In 2010, I visited Albania in order to meet with Archbishop Anastasios in the capital of Tirana, and to visit the Holy Resurrection Seminary in Durres. I had the privilege to travel in conjunction with a Missions class from Holy Cross and St. Vladimir's Seminaries taught by Fr. Luke Veronis, a former OCMC Missionary in Albania and author of the recent book, Go Forth: Stories of Mission and Resurrection in Albania.
Albania is along the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, north of Greece. Albania became an independent country in 1912, following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire. After World War II, Albania fell under communist rule until 1992. In 1967, the communist government outlawed religion, destroying or confiscating all religious buildings, and attempting to eliminate the Christian faith.
Prior to its conquest by the Turks, Albania was part of the Roman Empire. During this period, Albania’s port of Durres was an important link between Italy and the Roman road to Thessalonica and Constantinople. Christianity is thought to have come to Albania with the visit of St. Paul to Durres in the first century. By the end of the first century the Church in Durres had grown and had its own bishop, Asti, who was martyred under the Emperor Trajan.
Durres today contains extensive Roman ruins including a large amphitheater. I had the opportunity to visit this amphitheater with Nathan Hoppe, an OCMC Missionary in Albania, and to see the remains of two early Christian chapels built in its passageways to commemorate Christians who were martyred there.
I was also able to visit a site associated with another early Christian martyrdom when I visited Holy Resurrection Seminary built on a hill, overlooking Durres. The hill was the site of the Monastery of St. Vlash (Blaise). Tradition ascribes his martyrdom to this spot in the fourth century, which suggests that he is a different person than the well known St. Blaise of Sebaste, martyred in Armenia. The Church was an important pilgrimage site known for miraculous healings, and perhaps for this reason was the first church destroyed at the beginning of the anti-religious campaign of 1967. The church was rebuilt following the fall of communism in 1992, and the hill is now also the location of the Holy Resurrection Seminary and the Home of Hope for children. During my visit to the Seminary, I was able to meet with Bishop Nikola and some of the seminarians, and also to attend a large youth retreat held at the Seminary.
The Christian faith spread in Albania, as in the rest of the Roman world, following the end of the Roman persecutions in the fourth century. Unfortunately, much of the material heritage of Christianity in Albania was damaged or destroyed during the communist period, when approximately sixteen hundred Orthodox churches were destroyed. However, since the end of communism, the Orthodox Church in Albania, with the help of others, has rebuilt and repaired many of these damaged and destroyed buildings.
In contrast to historic Durres on the coastal plain, Tirana, the capital, is a more recent and much larger city surrounded by mountains. Here, I was able to visit an important exhibit of Albanian Christian manuscripts. These manuscripts had been confiscated by the communist government and were now being displayed to the Albanian public for the first time. Two of the manuscripts were Gospels from the sixth century. Their existence testifies to the tenacity of the Christian witness in Albania despite the many invasions that disrupted life in the Balkans through the Middle Ages and the Turkish conquest of the fifteenth century.
Unfortunately, many Christians abandoned their faith during the approximately four hundred years of Turkish rule. As a result, by the time of the communist takeover, only twenty percent of Albanians were still members of the Orthodox Church. Following this, the years of communist persecution largely reduced Albania to a secular country. However, following the end of communism in 1992, church life has been revived under the leadership of Archbishop Anastasios. He is a leading proponent of Orthodox missions, who, after serving in East Africa, has overseen the enormous work of rebuilding the Church in Albania after the fall of communism.
While in Tirana, I also met a number of the clergy and church workers, and had a chance to speak briefly about St. Herman of Alaska to the Orthodox Sisterhood. The two functioning Orthodox churches in Tirana were restored to the Church by the government. A new, larger, cathedral is now being built to replace the one that was destroyed.
Albania has a long heritage of Christian faith, but due to historical circumstances the majority of the country has been deprived of the knowledge of Christ for many years. However, now, by God’s mercy, the end of communism and the rebuilding of the Church in Albania have created an opportunity for the spread of the gospel. It was good to see how energetically this work has been begun, and we look forward to the possibility of being able to assist the Church there in its further growth.
