"This Week in Orthodoxy"

OCN Launches "This Week in Orthodoxy"

In response to the demand for Orthodox global news, the Orthodox Christian Network (OCN) has launched a weekly news program covering Orthodox events worldwide. This Week in Orthodoxy is unique because it provides coverage of events around the Orthodox world from a single location. It is also OCN's first regularly scheduled video program.

Each program is a 5-7 minute piece filmed in the OCN studio in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. New episodes are posted each Friday evening, and feature 3-5 news stories from all parts of the globe. The show also includes announcements of upcoming news and events, as well as OCN updates.

Producer Seraphim Danckaert is a graduate of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Seminary currently finishing his PhD in Theology under a world-renowned Orthodox theologian Fr. Andrew Louth. Mr. Danckaert brings with him several years of experience working as a journalist and editor, which have provided him with both the necessary theological background as well as connections to key Orthodox thinkers from all jurisdictions.

Watch the latest episode of This Week in Orthodoxy

Church Growth - 1

"Cliff Notes" so to speak, from "Co-Workers With Christ"  [See Post Below]

"Church growth" is a mystery.

There are no "techniques" to it but we can say a few things about its organic process.

"The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how." (Mk 4:26-7).

As a physician cannot create life or growth, neither can a bishop, priest, or lay person. But like a physician, we can understand how life functions; how to nurture it, and if necessary how to heal it; by being dependent on and working with Christ, the Great Physician.

God providentially puts specific people together to be a community and to work out their salvation. When one person is sick, all are affected.

For a church to stay healthy - it's members must have a deep commitment to:
1) Pray
2) Worship
3) Ascetical discipline
4) Tithing
5) Almsgiving
6) Be biblically literate

Evaluate your own life...are you "of Christ" or are you "of the world?"

Is your light under a bushel?
Do people look at you and see Christ?
Do you look to see Christ in others?
Do you take Christ to work?

Is His icon in your office or workplace?
Do you open your mouth and share the Good News?
Do you know how?
Do you want to know how?

Do you pray the Lord's Prayer at least twice per day?
Do you fast on Wednesday and Friday from meat?
Do you secretly give money to those in need?

It's important to understand that Church planting IS the means described in the New Testament for
starting churches and evangelism.

Outside of the historical church, denominations that plant churches are growing. To help change
the trend of decline in Orthodoxy, we must plant new churches with an evangelical vision.

We must understand God's plan for planting and growing a church. Planting new churches requires
the pouring of one's whole soul into the endeavor.

It requires dedication, sweat, faith, determination, many hours of hard work and loneliness, and the real experience of working alongside Christ.

It can at times be slow, difficult and frustrating. Nevertheless, it is at these times that we can draw closer to Christ, remembering that it is His Church, and that we are only His servants.

Church planting requires 110% of your best effort and 100% of the resources God has given you.

Get To Know The Original

Click here - to Get To Know The Original

Co-Workers With Christ

Here's a fine work authored by a priest in The Orthodox Church in America called "Co-Workers With Christ."  You can grab a copy of it by going HERE.  This is how one priest and a small group of committed Christians began an Orthodox Mission which has grown into St. Justin Martyr in Jacksonville, FL.

Over a 10 year period this parish moved into at least four different buildings, from a college classroom to renovating, then outgrowing a 3,800 sq/ft facility.  They have grown from 17 people to 250 attending on a regular basis.

Now they have a 2,000 sq/ft nave and a 4,000 sq/ft fellowship hall.

After 10 years, this parish intentionally "daughtered" a 2nd church in the same town, and recently began a new mission in a neighboring town.

Each year their parish sends parishioners on missions trips close to home and around the world.

It's important for us too to consider that one Orthodox Church in Stillwater is NOT the final goal. There are 40,000 people in Stillwater and many more in the surrounding towns.

God desires that all of these good people come to the knowledge of the truth as found only in the Orthodox Church.     (Fr Mark)