Boston – Hellenic College has been awarded a grant from the Lilly Endowment for a new program entitled “We Offer These Gifts”. This five-year project will initiate or enhance programs that will help prepare a new generation of leaders for the Church and for society. Expanding the work of the National Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) Office will assist in fulfilling this goal. 

Funds from the grant will enable the OCF Office to hire a full-time administrator. As stated in the grant proposal, the leadership of Hellenic College hopes that “by funding the National OCF Office, the Orthodox Churches in America will be able to develop and enhance the work of local OCFs. The Administrator will also be able to work with students who want to start an OCF at a local campus, but do not know where to begin.” 

OCF is a campus based outreach organization for college students and formed by college students. OCF activity on college campuses dates back to the 1950’s. In 2000, the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA), recognizing the importance of campus ministry and acknowledging the on-going efforts of OCF, adopted OCF as its official campus ministry effort.

Currently, the National Office coordinates and guides over 180 chapters across America. This Pan-Orthodox endeavor is overseen by an Executive Committee, appointed by SCOBA, and aided by an eleven person Student Advisory Board. The National OCF Office provides support for local chapters in many ways, including the following:

The Pan-Orthodox College and Young Adult Conference, a bi-coastal event; 

The Real Break program, which provides young adults with the opportunity to participate in missionary work during spring break;

The Basil Leaf, a quarterly newsletter.

Orthodox Christian Fellowship
P.O. Box 249
Boston, MA 02130
1-800-919-1623
www.ocf.net