Showing posts with label Missionary Candidate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Missionary Candidate. Show all posts
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
My First Journey to Albania: An Update from Missionary Candidate Jeffrey Macdonald
In 2010, I visited Albania in order to meet with Archbishop Anastasios in the capital of Tirana, and to visit the Holy Resurrection Seminary in Durres. I had the privilege to travel in conjunction with a Missions class from Holy Cross and St. Vladimir's Seminaries taught by Fr. Luke Veronis, a former OCMC Missionary in Albania and author of the recent book, Go Forth: Stories of Mission and Resurrection in Albania.
Albania is along the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, north of Greece. Albania became an independent country in 1912, following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire. After World War II, Albania fell under communist rule until 1992. In 1967, the communist government outlawed religion, destroying or confiscating all religious buildings, and attempting to eliminate the Christian faith.
Prior to its conquest by the Turks, Albania was part of the Roman Empire. During this period, Albania’s port of Durres was an important link between Italy and the Roman road to Thessalonica and Constantinople. Christianity is thought to have come to Albania with the visit of St. Paul to Durres in the first century. By the end of the first century the Church in Durres had grown and had its own bishop, Asti, who was martyred under the Emperor Trajan.
Durres today contains extensive Roman ruins including a large amphitheater. I had the opportunity to visit this amphitheater with Nathan Hoppe, an OCMC Missionary in Albania, and to see the remains of two early Christian chapels built in its passageways to commemorate Christians who were martyred there.
I was also able to visit a site associated with another early Christian martyrdom when I visited Holy Resurrection Seminary built on a hill, overlooking Durres. The hill was the site of the Monastery of St. Vlash (Blaise). Tradition ascribes his martyrdom to this spot in the fourth century, which suggests that he is a different person than the well known St. Blaise of Sebaste, martyred in Armenia. The Church was an important pilgrimage site known for miraculous healings, and perhaps for this reason was the first church destroyed at the beginning of the anti-religious campaign of 1967. The church was rebuilt following the fall of communism in 1992, and the hill is now also the location of the Holy Resurrection Seminary and the Home of Hope for children. During my visit to the Seminary, I was able to meet with Bishop Nikola and some of the seminarians, and also to attend a large youth retreat held at the Seminary.
The Christian faith spread in Albania, as in the rest of the Roman world, following the end of the Roman persecutions in the fourth century. Unfortunately, much of the material heritage of Christianity in Albania was damaged or destroyed during the communist period, when approximately sixteen hundred Orthodox churches were destroyed. However, since the end of communism, the Orthodox Church in Albania, with the help of others, has rebuilt and repaired many of these damaged and destroyed buildings.
In contrast to historic Durres on the coastal plain, Tirana, the capital, is a more recent and much larger city surrounded by mountains. Here, I was able to visit an important exhibit of Albanian Christian manuscripts. These manuscripts had been confiscated by the communist government and were now being displayed to the Albanian public for the first time. Two of the manuscripts were Gospels from the sixth century. Their existence testifies to the tenacity of the Christian witness in Albania despite the many invasions that disrupted life in the Balkans through the Middle Ages and the Turkish conquest of the fifteenth century.
Unfortunately, many Christians abandoned their faith during the approximately four hundred years of Turkish rule. As a result, by the time of the communist takeover, only twenty percent of Albanians were still members of the Orthodox Church. Following this, the years of communist persecution largely reduced Albania to a secular country. However, following the end of communism in 1992, church life has been revived under the leadership of Archbishop Anastasios. He is a leading proponent of Orthodox missions, who, after serving in East Africa, has overseen the enormous work of rebuilding the Church in Albania after the fall of communism.
While in Tirana, I also met a number of the clergy and church workers, and had a chance to speak briefly about St. Herman of Alaska to the Orthodox Sisterhood. The two functioning Orthodox churches in Tirana were restored to the Church by the government. A new, larger, cathedral is now being built to replace the one that was destroyed.
Albania has a long heritage of Christian faith, but due to historical circumstances the majority of the country has been deprived of the knowledge of Christ for many years. However, now, by God’s mercy, the end of communism and the rebuilding of the Church in Albania have created an opportunity for the spread of the gospel. It was good to see how energetically this work has been begun, and we look forward to the possibility of being able to assist the Church there in its further growth.
Albania is along the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, north of Greece. Albania became an independent country in 1912, following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire. After World War II, Albania fell under communist rule until 1992. In 1967, the communist government outlawed religion, destroying or confiscating all religious buildings, and attempting to eliminate the Christian faith.
