College Students Serve on Their Spring Break

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
Orthodox Christian Fellowship
December 13, 2005   
P.O. Box 300249
Boston, MA 02130
800-919-1623      
www.ocf.net
 
COLLEGE STUDENTS SERVE ON THEIR SPRING BREAK –
”being fruitful in every work and growing in the knowledge of God” (Col. 1:10)
 
Boston, MA - Orthodox Christian Fellowship’s (OCF) Real Break program offers college students life-changing experiences serving Orthodox communities, orphanages and monasteries on their spring break “being fruitful in every work and growing in the knowledge of God” (Col. 1:10) Registration for Real Break 2006 is now open for teams of 10-15 young people to travel to exciting locations such as Project Mexico, Hogar Rafael Ayau Orphanage in Guatemala, Raphael House in San Francisco, Holy Monastery of the Twelve Apostles in Greece, and El Salvador to share in the experience of serving others, prayer, fellowship and fun. A Real Break team may also serve an affected disaster area through a Hurricane Relief project in partnership with International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC).
 
While the accepted norm for a college spring break is to waste away the week on a beach, Real Break provides a fantastic alternative to this traditional view. It is a time to serve others, grow spiritually, learn about different communities and experience the reality of Christian life. Each team is accompanied by a priest who serves as the team leader providing opportunity for one-on-one interaction and spiritual growth. Each participant is asked to fundraise for their trip with family, friends and their local parish. The donors become an important part of each participant’s experience as photos and stories are shared upon their return. A student from Miami University who participated in a Real Break to Guatemala last year, wrote about his experience as follows: “By the grace of God working through these orphans, I was able to see Christ in all those around me.”
 
The dates and locations for 2006 are:
 
February 18 - 26 -- Twelve Holy Apostles Monastery (Greece)
February 25 - March 4 -- Project Mexico
March 4-11 -- Project Mexico, Raphael House (San Francisco)
March 11-18 -- Hogar Rafael Ayau (Guatemala), Hurricane Relief, El Salvador
March 18-25 (26*) -- Project Mexico, Twelve Holy Apostles Monastery (Greece)*
March 25 - April 1 -- Hogar Rafael Ayau (Guatemala)
 
Now in its seventh year, over 400 participants have experienced Real Break, serving ten different locations. Father Mark Leondis, Chairman of the OCF Executive Committee stated, “this program is perhaps one of the greatest ways that our college students can put their faith into action. We feel blessed to have worked with these students on these service projects and are grateful for their zeal for the faith and love for those who are less fortunate. God has indeed blessed their efforts.”
 
Registration and more information on Real Break can be found on the OCF website at www.ocf.net or by calling 800-919-1OCF.
 
 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 fifteen person Student Advisory Board. The office is located in Boston, MA, where a full time staff develops OCF programs and resources.