Albania - Korce Teaching Mission Team

“A little manual labor, spiritual talks, teaching and workshops, a little sightseeing and some time with Metropolitan Joan of Korce. This is such a worthy project.” - Pamela, OCMC long term missionary

KORCE, Albania – Do you have a gift for teaching? Team members with experience teaching the faith will assist with a retreat geared to the catechists from 5 different regions in Albania and help with restorations of a Monastery.

The 2022 Albania Teaching Team will work with OCMC missionary, Anastasia Pamela Barksdale, M.Div. and the catechists from five Metropolises in Albania. The team will participation in a spiritual renewal retreat for the catechists and help to renovate the Monastery of St. Joan the Baptist. We hope to install a functioning kitchen so that the monastery can be used as a summer camp for the children in the Metropolis of Korce. The program will include spiritual discussions, Bible Studies, team building exercises and some gardening and painting of the monastery. Team members will also visit ministries of the Church and meet other OCMC missionaries. (Anastasia Pamela Barksdale, M.Div. is the former instructor of Christian Education and Field Work at the Resurrection of Christ Theological Academy. She is currently the Executive Director of the Spirit of Love Foundation of the Orthodox Church of Albania and oversees the Church’s private preschool, elementary schools, high schools and vocational schools and their catechism programs.)

Albania suffered the most severe religious persecution in the world; all forms of religion were constitutionally prohibited, most churches and monasteries had been destroyed, no Church infrastructure existed, and only a few clergy remained. Under the guidance of Archbishop ANASTASIOS of Tirana and All Albania, the Church has been resurrected and continues to flourish. After centuries of Ottoman presence and decades of communist rule, the Church continues to make a remarkable turnaround, offering a witness of Christ’s love. Be a witness of the Faith in a country where 70% of the people come from a Muslim tradition by being a part of this teaching and outreach Team.

Dates:  August 16 - August 29, 2022 (exact dates to be determined)

Cost:  $1,220.00 (+airfare)

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) Aug 16 (by 4 pm for orientation) and an international segment from JAX to Tirana, Albania on Aug 18, returning home on Aug 29. 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.

If you would like to contribute to this Mission Team project - the catechist retreat and renovations at the Monastery - we are grateful for your support.  This is optional and it is not included in the participant cost. 

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 people, culture and missions. It is also about prayer, for you and others; it is about God, those you serve, and about yourself, as you serve Him.