This year we celebrate 10 years of Annapolis Pan-Orthodox College Ministry (ACM). We think of the hundreds of students and midshipmen who have been exposed to Orthodox Christianity and the fullness of the life in Christ along with the fourscore who have embraced Christ and His holy Church over these past 10 years. We give thanks to God for your faithful participation in this ministry, which has made this ministry possible. Some of you have been with us since our founding in 2004 and some of you have become participants in the ministry more recently. All of you have been used by God to enable this outreach to continue.
ACM was one of the first full-time discipleship-oriented college ministries in the Orthodox Church. Sadly, it’s now one of but a few. Arguably, there’s never been a greater need for faithful Orthodox Christian college ministry than now! Our youth face a barrage of secular, nihilistic and relativistic peer pressure from our culture and fellow students and need the anchor that formation in the time-less truth of Christ provides.
ACM has given 10 years worth of students and midshipmen the opportunity to come to Christ and His holy Church, and those already Orthodox to grow in and ‘own’ their faith. For others, ACM has given them the opportunity to consider the timeless truth of Christ and the Good News of salvation in Him for the first time.
Now, as we celebrate our 10th year, ACM is facing one of its greatest financial challenges. While our budget (and my support for my growing family of five) has NOT increased for several years, contributions from our faithful supporters have sadly declined. We do not take any contributions for granted. We thank God for you!
Here’s a short synopsis of the last 10 years: Take a look!
- · ACM founds two new chapters of Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF)—our North American-wide Orthodox college ministry—at St. John’s College and the U.S. Naval Academy.
- · 2005. Then Sub-Deacon Robert begins Full-time college ministry in Annapolis with weekly services on the campuses, teaching, and discipling in the Faith. Annual Fall retreat begins!
- · By 2006, several St. John’s students and a mid have converted to Orthodox Christianity. Plebe Summer ministry begins each summer at the U.S. Naval Academy. More ‘seeds’ are planted.
- · 2007-2008, another several students and another midshipmen embrace Christ and His holy Church. Many of those Orthodox grow in applying their Orthodox Faith in Christ to their daily lives!
- · 2009. Several others come to Christ and His holy Church. Fr. Robert ordained to the diaconate.
- · 2010. Plans begin for a Mission in Annapolis so the students and midshipmen can worship and receive the Sacraments locally (instead of traveling to Baltimore or D.C.). Fr. Robert ordained to the priesthood.
- · 2011. More students “put on Christ” in baptism (Gal. 3:27) as Holy Archangels Mission founded in Annapolis by the students.
- · 2012-13. Additional baptisms and chrismations of students at the new Mission. In 2012, Fr. Robert begins leading the OCF Realbreak trips to the orphanage at Valea Plopului, Romania for college students across North America.
- · 2014. ACM celebrates 10 years of ministry to the student and mids of Annapolis. Fr. Robert and Psa. Krissy welcome their third child into the world—Simeon Mihai Miclean.
Hundreds of students and midshipmen have been given the opportunity to grow in their Orthodox Faith and come to Christ and His holy Church. Click here to read the rest
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