Sub Deacon Michael Boyar is a member of the board of Share the Faith. In this article, Sub Deacon Michael details how he turned around an aging, “Rust Belt” parish that was on the road to closure. Share the Faith helps parishes in this kind of situation weather the financial storms, and to learn how to do effective evangelism. To help Share the Faith, and board member Sub Deacon Michael, help more parishes, please donate today.
SS PETER AND PAUL IN CRISIS MODE
My parents, Sub-Deacon Peter and Sonia Boyar are very active at Ss Peter and Paul in Detroit, Michigan. My father is in the church office everyday (volunteering all office duties – now 30 years, creating/publishing the weekly bulletin), first responder to all emergency calls, on the Church Council and in the choir; and my mother was the secretary of the Ladies Altar Guild, volunteers where needed, and in the choir, as well. She also purchased more bonds for the Banquet Hall renovation project there than anyone else. My maternal grandfather was an associate pastor in the 1950’s here, too.
When we arrived, we found Ss Peter and Paul in a terrible situation. As you may have heard, the Rector decided that the church needed to renovate the Banquet Hall building (originally built in the 1920’s) with a half million dollar plus investment. This old outdated 2 story building on a side street in a poorer district of the city has a parish demographic that has been declining for several years now. Scandals ensued and then an abrupt retirement by the rector; an empty hall (that was not marketed, advertised or sold, and many people fighting and leaving the parish, but still with a monthly obligation of over 7000 dollars per month).
I requested an audience with Archbishop JOB to explain what I wanted to do, and how I intended to get it done. He agreed to meet me (together with my father and the Council President) in Rives Junction, and he seemed really excited after the presentation and the prospect for success. (Since I was attached to the Canadian Archdiocese, and didn’t want to be released from +SERAPHIM, we agreed that I could be put “on Loan” to the Midwest Diocese and Ss Peter and Paul and instructed to work directly with/for +JOB (and his Proto-Deacon Joseph Matusiak), but under these circumstances, I could not be an actual member of the parish. These terms were acceptable as long as I can work through/for Vladyka JOB.
I asked the Church Council to convene (off site), and presented them with an Action Plan to reorganize themselves. Since the rector asked many of the Council members to also leave (and they listened to him), it was like a lame-duck session. I was met with a lot of cynicism, but I wasn’t discouraged. Arrangements were made for a substitute priest to serve the first week after he left, so I took that opportunity to meet with the people as a whole. Since most (if not all) of the people knew me, I just needed to build morale and present my ideas. It went really well – and we were off and running!
We began structuring a new, positive image. We made church exciting and every week was better than the last. We coordinated a couple of events and became excited about our future. Even the “negative grumpathas” were beginning to get into it.
We created a monthly E-Newsletter, negotiated a website (with Fr John Parcells – OWS) and then bought stamps and sent paper versions of newsletters/information to people without computers. My family sponsored the first of many monthly Family Dinners in February, and made it about love. Ss Peter and Paul was talking about love – so soon after so much pain. It was Unbelievable! Thank God!
We started our “New Attitude” in November, 2009 and continued with as many services as we could. If there was no priest available, we did a Reader’s Service – even on weekday Holy Days; and then enjoyed coffee and a special treat for coming to church. Each month, we tried to have a Social Event (relating somehow to the church calendar), and a monthly Family Dinner, sponsored by a different family, using the “good china” and spoiling ourselves with a delicious menu. Everything was always Good Will offering, so that you pay what you want and can afford – even if it is nothing. That’s ok!
A few weeks later, I invited +JOB to come and check out what is happening here, and he accepted. He said he was totally amazed at what he saw. It was truly a miracle!
The plan is actually simple: I believe that we all have Our Circles of Friends, including Our Neighbors, Our Work/School peers, Parent Clubs, Community Centers, Sports, Music, Hobbies, and of course, Our Family Groups; so to have our special circle of friends at Church is a slam dunk! As much as we need God and everything that Orthodoxy provides us, we need each other and to develop a social community of our Orthodox Family and Friends.
To give you an idea, in December, we concentrated on cleaning the temple thoroughly and decorating with as much color and lights as possible. The place looked amazing! We also wanted to do something special for the neighborhood, so we organized a special date for COOKIES WITH SANTA. We were lucky to have a Mexican gentleman to play our bi-lingual Santa Claus, for the many children (and adults) who came to visit him from the parish and the neighborhood. In January, we had “DINNER AND A SHOW” featuring our church school children’s YOLKA in performing the Nativity of our Lord, after they served dinner to all the folks who attended. In February, we started with a SOUPER BOWL brunch and contest, and again our Family Dinner on Valentine’s Day. In March, we had our annual BLINI BRUNCH on Forgiveness Sunday and a quite impressive RUMMAGE SALE (first one in several years). Everything was PASCHA IN APRIL, including teaching the art of PYSANKY and an exquisite dinner on Palm Sunday. People worked hard cleaning and decorating for the Holiest of Holy Days, and it showed! In May, we had our CHURCH SCHOOL GRADUATION (with announcements for the bigger kids), and a first class Dinner to celebrate. June was Pentecost and one gigantic BIRTHDAY PARTY to celebrate everyone’s birthday – including the church. In July, we had our first CHURCH PICNIC in many years, right in the courtyard of the school. With hot dogs, hamburgers under the big tent, and tricycle races, it was fun. August was nice as we enjoyed The Holy Transfiguration as a FRUITFUL EXPERIENCE, and celebrated a new baptized parishioner and wedding plans. In September we did FROM RUSSIA – MADE IN MICHIGAN, and our annual MOVIE MANIA. Our Church School program kicked off another year. October was very special, because we started the month by actually pulling off a FIRST CLASS FESTIVAL, with music, dancing, food, games and bouncers, a petting zoo and pony rides, and we had the Fire Department here with their Smoke House (to teach kids what to do in a fire), various organizations to help with the needs of the neighbors, church and school tours, souvenirs, raffles, and PAWS – mascot of the Detroit Tigers. A couple of weeks later, we celebrated OUR FOUNDER’S DAY celebration honoring our 102nd Anniversary as a parish – The First Orthodox Parish in Michigan.
We also got involved with various organizations in the neighborhood (IE: Michigan Avenue Business Association, Southwest Detroit Business Association, City of Detroit Election Bureau, and by invitation of +JOB, I attended the first Urban Parish Summit in Cleveland, Ohio). We reactivated the Ladies Altar Guild, St Nicholas Men’s Club, and worked on plans for an updated Library and Bookstore.
This was just One Year! People were watching from outside and from everywhere. One priest even commented that it was like “A Breath of Fresh Air” watching the church grow again. Fr John Matusiak published our successes in “The Orthodox Church” (again), and even contacted me about a follow up a few months later.
IMPORTANT OBSERVATION AND SOLUTION
The reinstatement and survival of All Saints Orthodox Mission Parish is very important now, because some of our people are in need of the spiritual love and guidance only available in Orthodox Christianity, and within our own family setting. Even though we have done some great work helping several other parishes, I unknowingly led us away from ministering to our own adults and teaching our children. It’s an important time for us now!
I can count as many as 50 people are committing (on different levels) to our ministry, and we are back on a track to be with each other – for each other.
–Sub Deacon Michael Boyar, Board Member of Share the Faith
