Does America need Missionaries?

August 21, 2008

#24

johnchan wrote:

I think the biggest problem with protestant missions is that there is very seldom a person who is truly called to the work.

The original missionaries were chosen by our Lord. They were sent out by His direction. Likewise, it was the Church who chose Paul and Barnabas to go out. Similarly, it was the Church who decided Stephen and the others would serve as deacons.

Mission agencies can screen people (sift them, if you will...) but that's not being called to the work.

I agree, John. My understanding is that most jurisdictions here in America came here for the sake of the immigrant Orthodox.

However, Russia specifically sent missionaries to Alaska, and from those missionaries we now have ROCOR, OCA, RUSSIAN (MP) and others (?) That\'s not to say that we can\'t all be as a missionary in our everyday life.

However, we are a church of authority, and if someone really wants to look for guidance as to expanding Orthodox missions in America, then I\'d say we should first look to those churches who point towards Saint Innocent as first missionary.

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