Prior to its conquest by the Turks, Albania was part of the Roman Empire. During this period, Albania’s port of Durres was an important link between Italy and the Roman road to Thessalonica and Constantinople. Christianity is thought to have come to Albania with the visit of St. Paul to Durres in the first century. By the end of the first century the Church in Durres had grown and had its own bishop, Asti, who was martyred under the Emperor Trajan.
Durres today contains extensive Roman ruins including a large amphitheater. I had the opportunity to visit this amphitheater with Nathan Hoppe, an OCMC Missionary in Albania, and to see the remains of two early Christian chapels built in its passageways to commemorate Christians who were martyred there.
I was also able to visit a site associated with another early Christian martyrdom when I visited Holy Resurrection Seminary built on a hill, overlooking Durres. The hill was the site of the Monastery of St. Vlash (Blaise). Tradition ascribes his martyrdom to this spot in the fourth century, which suggests that he is a different person than the well known St. Blaise of Sebaste, martyred in Armenia. The Church was an important pilgrimage site known for miraculous healings, and perhaps for this reason was the first church destroyed at the beginning of the anti-religious campaign of 1967. The church was rebuilt following the fall of communism in 1992, and the hill is now also the location of the Holy Resurrection Seminary and the Home of Hope for children. During my visit to the Seminary, I was able to meet with Bishop Nikola and some of the seminarians, and also to attend a large youth retreat held at the Seminary.
The Christian faith spread in Albania, as in the rest of the Roman world, following the end of the Roman persecutions in the fourth century. Unfortunately, much of the material heritage of Christianity in Albania was damaged or destroyed during the communist period, when approximately sixteen hundred Orthodox churches were destroyed. However, since the end of communism, the Orthodox Church in Albania, with the help of others, has rebuilt and repaired many of these damaged and destroyed buildings.
In contrast to historic Durres on the coastal plain, Tirana, the capital, is a more recent and much larger city surrounded by mountains. Here, I was able to visit an important exhibit of Albanian Christian manuscripts. These manuscripts had been confiscated by the communist government and were now being displayed to the Albanian public for the first time. Two of the manuscripts were Gospels from the sixth century. Their existence testifies to the tenacity of the Christian witness in Albania despite the many invasions that disrupted life in the Balkans through the Middle Ages and the Turkish conquest of the fifteenth century.
Unfortunately, many Christians abandoned their faith during the approximately four hundred years of Turkish rule. As a result, by the time of the communist takeover, only twenty percent of Albanians were still members of the Orthodox Church. Following this, the years of communist persecution largely reduced Albania to a secular country. However, following the end of communism in 1992, church life has been revived under the leadership of Archbishop Anastasios. He is a leading proponent of Orthodox missions, who, after serving in East Africa, has overseen the enormous work of rebuilding the Church in Albania after the fall of communism.
While in Tirana, I also met a number of the clergy and church workers, and had a chance to speak briefly about St. Herman of Alaska to the Orthodox Sisterhood. The two functioning Orthodox churches in Tirana were restored to the Church by the government. A new, larger, cathedral is now being built to replace the one that was destroyed.
Albania has a long heritage of Christian faith, but due to historical circumstances the majority of the country has been deprived of the knowledge of Christ for many years. However, now, by God’s mercy, the end of communism and the rebuilding of the Church in Albania have created an opportunity for the spread of the gospel. It was good to see how energetically this work has been begun, and we look forward to the possibility of being able to assist the Church there in its further growth.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
OCMC Missionary Department Announces Six New Missionary Candidates!
The Missionary Department of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) is pleased to announce that six new Missionary Candidates have been approved in the spring of 2011. Michael and Lisa Colburn plan to serve in Kenya, assisting with translation work and serving other OCMC Missionaries and Candidates in linguistic consulting. Kurt Bringerud, Faith Young, and Joseph and Alexandra Sima plan to serve in Albania as part of the Church's ongoing educational efforts. Blake and Pam Dilullo plan to serve in Kodiak, Alaska. Blake will initially work in construction as Pam home schools her own children and helps with other children’s programs. OCMC Missionary Candidates spend several months travelling to churches and meeting with individuals who will partner with them financially and support them in prayer during their time of service. Please pray for these Missionary Candidates as they begin to build their support teams and as they train to help spread the Light of Christ overseas! If you are interested in having a Missionary Candidate speak at your church or organization, please contact the Missionary Department at 1-877-463-6784 or by e-mail at missionaries@ocmc.org.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Maria Roeber: Help Me Serve as Missionary in Tanzania
Dear friends and family,
As many of you know, I’ve been accepted as a Missionary Candidate with the Orthodox Christian Mission Center and am now starting to invite others to join me in ministering to God’s people in Tanzania! I will be living and working in Bukoba, Tanzania, for the next two years, using my skills as a registered nurse to provide health care to those in need. In order to join the other Missionaries who are currently serving, I need to raise prayerful and financial support. My goal is to be completely funded and ready to depart for Africa in early January, 2010. In order to meet that goal I need your help!
