NIGERIA PARISH RETREAT VIRTUAL  MISSION TEAM

 

Archbishop Alexander has invited the OCMC to participate in this Virtual event which will offer lessons on the Orthodox faith to an Orthodox Community in the Benue State of Nigeria. This Team will encourage the faithful and be a sign of solidary to show how we are connected as one Orthodox Church.

Benue State, in North Central Nigeria, is named after the Benue River which flows through the region. Known as “The Food Basket of the Nation”, fruit, rice, soybean and sweet potatoes are grown here, and many livelihoods are connected in some way to this industry. In this region, the Orthodox Church is growing rapidly. Twenty-one well organized churches are the spiritual home to 700 faithful. The faithful are zealous to learn, even though they are all farmers who work hard to grow and sell their produce. Women’s, youth and choir groups meet regularly. Representatives from each of these communities will gather for this large event.

Even though Nigeria leads the continent of Africa in the lack of internet access and high rate of unemployment, their Human Development Index has increased by 20 percent over the last two decades. Many individuals face poor living conditions, and the average life expectancy is under 60 years. With the fifth largest Muslim population in the world, Orthodoxy took root in Nigeria due to the spiritual searching of a handful of Nigerians, who in 1985, joined the Orthodox Church. Since then, many others have followed their example. The successful spreading of Orthodoxy led to the formation of the Diocese of Nigeria in 1997 by the Patriarchate of Alexandria. In 2004 the Diocese was elevated to a Metropolis. Its canonical territory extends to the neighboring countries of Benin, Niger, and Togo and from the beginning has been led by Metropolitan Alexander. The Archdiocese has a variety of people, cultures and languages. Many are struggling merchants and peasant farmers.

Dates: September 17, 2021

Cost:   $45 registration fee

Fund raising – We have a list of requested items that are needed for this Team to be successful in Nigeria. Team Members are encouraged to invite others to participate in this effort through prayer and tax-deductible donations. If you would like to contribute to this project, which is also supported by the OCMC, we are grateful for your support.

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.