Orthodox Christian Mission Center

Orthodox Christian Mission Center to embrace the Great Commission. Ultimately, we aspire to bring people into the fullness of life in Christ.
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We are the official Pan-Orthodox missions agency of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, dedicated to galvanizing Orthodox Christians in the U.S. We are the Pan-Orthodox missions agency of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, dedicated to galvanizing Orthodox Christians in the U.S. We unleash human and financial resource

s to establish Christ’s Church in collaboration with local Churches, through a uniquely Orthodox approach to missionary work. We do this for people who, for a variety of reasons, have not experienced the transformative power of Christ –around the world, where the Church has not been fully established, and/or where the population is largely non-Christian. Our Mission unfolds in response to the pressing need for people to hear the Gospel and participate in the authentic expression of Christian faith in its purest form.

OUR WITNESS IN THE WORLDA Message from Executive Director, Nathan Hoppe There are hundreds of millions of people through...
06/03/2026

OUR WITNESS IN THE WORLD
A Message from Executive Director, Nathan Hoppe

There are hundreds of millions of people throughout the world who have never heard the good news of Christ. In Matthew’s Gospel, we hear “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” Responding to this need is far beyond the capacity of any one person or parish. For this reason, the Assembly of Bishops has commissioned the work of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center.

“The evangelization of God’s people and of those who do not believe in Christ constitutes the supreme duty of the Church.” Our mission is shaped by the example of Christ Himself. We are called to live and serve in ways that are Apostolic, Incarnational, and Ecclesial. These three principles, rooted in the life of the Church, guide and sustain all Orthodox mission work. In this message, I want to reflect on the first of these: the apostolic calling.

In every Divine Liturgy, we proclaim that the Church is apostolic. We often understand this historically—affirming that the Orthodox Church preserves the faith and teaching of the Holy Apostles. This is true and essential. But we sometimes overlook another central part of what it means to be apostolic: the Apostles knew themselves to be sent by Christ. This is the very meaning of the word apostle—one who is sent. After His resurrection, the Lord said to His disciples, “As the Father has sent Me, even so I send you” (John 20:21). To confess that the Church is apostolic is to remember that we too are sent by Christ into the world.

We go because this is God’s way of working. The Father sent His Son into the world for our salvation. Following Christ’s example, we go because He commands it and because we love those to whom we proclaim the Gospel. But we also go because mission transforms us. God could save the world without our help, yet He chooses to save the world through us. When we accept this apostolic calling, we encounter Christ Himself, we are changed, and we too are saved.

Guided by these principles, the Mission Center seeks to mobilize parishes across the United States to foster and nurture vibrant Eucharistic communities throughout the world.

Memory Eternal, Our Dear Friend Dan ChristopulosWith faith in God’s mercy and in the everlasting life to come, on May 30...
06/01/2026

Memory Eternal, Our Dear Friend Dan Christopulos

With faith in God’s mercy and in the everlasting life to come, on May 30, 2026 our dear friend and colleague, former Orthodox Christian Mission Center Development Director Dan Christopulos, fell asleep in the Lord. He dedicated his life to serving the Church, sharing our faith across the world, and loving others in the name of Christ. Surrounded by his family, he passed peacefully at home.

Dan not only served as a priest; he was also OCMC’s first missionary, a country representative for International Orthodox Christian Charities, and a police chaplain. In all these positions of service, he impacted the lives of thousands of people, offering grace and mercy to those in need as he shared the profound hope of Christ’s Resurrection. His unfailing sense of humor and kindness made it easy to connect with him and brought great warmth to people in the farthest corners of the earth.

Our hearts are with Dan’s wife Patty, and their children and grandchildren: Jordan, Matthew, and Greysen; Zoe, Taylor, Evy, and Easton; Valerie, Kevin, Juliana, Connor, and Tommy; David, Kris, Ava, and Kate, and the entire family that he and Patty brought together.

We will miss Dan greatly, but we take comfort in the Resurrection, knowing he is embraced by our loving Lord. We thank Dan for all he has done for the Church and for Orthodox Christians around the world.

Memory eternal, dear brother.

In this very difficult moment, we ask the Orthodox faithful to join us in prayer for our dear friend and brother in Chri...
05/29/2026

In this very difficult moment, we ask the Orthodox faithful to join us in prayer for our dear friend and brother in Christ, Dan Christopulos, who is now waging a serious battle with cancer.

