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October, 2000 marked the inception of the St. Basil the Great Missions Ministry. It began at our parish's annual Fall Retreat at St. Nicholas Ranch in Dunlap, CA. The theme of the retreat was "Missions" and our retreat master was Fr. Martin Ritsi, Executive Director of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC). The majority of the retreatants were already very interested in missions and so we were strongly motivated to begin a formal missions ministry at St. Basil the Great.
Approximately ten parishioners began meeting monthly that fall to organize and plan. At our January General Assembly brand new line item was created in the church budget - Missions -- $1,000. By March, 2000 we were formally organized with a clear direction.
As of Autumn, 2001 St. Basil the Great supports three indigenous mission priests and one catechist in Africa, two sets of long-term missionaries in Romania and one long-term missionary at the Hogar Rafael Ayau Orphanage in Guatemala - all through the OCMC. This also reflects the multi-ethnic make-up of our parish as we have many parishioners from Africa and Romania and one from Guatemala.
In July two of our parishioners went to Project Mexico/St. Innocent Orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico for short-term missions. Daniel d'Arms worked on a team with other Orthodox Christians to build a house for an impoverished family. Cleo Constantin provided dental services to the staff and children at the orphanage and also helped with house building.
Sub-deacon John Heilman traveled to the Lower Yukon Delta of Alaska for three weeks (July 20 - August 10) as part of an OCMC short-term mission team. The team ministered to the local Yup'ik, indigenous Alaskans, supporting them in their Orthodoxy in this remote part of the world.
In August 2003, two of our St. Basil parishioners traveled to Albania as part of
a four-woman team. Our Cleo Constantin and Melissa Lynch joined Presbyteras
Renee Ritsi and Faye Stylianopolis to conduct retreats and meet with
women's groups throughout Albania. The program was entitled "Handmaidens for
Christ".
September found St. Basil's hosting a unique opportunity to hear Fr. Martin
Ritsi and his inspiring message to join in the missions outreach. As Executive
Director of the Orthodox Christian Missions Center, Fr. Martin is responsible
for all missionary efforts of SCOBA Orthodoxy. His message was heard by many
parishioners from nearby churches, and will surely invigorate other churches in
their desire to enlarge the missions emphasis.
The members of the Missions Ministry continue to pray for God's guidance and blessings on these and future endeavors. We pray that those reading this account will also pray for this ministry and all the members of St. Basil the Great.
September 30, 2007, presents another
opportunity for Fr. Ritsi to minister to St. Basil as he
chants the liturgy. Later in the day he will present the OCMC
Missions Program at St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in
our sister city Saratoga.
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Vision Statement
The vision of St. Basil the Great Missions Ministry is to participate in Christ's Great Commission by introducing people to Christ through the Orthodox Faith.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to support...
- full-time missionaries
- short-term mission teams
- theological education for missionary candidates
- indigenous clergy
- the development of projects in mission communities
We provide missions education to our parishioners and the greater community through various means including conferences and retreats.
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The Missions Ministry began informing and educating the parishioners of St. Basil the Great during Great Lent, 2001. We offered some Missions Sunday presentations after Divine Liturgy which were highly informative and motivational. The Missions Ministry funds soon expanded by leaps and bounds as many parishioners expressed their support for Missions in words, deeds, and donations. We soon found this ministry to be blessed with an abundance of funds beyond our wildest dreams.
Daniel and Sdn. John offered a multi-media presentation on their missions to Mexico and Alaska in our Fellowship Hall after Divine Liturgy on August 26. The presentation was preceded by an "International Coffee Hour" which featured refreshments from countries in which we sponsor missions. Both were highly anticipated and enthusiastically attended. Seventy parishioners actively listened and asked many, many thoughtful questions at the presentation.
On October 28 the Sunday School children presented a "Missionary Kids" program to the congregation after Divine Liturgy. The program focused on the children of missionaries and their role in spreading the Gospel of Christ - both benign and active. The children had been studying this topic for the previous month.
The members of the Missions Ministry continue to pray for God's guidance and blessings on these and future endeavors. We pray that those reading this account will also pray for this ministry and all the members of St. Basil the Great.
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The St. Basil the Great Mission Ministry began in January 2001 when a brand new line item was created in the church budget - Missions -- $1,000. Through our different educational programs and the sale of a donated Thomas Kinkade painting our coffers soon bulged beyond our wildest dreams. We immediately set to turning the donations around to support missions locally and around the globe.
The Missions Ministry also raised several thousand dollars in a single push earlier this year for Hogar Rafael Ayau Orphanage to help the orphanage in its vital ministry to orphaned children. ($500 donated by Philoptochos)
Also, our annual Lenten Agape Canister Fund Drive by our Sunday School children more than tripled the amount the children have ever donated. We credit this to prayer and the education and awareness newly created by the Missions Ministry.
We also created an attractive Missions Donation box which sits in the Narthex next to the candles for anyone to put a donation in.
The members of the Missions Ministry continue to pray for God's guidance and blessings on future fundraising endeavors. We pray that those reading this account will also pray for this ministry and all the members of St. Basil the Great.
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As of Autumn, 2001 St. Basil the Great supports three indigenous mission priests and one catechist in Africa, two sets of long-term missionaries in Romania and one long-term missionary at the Hogar Rafael Ayau Orphanage in Guatemala - all through the OCMC. This also reflects the multi-ethnic make-up of our parish as we have many parishioners from Africa and Romania and one from Guatemala.
Missionaries whom St. Basil the Great Supports:
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In July, 2001 two of our parishioners (and Missions Ministry team) went to Project Mexico/St. Innocent Orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico for short-term missions. Daniel d'Arms worked on a team with other Orthodox Christians to build a house for an impoverished family. Cleo Constantin provided dental services to the staff and children at the orphanage and also helped with house building.
Sub-deacon John Heilman traveled to the Yukon Delta of Alaska for three weeks (July 20 - August 10) as part of an OCMC short-term mission team. The team ministered to the local Yup'ik, indigenous Alaskans, supporting them in their Orthodoxy in this remote part of the world.
Daniel and Sdn. John offered a multi-media presentation on their missions in our Fellowship Hall after Divine Liturgy on August 26. The presentation was preceded by an "International Coffee Hour" which featured refreshments from countries in which we sponsor missions. Both were highly anticipated and enthusiastically attended. Seventy parishioners actively listened and asked many, many thoughtful questions at the presentation.
The members of the Missions Ministry continue to pray for God's guidance and blessings on future missionary endeavors. We pray that those reading this account will also pray for this ministry and all the members of St. Basil the Great.
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