top of page
Search

Rooted in Outreach

  • Anonymous
  • Jul 23
  • 3 min read

ree

Written anonymously by one of our OCCM servants.

July 22, 2025



This year, the Southern Diocese OCCM’s theme of the year is being “rooted”–to ensure that all decisions, tablings, and events are well rooted in Orthodoxy and the values of this service. As the goal of OCCM is to “anchor college students to the values and ancient faith of the Orthodox Christian Church” (OCCM Guidebook), the first step is to bring awareness of OCCM and Orthodox Christianity to our campuses. It is therefore essential that OCCM remains rooted in outreach. 



However, “What even is outreach?” 


For OCCM, it means “participating in tabling events to raise awareness of OCCM, inviting friends to attend the chapter meeting” (OCCM Guidebook). Why is this important? In bringing awareness to OCCM on college campuses, we can show the love of God and share His message to others. 


As the Oriental Orthodox Churches recently celebrated the Feast of the Apostles, what better way to write about outreach than to focus on the time of the disciples and apostles–the first Christians. 


On the Feast of Pentecost, in the Coptic lectionary, we read Acts 2:1-21. This passage recounts how the Holy Spirit came down on the Apostles and that St. Peter explained to the crowd why those in the Upper Room were speaking in tongues. However, it is important to look at verses 22-39 too. It can be adequately summed up with this one verse: “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:36). And on that day, 3000 souls were saved. 3000 people is the size of USF’s baseball stadium and is a little larger than Carnegie Hall’s main stage (see below for reference)! After receiving the Holy Spirit, St. Peter first shared the Gospel, a form of outreach.


ree

Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium (Capacity: 2790) 



Furthermore, Christ instructed the Disciples and Apostles to do so. Before Jesus’ Ascension, His final words to the Apostles were to evangelize (outreach) to others and proclaim the Gospel: 


  • Mark 16:15-16: “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.’”

  • Acts 1:8*: “‘But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’” 

  • Matthew 28:18-20: “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.”


Multiple times, we read Christ’s instructions to the Apostles to preach and to make disciples of all nations. As the disciples were followers of Christ, we are also followers of Christ. After all, the word ‘Christian’ literally means ‘Follower of Christ.’ Therefore, the Great Commission, Matthew 28:18-20, applies to everyone. 



What is the root of OCCM’s pillar of outreach? It is Christ. As Christ called His Disciples to preach the Gospel, we are also called to preach the Gospel to others, including on college campuses.


As Christ says in Matthew 9:37 and Luke 10:2, the harvest is great, but the laborers are few. What is this harvest? It is the friends that we have weekly dinners with. It is the study groups that are pulling an all-nighter, cramming for that O-Chem final. It is our coworkers. It is the people who stop by an OCCM table during a tabling event, wanting to learn more about who Christ is. The harvest is our college campuses (and beyond). 


This year, through outreach, may the Holy Spirit bless every person's efforts so that God may plant a seed in people’s hearts. 


Footnote: 

*: Though the book of Acts is not one of the four Gospels, St. Luke writes it, and it is a continuation of his Gospel. St. Luke’s account of the Ascension is in Acts, and Acts 1:8 quotes Jesus

 
 
bottom of page