OCN Ministry Overview

Orthodox Christian Network (OCN), an agency of SCOBA, has been established to create a national, sustainable and effective media witness for the Orthodox Christian Church in North America. OCN produces high-quality programs and media tools for local parishes that reach people for Christ 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Our Mission

To strengthen the Orthodox communities of North America and to share the timeless faith of Orthodoxy with the contemporary world by using modern media: radio, the Internet, podcasts, DVDs, television and more.

Our Vision

To inspire the faithful everywhere; raise up our children; call back the wayward; and reach out to our cities and towns with the joyful, Christ-centered message of the Orthodox Christian Church.

Our Current Programs and Services

• Come Receive the Light: A weekly radio program heard in 100 cities in the U.S. and the Bahamas.
• The Ark: A 24/7 Internet radio station with contemporary Orthodox music and teaching programs with some of the best Orthodox speakers in North America.
• The Anchor: A 24/7 internet radio talk show station featuring the best of broadcasting of our numerous podcasts and interviews.
• Podcasts: Including archives of CRTL and other special features, interviews, and programs.
• Sunday's Divine Liturgy: Broadcast online live from St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Fort Lauderdale, FL (home of OCN).
• Parish Arks: 24/7 Internet radio stations for local parishes. OCN partners with parishes who creates a customized version of the Ark that features local programming for each parish.
• MyOCN.net: a popular Web site that hosts the programs listed above and other material, including The OCN Blog and articles from a number of Orthodox scholars, priests and lay theologians.

OUR FOUNDER

Rev. Dr. Christopher T. Metropulos

 

Shaped by a life of service to Christ’s Church, Fr. Christopher has dedicated himself to using all the tools God has placed at his disposal to spread the light of Orthodoxy across America. As founder, host, and executive director of the Orthodox Christian Network (OCN) and the Come Receive The Light national Orthodox Christian radio program, he shepherds a dynamic and rapidly expanding ministry bringing joy, hope, and salvation in Jesus Christ to radio listeners in over 100 cities, and through the Internet to countless more around the world in over 190 countries. A nationally-known radio personality, Fr. Christopher co-hosted the groundbreaking internationally-televised Epiphany Celebration of Tarpon Springs, Florida, presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in January 2006 coordinated by the Patriarchal Visitation Committee seen on the Hallmark Channel.

As pastor since 1990 of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and as Vicar of South Florida since 1998, he ministers to a growing flock while reaching out to seekers across the region. Together with his wife of 33 years, Presbytera Georgia Mitsos, he now labors to raise and guide six children of their own. Presbytera Georgia is also from a priestly family – her father Fr. Constantine Mitsos served for 33 years in Cincinatti, Ohio.  They have one grandchild and another on the way.

Fr. Christopher holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Hellenic College of Brookline, Massachusetts; a Master of Divinity Studies Degree from Brookline’s Holy Cross School of Theology; and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and the Antiochian House of Studies. His dedication to the family unit also drove Fr Christopher to recently be certified as a Family Mediator by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of Florida.  He has served the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese as Representative to the United Nations and United States Missions; Director and Dean of Admissions of the Hellenic College and Holy Cross School of Theology; member of the Archdiocesan Council; President of the Archdiocesan Presbyter’s Council for two consecutive terms; and council member of the Metropolis of Denver and the Metropolis of Atlanta.  In the summer of 2008 he was elevated By His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios to the rank of Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Patriarchate with the blessings of the Holy and Sacred Synod the highest honor bestowed on a married Clergyman in the world.

 

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Officers:

• His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Honorary Chairman/Advisor
• His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios, Honorary Chairman/Advisor
• Rev. Dr. Christopher T. Metropulos, Executive Director
• Dr. George Mekras - Chairman
• Nick Furris - 1st Vice Chairman
• Joanne Mitchell - 2nd Vice Chairman
• Anthonio Maiorana - Treasurer
• Steve Mamangakis - Secretary
• Garry Paxinos - Assistant Secretary

Board Members:
Michael Angelakos, Evangeline Gouletas, Vincent Hogan, Alex Machaskee, and Tom Leon.

NEED FOR FUTURE GROWTH

The Orthodox Church has been blessed with the true Faith, but, as St. Paul once asked the Romans, how can people hear about the truth unless someone tells them? Very few people even know of the Church’s existence, and many of our own faithful don’t always have access to Orthodox spiritual and theological teachings in a format that they can easily access and enjoy on a daily basis.

And yet, according to the Census Bureau’s annual Statistical Abstract of the United States, the average American spends more time watching TV, listening to the radio, surfing the Internet and reading newspapers than anything else, except breathing. Yes, you did read that correctly!

Whether we like it or not, the truth is now undeniable: We live in a media-dominated culture. And that means that media messages exert an unparalleled influence on people’s daily lives.

Let’s face it. The modern world desperately needs to hear the joyful message of Orthodox Christianity. Our own parishes need to be able to communicate with, encourage and engage their faithful more often than on Sundays. The best way to meet these pressing needs is to use the mass media tools already available to us.

Most Christian Churches and even many other types of organizations have well funded, sophisticated media outreach programs. It’s time for the Orthodox Church to stand up once again for Christ and share the light of our precious Orthodox Faith with the world! That’s exactly what our SCOBA hierarchs have commissioned Orthodox Christian Network to do, and, with your prayers and support, we’re succeeding!

HOW YOU CAN HELP

• Call us and ask how you can help bring Come Receive the Light to a radio station in your area.

• Sign up on our Web site, www.myocn.net, to receive our FREE weekly newsletter via e-mail.

• Help your parish become a “Share the Light Parish.” When you do, your parish will receive its own fully programmed Orthodox Internet radio station, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your parish will also receive a CD album with a year’s worth of Come Receive the Light programs to start a listening library.

• Ask about becoming a Share the Light Partner. A Share the Light Partner is a financial supporter who commits to helping OCN create a truly sustainable national media outreach for the Church. When you become a Share the Light Partner, you will receive a special gift from Fr. Chris and a quarterly newsletter mailed to you to keep you informed about OCN’s growth.

• Tell others about Come Receive the Light, the national Orthodox radio program, and OCN’s new programs like The ARK and The RUDDER, available online EVERY DAY of the week!

• Become a member of our Global Advancement Team, a group of volunteers who are helping us share the light of Orthodoxy with the world!

CONTACT INFORMATION

Orthodox Christian Network
PO Box 4690
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33338-4690

Phone: 954-522-5567
Toll free: 877-273-2348
Fax: 954-467-0212
Email: info@myocn.net
URL: www.myocn.net