Marching to Make an IMPACT

Missionary Dana Bates Helps Train Initial Cohort of Youth Ministry Leaders in East Africa

This February, a procession of youth, youth leaders, clergy, and Orthodox faithful marched around the grounds of the Makarios III Patriarchal Seminary in Nairobi, Kenya.  Led by His Eminence, Elder Archbishop Makarios, of Nairobi and a full marching band, marchers wore shirts and brandished signs to remind themselves, and those they passed, of the importance of putting their faith into action. 

The march kicked off a multi-day retreat and training session facilitated by Mission Center missionary, Dana Bates, aimed at rolling out the IMPACT service-learning model to 44 youth ministry leaders from Kenya and Uganda.  

Reflecting a profoundly Orthodox approach to the development of Orthodox spirituality, IMPACT empowers youth to identify community challenges ‒ to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2) ‒ and equips them with essential life skills like project management and communication to become “change agents” within their communities. 

Through the program, clubs of approximately 15 youth come together at their local parish to work towards lasting and transformative changes in their communities. These remarkable young people are stewarded on their journey of spiritual growth by a leader who facilitates regular meetings, culturally relevant games, storytelling, and community service projects ‒ all of which are informed by a robust curriculum aimed at growing character and competence in club members. 

Many of these clubs are already beginning to take shape, and following the February seminars, His Eminence expressed the hope that “this initiative will establish 37 IMPACT clubs to foster spiritual growth, leadership, and service-learning." 

Once the initial cohort of 44 youth ministry leaders has been fully established, they can eventually train new leaders and replicate the program independently – raising up even more youth who will start IMPACT clubs in their own communities. 

His Eminence expressed excitement for what this will mean to youth in the region, asking that we continue to support Dana’s work: “We humbly invite your prayers, encouragement, and generosity to sustain this vital mission and ensure a strong future for the Orthodox Church in East Africa.” 

The long-term vision is to establish IMPACT clubs at every parish in East Africa. In this way, Orthodox youth in this part of the world will experience a deeper relationship with Christ as they live the teachings of the Gospel and the Orthodox Christian Faith within their communities.