Orthodox Youth and Young Adult Ministries Names Annika Beecham Ministry Support Coordinator for Indianapolis
October 2, 2026 — Orthodox Youth and Young Adult Ministries (OYM), the official youth
and young adult pan-Orthodox agency of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the
United States of America, announced today that Annika Beecham has joined the organization as
the Indianapolis Region Ministry Support Coordinator (MSC). Beecham';s hire continues OYM's
national rollout of the MSC program, which places locally based coordinators in strategic cities
across the country to strengthen youth and young adult ministry at the parish level.
A Response to a Changing Landscape
OYM created the Ministry Support Coordinator program in response to a fast-changing religious
and social landscape. Greater mobility and the rise of virtual interaction are reshaping how
communities form and how people connect, and education and careers are expected to look
different in the years ahead. In response, OYM has worked to build a model of ministry support
that adapts to reach people where they are, ensuring that Orthodox families have access to the
resources, community ties, and spiritual support they need no matter how society continues to
change.
A National Initiative
In April 2025, OYM received a $1.25 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to bring this vision
to life. Over five years, the grant is funding 15 new MSC positions, five full-time and ten part-time,
placed in key regions throughout the United States. OYM launched its first MSC position in the
Chicagoland region in January 2025. In less than a year, that placement increased inter-
jurisdictional engagement among 42 parishes, expanded youth worker training opportunities, and
raised awareness of existing Orthodox resources at both the local and national levels. Indianapolis
is among the next communities to receive a Ministry Support Coordinator, with additional
placements planned across the country over the life of the grant.
Annika Beecham's Role in Indianapolis
As Indianapolis Region MSC, Beecham will maintain regular contact with local youth and young
adult ministry leaders and clergy across jurisdictions, gather feedback on ministry needs, share
training and resources with parish youth leaders, and serve as a liaison between Indianapolis-area
parishes and the OYM national office. She will also support outreach and evaluation for OYM's
Outdoor Orthodoxy initiative in the Indianapolis area, collecting data and feedback that inform
the program's growth nationally.
Beecham is based in Indianapolis and holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from
Indiana University Indianapolis, where she completed the Urban Education Program, and a
Nonprofit Essentials Certificate from NonprofitReady. She has spent several years in youth
ministry and community outreach leadership at Ss. Constantine and Elena, where she has co-led
events for middle and high school youth and helped restart the parish's middle school youth
group. She also serves as a board member and youth counselor at St. John's Orthodox Summer
Camp.
“Annika's arrival means clergy, ministry leaders, and families across Indianapolis now have a
dedicated partner working alongside them to strengthen youth and young adult ministry in their
communities. This is what OYM exists to do: connect the people already doing this work with the
resources, relationships, and support that will help that work grow,” said Dr. Chris Krampe, Executive
Director of OYM.
OYM plans to continue expanding the Ministry Support Coordinator program to additional cities
over the next several years as part of its five-year, Lilly Endowment-funded initiative.
Media Contact
Sloane Argyle, Director of Operations
Orthodox Youth and Young Adult Ministries (OYM)
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