Written by Rebacca Lyman
An application of the teaching methods of the Alpha Course to the needs of the Orthodox community, ‘THE WAY’ aims to communicate the Orthodox faith and explain the Bible to adults using an informal, relaxed approach, much as the ‘Youth Bible Curriculum’ (YBC*) aims to communicate with children in an age-appropriate and culturally relevant way, according to Danut Manastireanu, World Vision’s Director for Faith & Development in the Middle East, Eastern Europe & Central Asia region (MEER).
“THE WAY responds to a huge need for teaching adults in both majority Orthodox countries and amongst Orthodox diaspora because the catechetical function of the Orthodox Church was almost completely destroyed by the communist regimes in the region”, Manastireanu explained.
“As well, the demise of religious instruction and church life went hand-in-hand with a loss of hope, leaving a spiritual vacuum that Christian communities across Eastern Europe want to see restored. YBC and ‘THE WAY’ aim to respond to this appeal for change”, he added.
World Vision sees both programmes as important components of its wider community development work, which aims to strengthen and empower societies and a new generation of children to carve out healthier and more fulfilled families.
The Romanian Orthodox Patriarch has already approved the use of the ‘THE WAY’ in Romania and its translation and adaption are underway. Other Orthodox Churches in Eastern Europe are set to follow suit, in agreement with the IOCS in Cambridge.
Priests and lay leaders trained to deliver the curriculum for youth, also supported by World Vision, will be encouraged to deliver ‘THE WAY’ to adults in their community – a connection that will be field tested for the first time later in the year during the national YBC Congress in Romania.
‘THE WAY’ centres primarily on the beliefs of the Orthodox faith and on Christian living, which includes acts of service and caring for the poor and creation. By supporting the Orthodox Church as an ‘agent of change’, World Vision envisages a partnership that can also address child-related issues such as protecting children’s rights, peacebuilding, care of the earth and HIV and AIDS.
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* YBC is currently distributed among Orthodox Churches in seven countries within the Middle East & Eastern Europe Region, including Armenia, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia & Montenegro, Georgia, Lebanon and Romania, with the endorsement of the Head of the Church in each country. World Vision plans to work with other Christian denominations and adapt the curriculum according to their tradition, after completing the curriculum for all age-groups in the predominant Orthodox tradition.
** For more information about THE WAY, visit the IOCS web site.
Persona 
What I have seen of it in excellent. I can hardly wait to see it used in the countries where I work.
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This is a very encouraging article and I hope and pray that the material proves to be a blessing to many, stimulating and deepening faith.
I suspect it’s also going to be a useful teaching resource to introduce my evangelical students of mission to aspects of the Orthodox tradition.
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