ACM 2013 Summer Newsletter
Tuesday, July 15, 2014 Dear Friends and Faithful Supporters of Annapolis Pan-Orthodox College Ministry (ACM):
The Need for ACM has Never been Greater
Glory to Jesus Christ! The need for ACM has never been greater: Our culture continues its godless, secular trajectory, leading our college students into greater confusion. Many are formed by the culture and not by the Church.
ACM brings the timeless, changeless truth of Christ and His Church to the college students on their campuses—St. John’s College and the U.S. Naval Academy. ACM is present to help the students and midshipmen of these two venerable and historic colleges to use their four years of formation to grow in their knowledge and love of Christ and not be conformed to the culture. ACM helps others to come to Christ and His Church, so that, they may not be, “tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine… in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting…” (Eph. 4:14). ACM provides the refuge of the Church in the midst of the confusion of the culture.
Some two dozen have come to Christ and the holy Orthodox Faith through ACM since its 2004 inception. This Fall marks our ninth year sharing the love of Christ and the Orthodox Faith with them. For those already strong in their faith, ACM provides a place to continue to grow and invite friends to experience the divine worship and teaching that Christ first entrusted to His disciples. For those struggling, ACM provides a safe harbor to learn God’s love and purpose for their lives and experience sacramental healing.
Ministry this Summer at the USNA
This summer has been full of ministry opportunities at the U.S. N.A. Our ministry to the incoming class of plebes (freshmen) started June 30 and continues through August 15, the Feast of the Holy Dormition. In addition to offering Sunday services, Fr. Robert is with the plebes every Friday night for prayers, fellowship, and a teaching on one of the ‘military’ Saints: inspiring luminaries and lovers of Christ like St. Alexander Nevsky, St. Stephen the Great, St. Tamar, King of Georgia, St. George the Great Martyr. It’s a chance to instill in the plebes the truth that a good leader is a godly leader, as they can witness in the lives of these and other Saints, who also served in the military and glorified God with their lives. In August, the two Great Feasts of the Transfiguration and the Dormition will be served at the Academy so that the plebes and any midshipmen serving this summer, won’t miss out. Our Mission, Holy Archangels, an outreach that came out of ACM, will join us for the services.
