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

July 23, 2003

OCMC Mission Team to Ghana lives Orthodox History

The Mission Center (OCMC), St. Augustine, FL -- Seven Orthodox Christians
from across the United States became one of the 2003 OCMC Mission Teams to
Ghana and became part of Orthodox history. The Team was sent to build a new
church in the village of Breman, in the eastern region of Ghana. Even more
important than constructing a new church, they witnessed the building up of
the Orthodox Church in Ghana.

As His Grace Panteleimon, Bishop of Ghana, said, "They worked for almost
three weeks, but their visit was not restricted to the building of the
church, but also for their spiritual benefit. For what will it profit them,
if they only build a church made out of blocks and stones and they do not
build the living temple of God, which is our bodies and souls?"

In between pounding their hammers, pouring cement and laying bricks, the
OCMC Mission Team members got to know the local people that worked
alongside them. Each day began with morning prayers and ended with Vespers
because an important aspect of all Mission Teams is shared worship. Both
the Team members and the Ghanaians felt united in their shared Orthodoxy.

The OCMC Mission Team members were privileged to be part of two historical
mass baptisms. In the village of Brakwa, eighty-five people of all ages
were baptized in a near-by river and became the only Orthodox community in
that region of Ghana. In Breman, where the Team worked, over forty people
entered into the Body of Christ through Holy Baptism. The Team members were
blessed with the opportunity to be sponsors (Godparents) to these new
Orthodox Christians.

The Mission Team understood that the part they played was small compared to
the many months of hard work and catechism that led up to the moment of
baptism. They had a taste of the hardships the local clergy and Bishop
Panteleimon have in traveling the long distances between villages. They
also experienced great joy in seeing the enthusiasm and deep desire for
Orthodoxy in the newly illuminated faithful.

The mass baptisms weren't the only historical sacraments the Team members
participated in, since they also witnessed ordinations to the diaconate of
two Ghanaian men. The foundation of the church, which they had helped
build, was blessed in a special service and prayers of thanksgiving were
offered to God for this new church.

The Orthodox Church in Ghana has limited income and survives through the
generosity of those that God inspires, like the family who made this church
building project possible. The Church is very young in Ghana, but in only
twenty years, it has more than doubled the number of people being
catechized and baptized into the Faith. His Grace Panteleimon works very
hard to educate and develop the indigenous clergy to lead the faithful and
to bring more people into the Holy Orthodox Church.

All OCMC Mission Team members are taught that we do mission work and follow
in the footsteps of missionary saints because of our inherent desire to
share the Faith, as an expression of Love and in response to Christ's call
to "Go to all nations". In 2003, over 100 OCMC Mission Team members will
teach, build, baptize, nurture and heal in local Orthodox communities
around the world. Volunteers will donate their time, talent, finances and
energy to witness the Orthodox Christian faith in Ghana, Guatemala, Alaska,
Albania, Romania, and India through the Orthodox Christian Mission Center.

  The Orthodox Christian Mission Center -- helping Orthodox Christians
respond to Christ's call to teach, baptize and make disciples of all
nations as the official international mission agency of SCOBA.

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