2020 Kenya Youth Work Team

Traveling From: 12/6/2020 to 12/15/2020; Team Cost: $1290*

KISUMU, Kenya – Are you interested in encouraging the youth of Kenya in their spiritual life? Are you willing to put your faith into action?

The 2020 Kenya Mission Team has been invited by His Grace Marcos, Bishop of Kisumu and West Kenya, to participate in a five-day retreat for youth from the Diocese of Kisumu. The youth, who are from diverse backgrounds and different tribes, are filled with a great desire to grow in their Orthodox faith and meet other Orthodox from around the world. The primary focus of this retreat is to concentrate on the unique and dynamic ministry that youth leaders have within Orthodox parishes, how other youth around the world are involved in their parish and how they stay connected to the Church and society.

Orthodoxy arose in East Africa without the influence of foreign missionaries. The Church was founded by two charismatic African men searching for truth and ‘orthodoxia’ in the 1920’s. The Orthodox Church in Kenya was received into canonical Orthodoxy in 1946, and the Makarios III Patriarchal Seminary was opened in the 1980’s to train indigenous priests from Africa. OCMC has supported the work of the Orthodox Church in Kenya for over 40 years and continues to provide support for theological and catechetical training and works with church leaders to address issues of self-sufficiency for the church. Presently, the Church in Kenya has three hierarchs, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Kenya, Bishop Neophytos of Nyeri and Mount Kenya and Bishop Marcos of Kisumu.

The first OCMC Mission Team volunteered in Kenya in 1987 to construct a Church; the second team built a Clinic. Since then, Teams have built and provided catechism, health care services, and encouragement in several communities throughout this growing Metropolitanate. The Diocese of Kisumu and Western Kenya includes over 8,000 faithful, 80 parishes and 61 clergy. It is made up of four different tribes: Luhya, Luo, Nandi and Turkana. The Church has 5 nursery schools, 4 primary schools and 3 secondary schools. Additionally, the Church has 1 clinic connected to it. About 9% of Kenya’s population belongs to peoples only marginally impacted by the Gospel, but a large number of people have been exposed to the Gospel.

His Grace Bishop Marcos was born on the 17th of April 1972 in Johannesburg, South Africa of Cypriot Greek parents. He attended and received his degree at theological school of Aristotle University of Thessalonica where he received his degree. He was ordained deacon on 1st of January 2001 in Alexandria at the Holy Patriarchal Church of the Annunciation and in August of the same year to the priesthood. In 2002 he served as personal secretary to the Patriarch of Alexandria Theodoros II; in 2007 he was appointed as parish priest to the Dormition parish and in 2009 to St Athanasius in Johannesburg. He was active in the formation of the youth group, Sunday school, fellowship and bible study groups and other activities including the benevolent society for the needy. On the 14th of February he was enthroned as the bishop of Kisumu at the Holy monastery of Panagia Tricherousa by the Archbishop of Nairobi Makarios.

Team Members should be experienced in youth ministry and be exemplary role models for the children.

Dates: December 6-15, 2020
Cost: $1,290 (+ airfares)

Travel – Team Members must fly on the international travel itinerary OCMC will provide to and from the project destination. Team Members are responsible for all air travel: one-way domestic flight to Jacksonville, FL (JAX) Sunday, December 6 (by 4 pm for orientation) and an international segment from JAX to Kisumu, Kenya on Tuesday, December 8, returning home on Tuesday, December 15. Airfares are not included in participant cost.

Fund raising – Each Team Member is responsible for the participant cost and airfares associated with this Team. Team Members are encouraged to invite others to participate in this effort through prayer and tax-deductible donations. Participant cost includes room and board, local transportation, orientation costs, ministry expenses, excursion and materials.

Share in a journey of faith… Orthodox Mission Team members are challenged to view the world with God's eyes and seek how He wants to use them to fulfill His plans. This cross-cultural experience, combined with outreach, offers participants a life-changing learning experience. This experience is about peo<