The Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) Summer Leadership Institute trains nearly fifty college students each year to serve their local campuses through OCF. Applicants to this program demonstrate a heart for service, desiring to "give back" to the OCF ministry that has had such a positive impact on them. Students explore what it means to be an Orthodox Christian as a leader in OCF, the Church, and the world. They are challenged through Christ's teaching to avoid ego-driven leadership, and inste...
May 15, 2021•24 min•Ep. 17
Fr. Luke Veronis shares the story of how his parish trusted in the Lord's provision. Rather than clinging to the last few resources dwindling from their bank account, they accepted the challenge to "Be the Church" by sharing the resources God had provided to global, national, and local missions and ministries. A few years later, as the Church approached its centennial celebration, they invested the Lord's provision by distributing $30,000 cash among their parishioners and sent them to the highwa...
May 08, 2021•29 min•Ep. 16
The Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom rallies excitement among Orthodox Christians every Easter. While it is tempting to be swept up in the grandeur of a winning team after fighting the good fight with long hours of fasting and prayer, it is Christ's victory, not our own, that we celebrate. St. John uses the parable of the workers found in Matthew's Gospel to remind us that the "Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first." We are called to "rejoice together – rich and poor, sob...
May 01, 2021•21 min•Ep. 15
In our jobs, families, neighborhoods, and church communities, we expect people to exercise an appropriate level of authority to carry out their particular responsibilities. As Christians, the authority that we exercise over people or things in our care require us to serve as one under the authority of God's instruction. Fr. Sergius looks to Christ, the Theotokos, and the faithful Centurion as shining examples of those who humbly submit to the Lord's instruction and exercise the power of that ins...
Apr 24, 2021•20 min•Ep. 14
We may aspire to be humble, but unless we are submitting to the Lord's instruction that would have us imitate Christ who "emptied himself, taking the form of a servant . . . and humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross" (Phil 2:8-9) we risk an idolatrous image of humility fashioned by our own hands. Fr. Sergius encourages Christians to imitate Christ's humility by Submitting to the authority of God's instruction. Allowing God's word to correct us. Giving thanks to Go...
Apr 17, 2021•17 min•Ep. 13
Are you suspicious of those who cloak their excuses in false humility? I'm so busy and I just don't have time to help. Thanks for asking, but who am I to take on such a responsibility? I'll just keep quiet and avoid any conflict. I'm so broken, how could God use me? False humility seeks excuse from duty and personal accountability, appearing humble for personal gain. Rather than pointing out the false humility in others, how do we recognize excuses and false piety in our own behavior and repent ...
Apr 10, 2021•24 min•Ep. 12
Do you feel threatened by ego-driven leaders who insist on calling the shots? · I’m in charge. It’s my decision. I don’t have to listen to you. · It has to get done, so I’ll do it my way. · I’ve been here longer than you, so I know better. · My family built the church, so I’m entitled. False authority usurps the power of the scriptural commandment to assume the place of God. Rather than pointing out the false authority in others and resisting their commands, how do we recognize the insidious sel...
Apr 03, 2021•19 min•Ep. 11
The Apostle Paul writes to the Corinthians, "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Cor 1:18) Fr. Chris Salamy, author of The Way of the Warrior Saint: How to Live a Crucifixional Life , looks to Christ as the model for conquering the fear and sin in our lives that would otherwise master us. The power of the cross is manifested when sacrifice is made in service and love to others. Crucifixional living cultivates vi...
Mar 27, 2021•21 min•Ep. 10
Salemi Khori shares how the members of St. Elizabeth Orthodox Church are Building Effective Parish Leadership Teams, a module of the Intensive Program in Servant Leadership. Outcomes have included: A broader commitment to biblical literacy and accountability Plans for recruitment, succession, and ongoing leadership development for ministry roles Strengthening consensus in parish decisions Salemi shares how her own attitude toward the Church shifted from transactional to relational as she served ...
Mar 20, 2021•24 min•Ep. 9
Fr. Robert Holet, DMin, author of The First and Finest: Orthodox Christian Stewardship as Sacred Offering, outlines the stewardship cycle: Acknowledge God as the source of everything Receive God's gifts Offer the first fruits Care for all God entrusts God accepts our offering and pours forth greater abundance Mature in human capacity to steward God's gifts Make an account upon the Master's return Eternal reward of "good and faithful servant" Fr. Robert also explores the five T's of stewardship, ...
Mar 13, 2021•26 min•Ep. 8
An interview with Katrina Bitar, Director of Youth Equipped to Serve (YES), explores how to invest in emerging leaders by: Speaking the truth in love (Eph 4:15) Leaning into the "good uncomfortable" to allow stretching and growing Examining our own motivations for wanting young people in the church Katrina suggests that just because kids are participating in church activities doesn't mean that they have encountered Christ. Young people need to be trusted and engaged in doing the living work of C...
Mar 06, 2021•19 min•Ep. 7
When you serve the Church, are you joyful and invigorated? Or do you feel your service is a thankless, lonely, or overwhelming burden? As the body of Christ, we are called to encourage one another. To do this, we need connections! Peer Learning offers you the opportunity to connect with other parish leaders like you to problem-solve, share best practices, gather insights, and celebrate successes. An interview with Fr. Paul Hodge explores how parish leaders - clergy, council members, treasurers, ...
Feb 27, 2021•18 min•Ep. 6
Fr. Theodore Dorrance and explores how a parish can invest in its youth as emerging leaders by: Equipping parents as evangelists in the home Reclaiming the dinner table for life-long Christian learning and engagement Utilizing the oratorical festival as a fully engaging, cross-generational tool in faith formation
Feb 20, 2021•21 min•Ep. 5
Many experts in organizational management believe that the imagery of shepherd and flock is outdated and even condescending in contemporary organizational settings. But it is key leadership imagery in the Church. Dr. Richard Benton looks to Ezekiel 34 to understand Our place and duty as sheep within the flock. The responsibility of the ' ebed (Hebrew equivalent to the Greek word doulos, meaning servant or slave ) who the Lord places as shepherd over the flock. The Lord Himself who serves as the ...
Feb 13, 2021•24 min•Ep. 4
Fr. Dustin Lyon and the parish leaders of St. George Greek Orthodox Church participated in " Cultivating Vision and Change, " a module of Doulos - The Intensive Program in Servant Leadership . Hear their story and how the principles and disciplines of servant leadership are brought to life through the preaching, teaching, and ministries at St. George. In addition to serving St. George Greek Orthodox Church in DeKalb, IL, Fr. Dustin Lyon hosts The Way , a podcast on the Ephesus School Network ....
Feb 06, 2021•18 min•Ep. 3
A doulos in the household of God has many responsibilities including: Growing in biblical literacy and accountability Cultivating watchfulness Leading as one under authority Caring for "the least of these" Offering the "first fruits"
Jan 30, 2021•17 min•Ep. 2
Jesus declares in Mark 10:44, "Whoever would would be first among you must be slave (doulos) of all." Hollie Benton, executive director of the Orthodox Christian Leadership Initiative interviews Fr. Marc Boulos to search the meaning of doulos in the Greek New Testament and its implications for Christian servant leaders.
Jan 22, 2021•20 min•Ep. 1