Dan holds a special place in the history of the Mission Center. In 1985, he answered God’s call to become the first missionary sent by OCMC, serving in Kenya and helping lay the foundation for what would become decades of Orthodox missionary outreach. Through his faithful witness and humble service, Dan has inspired and touched countless people to live out Christ’s command to “make disciples of all nations.”

As Dan, his wife Patty, and their family move through this difficult time, we ask you to pray that our Lord grant him comfort, peace, strength, and mercy.

To keep friends and loved ones informed, updates on Dan’s condition are shared through CaringBridge.

https://www.caringbridge.org/site/dc90aef6-50bc-11f1-9614-4f150b26fa40?utm_source=website_share&utm_medium=share_button&utm_term=&utm_content=link_share_button&utm_campaign=private_home_page

Today, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord, commemorating Christ’s ascent into heaven ...
05/21/2026

Today, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord, commemorating Christ’s ascent into heaven forty days after His Resurrection.

Before ascending, Christ gathered His disciples, blessed them, and entrusted them with the mission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations. Though He departed bodily from the earth, the Ascension is not a moment of absence, but of promise and fulfillment—revealing Christ enthroned in glory at the right hand of the Father.

The Ascension reminds us that the mission of the Church is inseparable from the life of Christ Himself. The disciples were sent into the world carrying the hope of the Resurrection and the assurance that Christ remains present with His people. Through the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, this mission would continue to spread to the ends of the earth.

At the Mission Center, the Feast of the Ascension renews our commitment to that apostolic calling. As Orthodox Christians around the world continue to share the Gospel, establish vibrant Eucharistic communities, and invite others into the fullness of life in Christ, we participate in the same mission first entrusted to the Apostles.

The Orthodox Christian Mission Center is looking for a bold, deeply committed Missionary Director to oversee recruiting,...
05/18/2026

The Orthodox Christian Mission Center is looking for a bold, deeply committed Missionary Director to oversee recruiting, training, and deploying missionaries around the world.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity to help further Orthodox Christianity around the world,” said Executive Director Dr. Nathan Hoppe. “We need someone who understands the demand to serve like Jesus did – by entering another’s world just as He entered ours.”

As Orthodox Christians, we proclaim in the Creed each Liturgy that the Church is apostolic. We often think of this in historical terms, forgetting that at the center of the Apostles’ identity was their awareness of being sent by Christ. “Apostle” means “one who is sent”. After His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples, “As the Father has sent me, even so I send you" (John 20:21). God could have communicated with human beings in other ways, but He chose to send His Son into our world, and we follow Christ's example of going.

“We go because Christ commanded it, and because we love those to whom we will proclaim the good news of salvation, but we also go because, by doing so, we find the road of transformation and salvation,” said Nathan. “God could save the world without us, but He chooses to save the world through us because in this way He saves us as well. We might be tempted to think Orthodox missions can be done in cheaper, easier, and safer ways — but Christ has sent us. As we go, we encounter Him and are transformed in Him.”

The Missionary Director will be one of the defining voices of Orthodox Missions at home and across the world. They will work alongside Nathan, leading the full life cycle of our missionary program: recruiting men and women with a heart for missions, forming and training them for the field, sending them out, and walking with them every step of the way.

“We need a proven leader who can inspire and equip others, navigate the complexities of cross-cultural ministry, and cultivate meaningful relationships with clergy, donors, and mission partners,” said Nathan. “And we’re anxious to find the right person.”

Click the link below to learn more

https://ocmc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/OCMC_Missionary_Director_Job_Description-4-6-26.pdf

We’re honored to share that the Mission Center has once again received Candid’s Platinum Seal of Transparency — the high...
05/12/2026

We’re honored to share that the Mission Center has once again received Candid’s Platinum Seal of Transparency — the highest level of recognition for nonprofit transparency and accountability.

This recognition reflects our commitment to faithful stewardship, openness, and ensuring our supporters can clearly see the impact of Orthodox missions around the world. Thank you to everyone who makes this work possible through your prayers, generosity, and support.