I am so grateful to the people in my life who have helped me to grow in faith, and who encourage me in the process of becoming closer to God. I have tried to do the same for others, and I truly believe that I am being called by God to do this for the people living in Tanzania. The Church has been given the task of making disciples of all nations, and we each have our own way of doing this. There have been times in my life when I was called to be “an ambassador of Christ” here in the United States. I do believe that I have the opportunity now to help spread the Gospel in other parts of the world, especially where Orthodoxy is relatively unknown and where my skills as an obstetrical nurse are very much needed.
There is no way for me to become a Missionary and serve in this capacity without the participation of others. We are all called to minister to those who do not know God’s loving care for them. By helping to support me in this mission, you will be following in the footsteps of those who supported the Apostles and Missionaries throughout the history of the church! Not everyone is called to leave their family, their jobs, and their culture in order to reach out to others—you can reach out to those in your community here! But you can also help to reach people outside of your home community, and this is a way for you to do so!
I’ve included a prayer card and a pledge envelope with this letter. Please use the card to pray for me and for Missionaries all over the world. Your prayers are the most critical part of supporting missions! Please pray for the salvation of those I will meet and minister to, and please pray that God grants me strength and safety in this journey! Please pray for a strong and faithful support team to join me!
If you would like to become a partner in supporting my work financially, please consider making a monthly pledge for the two-year term of my service. No contribution is too small to make a difference! You can use the pledge envelope to make your contribution, or you can do so online at www.ocmc.org. When you send in an envelope or donate online you will be entered into my list of supporters and will receive updates on my progress in raising my support team, along with letters and pictures about the ministry in Tanzania once I am there. Remember--as you participate with me, this becomes your missionary effort as well! Please feel free to contact me at the email address or phone number on the prayer card! I would love to hear from you! Thank you for your support and God bless you!
“And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.” (Mark 16:20)
Yours in Christ,
Maria Roeber
As many of you know, I’ve been accepted as a Missionary Candidate with the Orthodox Christian Mission Center and am now starting to invite others to join me in ministering to God’s people in Tanzania! I will be living and working in Bukoba, Tanzania, for the next two years, using my skills as a registered nurse to provide health care to those in need. In order to join the other Missionaries who are currently serving, I need to raise prayerful and financial support. My goal is to be completely funded and ready to depart for Africa in early January, 2010. In order to meet that goal I need your help!
I am so grateful to the people in my life who have helped me to grow in faith, and who encourage me in the process of becoming closer to God. I have tried to do the same for others, and I truly believe that I am being called by God to do this for the people living in Tanzania. The Church has been given the task of making disciples of all nations, and we each have our own way of doing this. There have been times in my life when I was called to be “an ambassador of Christ” here in the United States. I do believe that I have the opportunity now to help spread the Gospel in other parts of the world, especially where Orthodoxy is relatively unknown and where my skills as an obstetrical nurse are very much needed.
There is no way for me to become a Missionary and serve in this capacity without the participation of others. We are all called to minister to those who do not know God’s loving care for them. By helping to support me in this mission, you will be following in the footsteps of those who supported the Apostles and Missionaries throughout the history of the church! Not everyone is called to leave their family, their jobs, and their culture in order to reach out to others—you can reach out to those in your community here! But you can also help to reach people outside of your home community, and this is a way for you to do so!
I’ve included a prayer card and a pledge envelope with this letter. Please use the card to pray for me and for Missionaries all over the world. Your prayers are the most critical part of supporting missions! Please pray for the salvation of those I will meet and minister to, and please pray that God grants me strength and safety in this journey! Please pray for a strong and faithful support team to join me!
