Orthodox Christian Mission Center Annual Board Meeting and Benefit Dinner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Orthodox Christian Mission Center Annual Board Meeting and Benefit Dinner
 
Cardiff by the Sea, California – November 8, 2006 – From November 14-16, 2006 the Board of Directors for the Orthodox Christian Mission Center will be holding their Annual Board Meeting, with a Mission Benefit Dinner on November 15, at Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church located at 3459 Manchester Avenue in Cardiff by the Sea, California.
 
The Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) is the official international mission agency of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA). Its purpose is to encourage, support and facilitate the establishment and development of self-supporting, Eucharistic Orthodox Christian communities worldwide, thus incorporating the person into the fullness of a life in Christ.
 
The purpose of this board meeting will be to review the accomplishments of Mission Center’s many initiatives, which include the support of Long-term Missionaries, Short-term Orthodox Mission Teams, the Support a Mission Priest (SAMP) program, the AGAPE Canister program, and its Theological Training program. Additionally, a new five-year strategic plan will be reviewed and adopted upon the conclusion of this assembly on November 16.
 
On Wednesday November 15, 2006 at 6:30 pm, Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church will also host a Mission Benefit Dinner with His Grace Bishop Benjamin of Berkley and special guest speaker, Reverend Father David Rucker. Father David will give a presentation entitled “Eternity In Their Hearts – What Motivates a Missionary?” This benefit dinner, dedicated to broadening awareness of the Mission Center and the work of missionaries everywhere.
 
Father David was born in Danville, KY, the third generation son of Methodist Ministers. He graduated from Asbury College in Wilmore, KY, with a BA in Christian Ministries and Education. While attending college he was a summer volunteer missionary for OMS NOW Corps in Colombia, South America. There he met Rozanne, the daughter of missionaries to Brazil. A year after returning from Colombia, Fr. David and Rozanne were married, and after a year as an associate pastor in the Methodist Church, they entered into career missionary service with an interdenominational Protestant mission organization, specializing in theological education. Their 13 years of missionary service took them to Japan, Hong Kong and China.
 
While in Hong Kong and China the Ruckers began to learn about the Orthodox Church. Following their conversion to Orthodoxy in 1996, Father David became an ordained priest of the Orthodox Church in America in 2002 and will take his place as Associate and Missionary Director of the Mission Center this December.
 
Contact: Alex Goodwin, Communications Director
Phone: (904) 829-5132
E-mail: communications@ocmc.org
Web: www.ocmc.org
Address: The Orthodox Christian Mission Center
P.O. Box 4319
St. Augustine, FL  32085-4319
 
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