Learn more about our profile and impact at the link below:

https://app.candid.org/profile/7944119/orthodox-christian-mission-center-59-3158396

Through the Mission Center and the Orthodox Church in East Africa, we have opened 39 IMPACT youth service-learning group...
05/11/2026

Through the Mission Center and the Orthodox Church in East Africa, we have opened 39 IMPACT youth service-learning groups in just one year, involving almost 1000 youth in life-changing projects. Missionary Dana Bates developed the IMPACT model in Romania in 2002, and it now spans almost 45 countries. IMPACT is based on experiential education, where youth identify a community burden and implement a service-project to improve it. The process teaches them life skills, including project management, budgeting, socio-emotional intelligence, leadership, and problem-solving.

Past projects included water sanitation, malaria prevention, gender violence education and rescue, food security, and more—whatever the youth find relevant in their own community. In one IMPACT club-led service project, they knew the community needed an improved water source, so they made over 10,000 bricks, sold them, and used the money to repair the “borehole,” which was the source of the issue.

IMPACT is proving to be a powerful tool for attracting new youth to the Church, and in turn, they are making a difference in their communities. Above all, we celebrate these young people for living the call to “Bear one another’s burdens and fulfill the law of Christ.” – (Galatians 6:2).

Click below to learn more about the work Dana does in East Africa.

https://ocmc.org/missionaries/dana-bates/?fbclid=IwY2xjawRu62dleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF2UVA4Y1NaUkpUR3pKamw1c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHgrj7aIsaR2mBZfSMK-csD7pJ_FezSXJMleNu6qZiMhd6-5fciTgkfth_s27_aem_PwCRtdn5DJcKugj7fGFQEA

After 40 years of building the Orthodox Church around the world, we understand the vital role a sustainable infrastructu...
05/06/2026

After 40 years of building the Orthodox Church around the world, we understand the vital role a sustainable infrastructure plays in creating lasting impact. That’s why our sustainability grants are essential to newly established churches and communities, especially those with limited resources. While there are an infinite number of pieces to ensuring the Church survives, among the most pressing is generating income to feed the needs of the community and allow the clergy to afford serving.

Our sustainability grants are designed to help communities stay afloat—and eventually thrive. In the Metropolis of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, a $24,500 grant enabled the construction of three store-front shops, two of which are now rented out to local merchants. Once all three are rented, income generated will be about $1,000/month and will be used to help pay salaries and expenses for clergy.

We know how grateful these communities are for the assistance they receive from the Mission Center and our supporters, and we thank you for the important part you play in sustaining the Orthodox Church around the world.

The Mission Center Board gathered at Hellenic College Holy Cross in Brookline this week and welcomed Dr. Nathan Hoppe to...
04/23/2026

The Mission Center Board gathered at Hellenic College Holy Cross in Brookline this week and welcomed Dr. Nathan Hoppe to his first meeting as Executive Director.

Nathan shared plans for the upcoming year and an overview of the Mission Center’s evolving vision. “We have exciting new opportunities in continuity with all that has been done over the last 40 years. Most of the world still has not encountered Christianity and the job of being apostolic is not finished. Christ did not come as an outsider to our world, he came as an incarnational insider to our world. Being incarnational means emptying ourselves of everything that’s sinful or broken and surrendering our culture and language to take on different cultures and languages.”

Nathan also addressed the reality that being incarnational is not safe, emphasizing the need to take risks. “The Church must live out its DNA as a missionary church,” he said. Most parishes across the country are not equipped to do this global work on their own. That is why the Mission Center exists.

The Mission Center’s long-term goal is to inspire 75% of Orthodox churches around the country to support missionary work everywhere. “We are at the beginning of a new chapter in connecting with our parishes. This can’t be done just by wishful thinking or by sending emails to priests,” he said. “The problem isn’t how to bring people in, but how to form a missionary mindset. We need to develop both resources and programming for all ages.”

The Board was especially pleased to celebrate Vespers with students at the school, where Nathan gave an inspiring message to the community and joined in commemorating His Eminence Metropolitan Dimitrios of Xanthos, the first Executive Director of the Mission Center.

Board President Dr. Gayle Woloschak thanked Nathan and Fr. Martin Ritsi for a seamless transition, crediting their collaboration and shared commitment to the Mission Center.

04/14/2026

Having passed through the Lenten season of repentance and the joyful sadness of Holy Week, we now celebrate Christ’s triumphant Resurrection and His offer to us of everlasting life. Thank you for joining us in proclaiming: Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

Address

220 Mason Manatee Way
Saint Augustine, FL
32086

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+18774636784

Website

http://linktree.com/ocmc

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