If you would like to become a partner in supporting my work financially, please consider making a monthly pledge for the two-year term of my service. No contribution is too small to make a difference! You can use the pledge envelope to make your contribution, or you can do so online at www.ocmc.org. When you send in an envelope or donate online you will be entered into my list of supporters and will receive updates on my progress in raising my support team, along with letters and pictures about the ministry in Tanzania once I am there. Remember--as you participate with me, this becomes your missionary effort as well! Please feel free to contact me at the email address or phone number on the prayer card! I would love to hear from you! Thank you for your support and God bless you!
“And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.” (Mark 16:20)
Yours in Christ,
Maria Roeber
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Building a Support Team: A Missionary Candidate's Perspective
The Call
Ms. Johnson (name changed for confidentiality) smiled at me. After several months of unemployment, she had just found steady work and would be able to make rent. But back rent was overdue. She and her children faced eviction. My new boss Jeanne had secured funds to pay back rent and prevent the Johnsons from joining the ranks of Los Angeles’ eighty thousand homeless.
This was my very first day as an AmeriCorps volunteer with St. Margaret’s Center, serving an impoverished immigrant neighborhood in Lennox, California. And my very first task was to deliver the check that would keep Ms. Johnson and her kids in their apartment.
It was a beautiful start to a tough year. For every Johnson family there were a dozen folks I couldn’t help much. But Christ crucified was on the wall behind me. As the poor of Lennox suffered, Christ our God suffered with them. And his Resurrection promised transformation to all who lifted up tear-filled eyes in faith. Standing at that counter in St. Margaret’s, participating in that transformation, I heard God’s call to lifelong Christian service.
Five years later—this week—I return to Los Angeles and will visit St. Margaret’s. I will hear stories of great success and deep failure. A succession of year-long volunteers like me have done good work. But it is Jeanne and her colleagues, dedicated to lifelong service in the same community, who make real and lasting change.
I write in the midst of preparation for my own lifetime, as God wills, among the peoples of northwest Tanzania. In this newsletter I will answer some frequently asked questions about preparation for long-term OCMC missionary service. And I’ll give a brief overview of the ongoing effort to build up a sustainable support team.
Frequently asked questions about Tanzania and James
Q: "How long is your term of service?"
A: As long as God wills. I have no plans to stop being a long-term missionary, and intend to serve in Tanzania indefinitely.
Q: "What is your budget?"
A: The estimated monthly budget for my ministry is in the neighborhood of $3,500/ month. This is the high end of a calculation that includes training, language school, ongoing education, transport, health care, insurance, support staff back in the States and communication with my large network of supporters, as well as a monthly stipend. To give some perspective, this is about one-quarter of what most non-government organizations spend to maintain American personnel in Africa.
This budget is best sustained by long-term commitments to regular giving. I'm asking God to raise up a team of about fifty faithful parishes, fellowships, families and individuals each committed to investing $20 - $100 per month. These are the partners who will sustain my service for years.
Q: "When do you arrive in Tanzania?"
A: God willing, this coming Spring. This date depends on a number of factors including finance. The first year of my service needs to be fully pledged before travel can be arranged.
Q: "How can I help?"
A: Pray for me. Every day. You probably have a card to place at your home altar as a reminder to lift me up to the service of our God. If you'd like a prayer card, just ask.
Pledge. The core of around fifty supporters committed to monthly giving will keep me in overseas ministry for decades to come.
Pray some more.
Be in touch! Your encouragement and friendship is invaluable.
Pray even more.
Q: "I have an idea!"
A: Glory to God! Thank you! But please remember that I'm not in Tanzania yet. By the spring of 2011 I will be better equipped to handle requests for penpals, donations of items, etc.
Q: "What will be your role with the Church of Mwanza?"
A: The first task upon arrival will be six months, minimum, of full-time language study. I hope to be enrolled in language school for the bulk of this time. Fluency in Swahili is absolutely necessary for me to work competently in the Church of Mwanza.
Once language allows, I will begin duties at the diocesan office in Mwanza in assistance to Metropolitan Jeronymos. My work will enable His Eminence to devote greater energy to pastoring a rapidly-growing local Church.
Many of you know about the idea for a theological and liturgical translation program. This is a very long-term goal. In my first two years of service, I hope to discern what resources are needed to build and sustain such an endeavor.
Q: "When will you come back?"
A: God willing, I’ll visit the US for a few months in the spring of 2012. Subsequent terms of service may last for up to four years. Travel is expensive, and frequent departures from the field of service can be very disruptive to long-term work.
