A Story of Mission and Evangelism – The Need is Great
St. Anna’s Mission Parish is a dependency of St. Demetrios Orthodox Monastery, and the clergy are supplied to it from the monastery’s Hiero-monastic ranks. The mission itself is located on the property of the churchwarden/founders, who have furnished almost everything necessary from their own substance, and continue to bear the vast majority of the costs associated with the running of our parish.
We had our first service on July 3, 2022 with an extremely well-attended Liturgy, after which average Sundays averaged about 15. We celebrated our one year anniversary three weeks ago, with approximately 58 attendees for Divine Liturgy (with Russian and Appalachian folk music and dancing and a bake sale as well as the trapeza). The small converted cabin house was bursting to overflowing. Approximately half a dozen people were baptized on Holy Saturday 2023, four new catechumens are being prepared for baptism in January, and in general the community exhibits very positive growth in all directions.
The principal demographic is Americans, mostly converts, with constant visitors and inquirers. Many of those who come are young people in their 20s. Often they drive an hour and a half or more. Tithing is emphasized, but often the younger members don’t have as much to give as the typical older person would. The churchwarden and his family can only do so much. We are very much in need of additional funding, primarily for the development of the building fund, but also in several other critical areas. The rector is provided a stipend of $500/month, and he tithes from his stipend. This is sufficient for the rector, but stipends are needed for the choirmistress and minor clergy (we have a subdeacon in process of being assigned, as well as two and sometimes three tonsured readers) to permit increased car travel to services for Saturday Vespers and Sunday Liturgy.
We expect to transition to full Vigil within about 4 months. Our parish is blessed to have excellent music because our young choirmistress receives a bursary to defray gas costs. Likewise a new reader, a graduate of Jordanville Seminary, has been attached to our mission to oversee religious education and help with church services and social ministry as well as setting up beekeeping at the mission. It is hoped that the honey can be sold in local venues as a fundraiser for the mission.
Our parish has many young people who travel 90 minutes or more to attend services, often from nearby universities (Charlottesville, Lynchburg). We have several young families in need of enhanced pastoral care, and some are monetarily disadvantaged.
In short, our parish is thriving and we have many good problems! It is our earnest desire to conduct more divine services (in order to expand the schedule the church must acquire its own location). We want to provide more religious education, expand to include prison ministry, establish a St. Joseph of Arimathea funeral assistance sodality (this is taking shape currently), poor relief, etc. Our Lord came to transfigure every human being by his divine mercy, and we must try and minister to every human need! But only so much is possible, and thus we solicit your generous aid.
Ancient Faith Radio gave Share the Faith Director, Fr Evangelos Pepps, an opportunity to discuss Orthodox mission work in the US. How can we share the faith effectively and establish more Orthodox missions? 
