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Published
by the
Orthodox Christian Fellowship,
October 8, 2004
2004 Orthodox
Christian Fellowship College Conference -
December 27-31, 2004 |
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Boston, MA - The
national Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF)
movement is announcing its annual College
Conferences to be held on December 27th-31st at
Antiochian Village in Bolivar, PA and St Nicholas
Ranch in Dunlap, CA. Over the past ten years
thousands of college students, high school
graduates, and young adults have gathered for the
5-day events sponsored by Orthodox Christian
Fellowship (OCF), the official campus ministry
effort of the Standing Conference of Canonical
Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA).
This year’s chosen theme is “The Faith to Move
Mountains.” OCF is honored to offer two well-known
and dynamic keynote speakers for the events:
renowned author and speaker Fr. Thomas Hopko, Dean
Emeritus of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, at the West
Coast Conference; and distinguished author Fr.
John Chryssavgis, Theological Advisor to the
Ecumenical Patriarch on Environmental Issues for
the East Coast Conference. In addition to these
presentations, both events will include a variety
of enlightening and dynamic workshops, daily
worship services, and social events. These
conferences, which are planned and run by college
students who are members of local OCF groups, aim
to promote unity among Orthodox young adults and
to rejuvenate their faith as they continue on
their personal journey to salvation.
The Conferences have become powerful influences in
the spiritual lives of Orthodox Christian young
adults. “The Orthodox Christian Fellowship College
Conference is more than just a bunch of
college-aged young adults getting together and
learning about their faith,” said Lydia Najim, a
member of the Los Angelos regional OCF. John
Mahfouz, a participant at the conferences over the
past few years affirmed this when he said, “The
College Conference is a bridge across Orthodox
college students, bringing them together in the
unity of faith, and creating a deeper sense of
Orthodox identity within everyone who attends.”
Lydia and John are now serving as Chairs for the
West Coast Conference Planning Committee.
According to Helene Krenitsky, a student at
Pennsylvania State University and member of the
OCF there, “Last year I attended the East Coast
College Conference for the first time, and it was
nothing less than amazing. Before going to the
College Conference, many of my Orthodox friends
constantly talked about what an awesome experience
it was- that I had to come and find out for
myself. I knew it was going to be a wonderful
retreat with speakers from across the country,
each with their own incredible stories and advice.
That in itself was enough to get me excited about
the conference; however, I came to realize that
this hardly touches the surface of what the
college conference really is.” Her experience was
so powerful that this year she is serving as the
Chair of the Planning Committee for the East Coast
College Conference.
The cost of attending is $200, which includes
registration, room, and board. For more
information or to register for the OCF College
Conference, go to http://www.ocf.net. Interested
participants can apply directly online or download
and mail their registration.
About OCF
Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) is the
official campus ministry effort of the Standing
Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the
Americas (SCOBA). It is an Inter-Orthodox effort,
overseen by an Executive Committee and aided by a
sixteen-person Student Advisory Board. The office
is located in Boston, MA, where a full time staff
develops OCF programs and resources. The staff is
available to guide and support local OCF chapters
through communication with the larger Orthodox
community, national programs, and development of
resources for use by Orthodox college students.
SCOBA designated the 3rd Sunday in September each
year as “College Student Sunday” to raise
awareness of our students on campus and OCF’s
activities.
Contact: Joseph J. Samra
Program Coordinator
1-800-919-1623
www.ocf.net
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