Q: "Tell me about [Church or country that is not Tanzania]."
A: Forgive me, but I probably do not know much. For information about the Orthodox Church in your country of interest, contact OCMC directly.
Q: "Tell me details about your future housing, daily life, etc.”
A: Again, forgive me. I'm really excited about my future missionary life in Tanzania. I look forward to sending back stories filled with details. But I'm not there yet. Given six initial months of language school, it will likely be fall of 2010 before my permanent assignment even begins. I've heard a lot of really great things. But I do not know a lot of details.
Q: "What are you most excited about?
A: Singing the Trisagion in Swahili.
Q: "What are you most worried about?"
A: Myself. I am a sinner and my sins will cause damage and pain. The reason I'm going is the fervent hope and prayer that God's work through my willingness to serve will preserve me in his abundant grace and mercy, and that the glory of God will outshine the glare of my shortcomings.
Q: "I have more questions."
A: Get in touch! You can reach me at j.hargrave@ocmc.org, 239-464-6515 , or by mail at 220 Mason Manatee Way, St. Augustine, FL, 32086.
Building a Support Team
My goal since New Candidate Orientation in April has been to raise up a team of fifty faithful parishes, fellowships, families and individuals committed to regular monthly support of my long-term OCMC missionary service.
The Orthodox Christian Fellowship at the University of Florida played a major role in my spiritual development and calling. I’ve been honored to visit with OCFs at universities across North America. While college students probably won’t provide the bulk of my financial support this year, their prayers and friendship will sustain me for decades to come.
Over the summer I worked full-time and traveled in Florida as I was able. The support-raising campaign began in May at my home parish of St. Elizabeth’s in Gainesville. It was a great joy to begin my new work among the community that shaped and inspired me to service.
Autumn began with a whirlwind tour through Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee and Kentucky. I made dozens of new friends and had a wonderful experience discovering the Orthodox Christian South.
Late autumn and winter will take me to fewer places for longer periods. After two weeks in southwest Ohio, I joined colleague Felice Stewart for a week of training in Florida, and as of mid October I am spending two weeks in Southern California. November will find me doing linguistics training in Colorado and speaking in British Columbia. December will bring one week of Pre-Field Training at OCMC followed by final preparations for departure and Christmas with family in Cincinnati.
In the Spring, God willing, I will begin six months of Swahili language school in Tanzania. However, my first year of service needs to be fully pledged before travel plans can be made.
Ms. Johnson (name changed for confidentiality) smiled at me. After several months of unemployment, she had just found steady work and would be able to make rent. But back rent was overdue. She and her children faced eviction. My new boss Jeanne had secured funds to pay back rent and prevent the Johnsons from joining the ranks of Los Angeles’ eighty thousand homeless.
This was my very first day as an AmeriCorps volunteer with St. Margaret’s Center, serving an impoverished immigrant neighborhood in Lennox, California. And my very first task was to deliver the check that would keep Ms. Johnson and her kids in their apartment.
It was a beautiful start to a tough year. For every Johnson family there were a dozen folks I couldn’t help much. But Christ crucified was on the wall behind me. As the poor of Lennox suffered, Christ our God suffered with them. And his Resurrection promised transformation to all who lifted up tear-filled eyes in faith. Standing at that counter in St. Margaret’s, participating in that transformation, I heard God’s call to lifelong Christian service.
Five years later—this week—I return to Los Angeles and will visit St. Margaret’s. I will hear stories of great success and deep failure. A succession of year-long volunteers like me have done good work. But it is Jeanne and her colleagues, dedicated to lifelong service in the same community, who make real and lasting change.
I write in the midst of preparation for my own lifetime, as God wills, among the peoples of northwest Tanzania. In this newsletter I will answer some frequently asked questions about preparation for long-term OCMC missionary service. And I’ll give a brief overview of the ongoing effort to build up a sustainable support team.
Frequently asked questions about Tanzania and James
Q: "How long is your term of service?"
A: As long as God wills. I have no plans to stop being a long-term missionary, and intend to serve in Tanzania indefinitely.
Q: "What is your budget?"
A: The estimated monthly budget for my ministry is in the neighborhood of $3,500/ month. This is the high end of a calculation that includes training, language school, ongoing education, transport, health care, insurance, support staff back in the States and communication with my large network of supporters, as well as a monthly stipend. To give some perspective, this is about one-quarter of what most non-government organizations spend to maintain American personnel in Africa.
