience to South Korea
Starting out our Mission Team experience in Seoul at the Metropolis was nice. We were there to help teach English at a camp hosted by the Church, and being at the Metropolis enabled us to get our lessons together. It also afforded us some time to see a little bit of the city. Most importantly, it was good to get to know His Eminence and Athanasia (who helped coordinate the entire camp).
We headed to Chuncheon on Sunday, and that's when things really started. We had 34 kids for 11 days. Our typical day consisted of getting up at 7:30am, Church Service and Bible Lesson at 8:00am, Breakfast at 8:45am, 1st English Lesson Hour at 9:30am, 2nd English Lesson Hour at 10:30am, 3rd English Lesson Hour at 11:30am (which was learning English songs), next was lunch, then the activity of the day, which consisted of everything from discussions with the Bishop to watching the Junior Olympics to boating in little Swan boats (and much more, of course).
Dinner was always good and needed. There was an entire team of women who took good care of us and cooked fantastic Korean food. After dinner we had some free time and would sometimes watch the older boys put on funny skits. At 8:00pm we would have an evening service; it was always candlelit and beautiful with all the children chanting. We wouldn't just leave the church though; we'd all kneel down after service and take as much time as needed to pray before getting the Bishop's blessing and heading into the night. Of course, with 34 kids the peace of that service didn't last too long. The kids spent the rest of the evening playing (we couldn't wear them out!!!) until bedtime at 11 (and you know that's an arbitrary number). Whew, I'm getting tired just telling you all about our days!
God really blessed me with the lesson of communicating love without words. At first it was hard seeing the Korean teachers become close with the children when I just couldn't. Some of the kids became pretty frustrated not being able to speak to me. However, through the week I started finding that a head rub, a pat on the back, or charades were good ways to show what I couldn't say. There was one little boy who spoke some Korean but was Russian. The only English he really knew was "Teacher" and "I am Russian." One day we caught dragonflies and frogs together, and after that he would come running to me every time he caught a spider or some other little creepy-crawly. That was so special for me. One little girl and I had our own little sign language taking place. Somehow we really understood each other. One of the most beautiful moments of non-verbal communication was the night His Eminence taught us how to make komboskini (prayer rope). I remember distinctly sitting between a Russian lady and a Korean lady, and some how we all shared our triumphs and failures without words.
His Eminence didn't just stress knowing the parables or learning English: he focused on being a Christian in every aspect of our lives. He taught the children (and really, us adults, too) how to live together, how to love each other, how to deal with conflicts, and how to play together. He made sure we understood how important it was to act as a family. We broke the kids out into teams, and each team had a team chant. At first none of the teams really wanted to do their chants, but some of the more outgoing boys started doing everyone's chant. It was so funny, especially when they imitated the girls' groups, and by the end of the camp every team was doing every chant together (and each time it was just as funny as the last).
His Eminence, Father Jeramiahs, and the Deacons didn't just preach--they also practiced their preaching. After every meal they would vacuum, clean up crumbs, or put on an apron and some gloves and clean dishes. What great examples they were! They also got involved in games with the children. We also learned from them a tradition of asking forgiveness from our family members on the eve of Holy Communion. This was such a beautiful idea that my husband and I have started doing it at home, too. One thing the Bishop said in regards to going to confession or not eating before receiving was, "If they don't learn it here, where will they learn it?" He was a great teacher.
Korea is an interesting country. It's so lush and green and the mountains just jut out of the landscape. The people are good, spiritual people. His Eminence really emphasized how beautiful and important the Korean culture is. He showed that Orthodoxy and the Korean culture can really exist together. They actually have a CD out now of Korean chanting. I'm not an expert, but I've heard it's a bit of a mixture between the Byzantine and Russian styles, while also incorporating Korean traditional instruments. His Eminence wrote a very nice foreword in the CD jacket explaining how the two are joined. It's beautiful!
by Mission Team Member Meredyth (Sophia) Houpos
We headed to Chuncheon on Sunday, and that's when things really started. We had 34 kids for 11 days. Our typical day consisted of getting up at 7:30am, Church Service and Bible Lesson at 8:00am, Breakfast at 8:45am, 1st English Lesson Hour at 9:30am, 2nd English Lesson Hour at 10:30am, 3rd English Lesson Hour at 11:30am (which was learning English songs), next was lunch, then the activity of the day, which consisted of everything from discussions with the Bishop to watching the Junior Olympics to boating in little Swan boats (and much more, of course).
Dinner was always good and needed. There was an entire team of women who took good care of us and cooked fantastic Korean food. After dinner we had some free time and would sometimes watch the older boys put on funny skits. At 8:00pm we would have an evening service; it was always candlelit and beautiful with all the children chanting. We wouldn't just leave the church though; we'd all kneel down after service and take as much time as needed to pray before getting the Bishop's blessing and heading into the night. Of course, with 34 kids the peace of that service didn't last too long. The kids spent the rest of the evening playing (we couldn't wear them out!!!) until bedtime at 11 (and you know that's an arbitrary number). Whew, I'm getting tired just telling you all about our days!
God really blessed me with the lesson of communicating love without words. At first it was hard seeing the Korean teachers become close with the children when I just couldn't. Some of the kids became pretty frustrated not being able to speak to me. However, through the week I started finding that a head rub, a pat on the back, or charades were good ways to show what I couldn't say. There was one little boy who spoke some Korean but was Russian. The only English he really knew was "Teacher" and "I am Russian." One day we caught dragonflies and frogs together, and after that he would come running to me every time he caught a spider or some other little creepy-crawly. That was so special for me. One little girl and I had our own little sign language taking place. Somehow we really understood each other. One of the most beautiful moments of non-verbal communication was the night His Eminence taught us how to make komboskini (prayer rope). I remember distinctly sitting between a Russian lady and a Korean lady, and some how we all shared our triumphs and failures without words.
His Eminence didn't just stress knowing the parables or learning English: he focused on being a Christian in every aspect of our lives. He taught the children (and really, us adults, too) how to live together, how to love each other, how to deal with conflicts, and how to play together. He made sure we understood how important it was to act as a family. We broke the kids out into teams, and each team had a team chant. At first none of the teams really wanted to do their chants, but some of the more outgoing boys started doing everyone's chant. It was so funny, especially when they imitated the girls' groups, and by the end of the camp every team was doing every chant together (and each time it was just as funny as the last).
His Eminence, Father Jeramiahs, and the Deacons didn't just preach--they also practiced their preaching. After every meal they would vacuum, clean up crumbs, or put on an apron and some gloves and clean dishes. What great examples they were! They also got involved in games with the children. We also learned from them a tradition of asking forgiveness from our family members on the eve of Holy Communion. This was such a beautiful idea that my husband and I have started doing it at home, too. One thing the Bishop said in regards to going to confession or not eating before receiving was, "If they don't learn it here, where will they learn it?" He was a great teacher.
Korea is an interesting country. It's so lush and green and the mountains just jut out of the landscape. The people are good, spiritual people. His Eminence really emphasized how beautiful and important the Korean culture is. He showed that Orthodoxy and the Korean culture can really exist together. They actually have a CD out now of Korean chanting. I'm not an expert, but I've heard it's a bit of a mixture between the Byzantine and Russian styles, while also incorporating Korean traditional instruments. His Eminence wrote a very nice foreword in the CD jacket explaining how the two are joined. It's beautiful!
by Mission Team Member Meredyth (Sophia) Houpos
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