God continues to grant the ministry continued growth. College ministry is about relationship-building and thanks to your support, I have had many more opportunities this Fall to get to know the students and show them the love and truth of Christ. This investment in time has translated into more students interested in learning about the Orthodox Christian Faith and participating in the ministry.
Three New Catechumens
This past week three more students were admitted into the catechumenate, the time of preparation for Holy Baptism and Chrismation. The students are Harrison Smith, a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy, and Cooper and Erica Gallimore, who started their courtship at last year’s Fall OCF retreat. Cooper and Erica, now newly-weds, are both associated with the ministry at St. John’s College. Now they are starting their new life together by joining themselves to Christ and His holy Church. It has been a great privilege to journey with them to the catechumenate, pray for them, answer their questions, and present the Orthodox Christian Faith to them in our weekly meetings over the past months. In the case of Harrison, we have been meeting over the past year-and-a-half. A tough rugby player at the USNA, Harrison looked at me one day recently, tears filling his eyes, and said, “I see so much hurt in peoples eyes; so much need for the love of God.” God has indeed been revealing Himself to Harrison.
Observing the transformation which God brings through His love and truth is one of the most rewarding experiences of life. Praise God and thank you for your participation in making this ministry possible!
If you would like to participate in this ministry that is bringing people to Christ and His holy Church, please consider becoming one of this ministry’s contributors. May God bless you for your faithfulness!