A question we’ve received from students is, how do we get more involved in the community as an OCF? I’m not sure if this is referring to the Orthodox community, the campus community, or the general community so I’m going to answer all three.
The Orthodox Community
Integrating yourself and your OCF into your local Orthodox community is crucial. They can provide you with resources and networking opportunities, as well as be a support system for you and your chapter.
- Go to church. Seriously, that’s the best way to get to know the other Orthodox people near you. People in the parish will recognize your face and start getting to know you. Stick around for coffee hour afterward, and say hi to someone new.
- Actively engage in your church. Sing in the choir, chant, read the Epistle, pass the tray, teach church school, serve in the altar, or host coffee hour. Communal prayer and worship is huge in the Orthodox world, so join in!
- Find an Orthodox charity. See if there’s a REAL weekend going on nearby, or something with FOCUS or IOCC. It’s a ready made way to meet the local ‘Dox. If not, see if there’s something your chapter can do remotely, like making hygiene kits to send to disaster areas.
- Go to College Conference or on a Real Break trip. This the most sure fire way to meet other Orthodox students like you from across the nation.
The Campus Community
- Host an event. Ask your Spiritual Advisor or another Orthodox speaker to give a lecture or lead a discussion on campus. Invite other faith-based groups and your friends.
- Participate in Day of Light. Set up a table in a high traffic area on campus and invite students to light candles in honor of a loved one.
- Rock some OCF swag around campus. People will see “Orthodox Christian Fellowship” on your t-shrirt or lanyard and ask, “Hey, what’s that?” Check out our e-store.
- Invite your friends or classmates to an OCF meeting or social event. “Come and see” is the simple and easy motto we have for spreading our faith.
The General Community
- Volunteer. Rally your chapter together and head out to a soup kitchen or to pick up garbage. It’ll be a great bonding experience and extend the name of OCF past the bounds of a college campus.
- Go to a sporting event together. More often than not, if you register as a group you get a shoutout on the scoreboard or in the program. And also, the group discount.