Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos to Celebrate the Groundbreaking of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center on May 5, 2006

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


Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos to Celebrate the Groundbreaking
of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center on May 5, 2006

March 23, 2006

St. Augustine, FL -- His Grace, Bishop Dimitrios (Couchell) of Xanthos, knows the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) very well. As a priest in the mid-1980's, he was called upon by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese to establish the Archdiocesan Mission Center in St. Augustine, FL and was assigned as its first Executive Director along with similar duties at the St. Photios Shrine.
 
In 1994, the Archdiocesan Mission Center came under SCOBA (the Standing Conference of Canonical Bishops of the Americas) and was expanded to represent all the Orthodox Jurisdictions in America, thus becoming known as the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC). Fr. Couchell continued as Executive Director before being elevated to the episcopacy in 1998 and moving to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in New York.
 
After outgrowing its facilities three times, the Mission Center embarked on a major campaign effort to respond to that growth.  May 5, 2006 will mark the successful conclusion of that campaign as it celebrates the groundbreaking of the new Missionary Training and Administrative Support Center. Bishop Dimitrios, who also serves as the General Secretary of SCOBA, will return to officiate at the ceremonies on the 20-acre property.
 
The 12,000 square foot Mission Center will be an international beacon of Christ's love, reaching out to those around the world who have never heard the Gospel.  It will bring a greater awareness to Orthodox mission work and will further provide the facilities needed to prepare missionaries for service abroad and to train volunteers and seminarians for service on short-term mission teams.   
 
The celebration will begin with groundbreaking ceremonies on the property at 9:30 a.m. on May 5, 2006, to be followed by a luncheon at the Renaissance Hotel located in the World Golf Village. Ticket price is $50 per person. Those who are interested in attending this event may contact the Mission Center directly at 877-GO-FORTH (463-6784) or click here for additional information on the event and accommodations.
 
Please pray for the continued expansion of missions, as we embark on this momentous occasion of the groundbreaking for the New Missionary Training and Administrative Support Center and as our organization continues to evolve to fulfill the Lord’s command to "Take the Gospel to all Nations".     
 
 
The Orthodox Christian Mission Center: Helping Orthodox Christians respond to Christ's call to preach, teach, baptize, minister to the poor and make disciples of all nations as the official international mission agency of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA).