Friday, 17th May 2024

Earlier today, our Patron, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios, presided over a significant consultative meeting with a dedicated team from the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC), focused on advancing youth mission and empowerment initiatives. The meeting was attended by the youth leaders of the Orthodox Christian Youth Association of Kenya (OCYAK), further underscoring the commitment to empowering young Orthodox Christians in our region.

We were particularly impressed by the impactful model presented by Dana Bates from OCMC, which not only equips youth with essential life skills but also integrates them into Orthodoxy through living the liturgy within the community, extending the spiritual experience beyond the church walls.

This model, recognized as one of the global best practices in youth ministry, offers a unique approach to nurturing faith and life skills simultaneously. The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas and showcase our ongoing efforts in youth development. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dana Bates, Fr. Charalambos, Dan Christopoulos, and the entire OCMC team for their outstanding work in this field.

OCMC’s Missionary Journey in East Africa

Over a ten-day period, Fr. Rob Spaliatsos, OCMC’s Missionary Director, and Dan Christopoulos, OCMC’s Development Director, undertook an extensive visit to seven dioceses across Kenya and Uganda. This journey, which also included six hierarchs, was aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of the needs for missionaries and resources in these regions and exploring how the IMPACT Orthodox service-learning youth ministry model developed by Dana Bates could be effectively implemented.

Dan Christopoulos, who served as the first OCMC missionary in East Africa from 1985 to 1988, played a crucial role in introducing Fr. Spaliatsos and Dana Bates to the various dioceses, hierarchs, and priests. Many of these religious leaders were former students of Christopoulos during his missionary tenure in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Their journey began in the Archdiocese of Nairobi, before moving on to the dioceses of Nyeri, Kisumu, and finally culminating in Kenya’s newest diocese, Eldoret.

Featured on Orthodox Africa TV

We are delighted to share that Fr. Rob Spaliatsos, Dan Christopoulos, and Dana Bates were featured on Orthodox Africa TV during their visit. The interview highlighted Dana Bates’ incredible work with the youth program IMPACT, and the broader mission of OCMC in serving the global Orthodox Church. We encourage everyone to watch this insightful interview to learn more about the transformative impact of their work.

🎥 Watch the interview

Stay tuned for more updates from this impactful trip, as we continue to work together in empowering our youth and strengthening our faith community.