wfn.org | Orthodox College Students Participate in 24 hours of Prayer

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

SCOBA
The Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas
8 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 17, 2004

Orthodox Christian Fellowship
P.O. Box 249
Boston, MA  02130
1-800-919-1623
www.ocf.net

Hundreds of Orthodox College Students across the Nation Participate in 24
hours of Prayer

Boston, MA - Orthodox Christian Fellowship's (OCF) first ever National OCF
Day of Prayer will take place beginning at 6 PM EST on Sunday, Feb. 22 and
ending at 6 PM EST on Monday, February 23, 2004.  Great Lent begins with
the service of Forgiveness Vespers on Sunday, Feb. 22, and Orthodox college
students will continue praying for 24 consecutive hours following.  OCF
groups from colleges all across the United States and Canada have signed up
for one-hour increments where they will participate in a special prayer
service which includes petitions for peace in the world, unity in the
Church, and for Orthodox college students and their futures.  Some of the
participating local OCF groups include: University of Notre Dame, Virginia
Tech, University of Colorado, Boston University, UCSB and Westmont College
(CA), University of Michigan, University of Pittsburgh, University of
Texas, University of Connecticut, Hellenic College (MA), and Pennsylvania
State University.

OCF National Day of Prayer is occurring in the hopes of bringing all OCF
chapters together for an important mission to join in prayer to intercede
on behalf of the Church and its people. Rev. Fr. Michael Nasser, Executive
Director of OCF, stated,  "With over 40,000 Orthodox College students
currently on campuses and almost 200 OCF local fellowships scattered from
coast to coast, I can't think of a better way for our students to begin the
Great Fast than engaging in the wonderfully unifying act of prayer. I can
see the Day of Prayer becoming an important hallmark of this important
movement."

Renowned Author and Lecturer to Speak Throughout the Week at Penn State

During the week of February 16-21, Fr. Peter Gillquist, internationally
known author, Orthodox Christian lecturer, and evangelist will be on the
campus of Penn State to meet with students and speak on various topics
concerning how to live a purpose-driven life.  Fr. Peter's visit is part of
the "Get a Life" speaker series sponsored by National Orthodox Christian
Fellowship.

For decades, Fr. Peter has been invited to speak with college students on
campuses across North America, and teaching them about the joy of living a
Christian life and encouraging them to hold firm to their humanity.
Throughout the week-long series, Fr. Peter will be speaking to the students
each evening in different dorms and spending his days interacting with the
students on campus.  On Friday evening, Fr. Peter will be joined by two
contemporary Christian folk musicians, Peter Jon Gillquist and Ron Moore,
who will be performing live in concert in the student union.

The week-long series will conclude with a seminar on Saturday morning and
will be open to both students and the general public.  Fr. Peter will
present a talk on the topic of the Christian vocation, entitled "Get a
Life."

Fr. Peter Gillquist has countless credentials and is a pioneer in the area
of Christian outreach.	Fr. Peter has a bachelor's degree in journalism
from the University of Minnesota (1960) and he did graduate work at both
Dallas Theological Seminary and Wheaton College.  Fr. Peter is a former
Regional Director for Campus Crusade for Christ, has held positions as
Senior Editor for Thomas Nelson Publishers, and Director of Development for
the University of Memphis.  Since 1997, Fr. Peter has been the National
Chaplain for Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, and is the author of many
books including: "Love is Now" and "Becoming Orthodox".  Fr. Peter is an
Archpriest in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North
America where he serves as Chairman for the Department of Missions and
Evangelism.  This series is made possible through a Lilly Endowment, Inc.
Vocations grant to Hellenic College of Brookline, MA and the National
Orthodox Christian Fellowship Office.

About OCF
Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) is the official campus ministry effort
of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas
(SCOBA).  It is a Pan-Orthodox effort, overseen by an Executive Committee
and aided by a sixteen-person Student Advisory Board. The office is located
in Boston, MA, where a full time staff develops OCF programs and resources.
The staff is available to guide and support local OCF chapters through
communication with the larger Orthodox community, national programs, and
development of resources for use by Orthodox college students. SCOBA
designated the 3rd Sunday in September each year as "College Student
Sunday" to raise awareness of our students on campus and OCF's activities.

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