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The Department of Missions and Evangelism exists to aid Metropolitan Joseph in fulfilling his mission “to save souls.” Specifically, the Department seeks to aid our existing parishes, equipping them with resources and training for the strengthening of the Laity, Readers, Chanters, and Clergy, as well as assisting in the establishment of new mission parishes.

To that end, we are developing methods and programs:

  • to help parish priests with sermon development resources
  • to work in cooperation with the Department of Sacred Music in helping our Readers, Chanters, and Choir singers to improve their skills in leading our congregations in singing the Liturgy, and other Divine Services
  • to provide web-based links for priests who wish to direct inquirers to good online resources for inquiry into the Orthodox Faith
  • to recommend and help implement effective methods of evangelical outreach on the local level

Under newly appointed leadership, the Department of Missions and Evangelism intends to improve this page over the weeks and months ahead, in order to make it useful toward fulfilling the above objectives.

Archdiocese's New Feature Film Speaks to Spiritual Seekers

North America, along with the rest of the world, loves a good feature film. The American movie industry, based in Hollywood, California, is a force to be reckoned with. The global box office revenue from the film industry is about $38 billion dollars a year, and it’s expected to break $50 billion in the next three years. 

This past September a group was blessed to meet with His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph to screen the first Orthodox feature film produced in America. The documentary was created as an outgrowth of the Becoming Truly Human ministry, a new effort of the Archdiocese that is focused on reaching the large numbers of unchurched people in North America. Commissioned by the Archdiocese, the film was directed by Nathan Jacobs. (View the first four minutes of Becoming Truly Human.)

St. Ananias Orthodox Church Takes Root in Evansville, IN

Father Nabil Hanna, pastor of St. George Orthodox Church in Fishers, Indiana, and Fr. Peter Gillquist, the late Director of Missions for the Antiochian Archdiocese, had long wanted to plant a mission in Evansville, Indiana. After years of labor by them, as well as many others including the priests of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Louisville, the decision was made to send Fr. Daniel Hackney and his family as mission planters for the St. Ananias Orthodox Church. At this time, Evansville was the largest metropolitan area in the country without an Orthodox parish. The nearest church was two hours away.  

Now, seven years later this mission has taken root through the prayers of St. Ananias, the first bishop of Damascus. Growing into a diverse congregation of people from many different backgrounds, the Lord has seen fit to provide his people with facilities that include both a church and an annex that includes a fellowship hall, office space and educational rooms. This past April with the blessing of Metropolitan Joseph and Bishop Anthony, the property was purchased with funds received almost exclusively from a stewardship drive within the congregation itself.

New Leadership Appointed for Department of Missions and Evangelism

V. Rev. John D. FinleyV. Rev. John D. FinleyV. Rev. Joseph HuneycuttV. Rev. Joseph HuneycuttAugust 9, 2016 — Englewood, NJ

His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph has appointed V. Rev. John D. Finley as the new chairman of the Department of Missions and Evangelism, as well as V. Rev. Joseph Huneycutt as the department’s new vice chairman. Both of these appointments take effect September 1 upon the retirement of the current chairman, V. Rev. Michael Keiser.

Father John is attached to the altar of St. Athanasius Antiochian Orthodox Church in Santa Barbara, California. Ordained to the priesthood in 1997, and elevated to the dignity of archpriest in 2004, he has been an active field staff member of the Department for the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America since 1996, establishing and serving many missions and parishes across the United States and Canada.

 

Department of Missions and Evangelism News Archive