This budget is best sustained by long-term commitments to regular giving. I'm asking God to raise up a team of about fifty faithful parishes, fellowships, families and individuals each committed to investing $20 - $100 per month. These are the partners who will sustain my service for years.
Q: "When do you arrive in Tanzania?"
A: God willing, this coming Spring. This date depends on a number of factors including finance. The first year of my service needs to be fully pledged before travel can be arranged.
Q: "How can I help?"
A: Pray for me. Every day. You probably have a card to place at your home altar as a reminder to lift me up to the service of our God. If you'd like a prayer card, just ask.
Pledge. The core of around fifty supporters committed to monthly giving will keep me in overseas ministry for decades to come.
Pray some more.
Be in touch! Your encouragement and friendship is invaluable.
Pray even more.
Q: "I have an idea!"
A: Glory to God! Thank you! But please remember that I'm not in Tanzania yet. By the spring of 2011 I will be better equipped to handle requests for penpals, donations of items, etc.
Q: "What will be your role with the Church of Mwanza?"
A: The first task upon arrival will be six months, minimum, of full-time language study. I hope to be enrolled in language school for the bulk of this time. Fluency in Swahili is absolutely necessary for me to work competently in the Church of Mwanza.
Once language allows, I will begin duties at the diocesan office in Mwanza in assistance to Metropolitan Jeronymos. My work will enable His Eminence to devote greater energy to pastoring a rapidly-growing local Church.
Many of you know about the idea for a theological and liturgical translation program. This is a very long-term goal. In my first two years of service, I hope to discern what resources are needed to build and sustain such an endeavor.
Q: "When will you come back?"
A: God willing, I’ll visit the US for a few months in the spring of 2012. Subsequent terms of service may last for up to four years. Travel is expensive, and frequent departures from the field of service can be very disruptive to long-term work.
Q: "Tell me about [Church or country that is not Tanzania]."
A: Forgive me, but I probably do not know much. For information about the Orthodox Church in your country of interest, contact OCMC directly.
Q: "Tell me details about your future housing, daily life, etc.”
A: Again, forgive me. I'm really excited about my future missionary life in Tanzania. I look forward to sending back stories filled with details. But I'm not there yet. Given six initial months of language school, it will likely be fall of 2010 before my permanent assignment even begins. I've heard a lot of really great things. But I do not know a lot of details.
Q: "What are you most excited about?
A: Singing the Trisagion in Swahili.
Q: "What are you most worried about?"
A: Myself. I am a sinner and my sins will cause damage and pain. The reason I'm going is the fervent hope and prayer that God's work through my willingness to serve will preserve me in his abundant grace and mercy, and that the glory of God will outshine the glare of my shortcomings.
Q: "I have more questions."
A: Get in touch! You can reach me at j.hargrave@ocmc.org, 239-464-6515 , or by mail at 220 Mason Manatee Way, St. Augustine, FL, 32086.
Building a Support Team
My goal since New Candidate Orientation in April has been to raise up a team of fifty faithful parishes, fellowships, families and individuals committed to regular monthly support of my long-term OCMC missionary service.
The Orthodox Christian Fellowship at the University of Florida played a major role in my spiritual development and calling. I’ve been honored to visit with OCFs at universities across North America. While college students probably won’t provide the bulk of my financial support this year, their prayers and friendship will sustain me for decades to come.
Over the summer I worked full-time and traveled in Florida as I was able. The support-raising campaign began in May at my home parish of St. Elizabeth’s in Gainesville. It was a great joy to begin my new work among the community that shaped and inspired me to service.
Autumn began with a whirlwind tour through Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee and Kentucky. I made dozens of new friends and had a wonderful experience discovering the Orthodox Christian South.
Late autumn and winter will take me to fewer places for longer periods. After two weeks in southwest Ohio, I joined colleague Felice Stewart for a week of training in Florida, and as of mid October I am spending two weeks in Southern California. November will find me doing linguistics training in Colorado and speaking in British Columbia. December will bring one week of Pre-Field Training at OCMC followed by final preparations for departure and Christmas with family in Cincinnati.
In the Spring, God willing, I will begin six months of Swahili language school in Tanzania. However, my first year of service needs to be fully pledged before travel plans can be made.
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