Please join us April 7 for Spring Showcase. This entertaining concert and art sale benefits our students attending SICM, the Student Institute of Campus Ministry. I would love to see you there!
Tickets available at anyfocus.org/showcase
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Happy New Year!
I hope you're having a happy 2018 so far! The new year is off to a thrilling start for FOCUS.
Keep FOCUS Growing
THANK YOU to everyone who gave to our annual Keep FOCUS Growing campaign in 2017. We raised an INCREDIBLE $64,000, far exceeding our goal! This money will empower FOCUS to meet the challenges of 2018 fully equipped and free from financial worries. We are beyond blessed by God's gracious provision through generous donors like you.
Staff Retreat
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| Me, Isabelle, and Sloan |
Every January, our staff takes four days to spend on a retreat in the beautiful Texas hill country. Our time is filled with fun activities like hiking (pictured above) and playing games, as well as praying together and discussing a book that we've read. This year, our team left retreat feeling refreshed by the message of God's grace presented in The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning. We also left with stronger bonds as a team, which will allow us to work hard this semester with full confidence in our teammates.
Winter Camp
The rest and relaxation we enjoy on retreat is the calm before the storm of our biggest event of the year: Winter Camp! This year, we will gather over six hundred students from our ten different campuses to a campground called Sky Ranch. These motivated young people will spend a long weekend worshiping and learning together. Guest speakers Geoff and Jessica Mumley will be traveling from Washington to preach to our group on the theme "Send Me."
Please pray for our Winter Camp, especially these specific needs:
- Pray that students would be open to hear from God this weekend. For many of our students, Winter Camp has been a catalyst for change in their relationship with Jesus.
- Pray that students would deepen relationships with one another this weekend. They will have ample opportunity to talk and play at camp, and the relationships they grow here may last a lifetime!
- Pray for safety. With this many people traveling to camp and participating in activities there, we ask that you would pray for absolute safety for everyone.
Thank you so much for the prayers and support you give to me and FOCUS. I cherish them!
Friday, December 1, 2017
Keep FOCUS Growing
'Tis the season to Keep FOCUS Growing. Each year, FOCUS raises funds through our Keep FOCUS Growing campaign. This year, our goal is $50,000, and, thanks to supporters like you, we are already over halfway there!
The theme of our campaign this year is #NewChapter. We're sharing stories of how God has used FOCUS to help young people write a New Chapter in their lives.
You can see more stories like Danni's by clicking here to follow our Facebook page.
The money we raise through Keep FOCUS Growing will help us grow on our existing campuses and expand to new campuses. Those funds pay for everything from paper and printer ink to counseling for students in need. It pays for our full-time administrator, Isabelle, who keeps things running smoothly behind the scenes. It pays for outreach displays that attract attention on campus, and for Focus on Jesus booklets that help students encounter Jesus through the Scripture.
If you've already given to Keep FOCUS Growing, THANK YOU! I am tremendously grateful for your support!
If you haven't given yet, please give what the Lord leads you to give. You can donate online by clicking here.
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
November Already
Greetings from UTA! The semester is more than halfway over, and God has been on the move!!
Fall Camp
Fall Camp is a highlight of every year in ministry! Sometime in early October, we take our FOCUS students away for a 24-hour retreat at a beautiful campground. They spend time playing games, eating snacks, and hearing from their peers how God has been at work changing their lives. Although it's only a short time to get away from the hectic routine of college life, Fall Camp has a big impact on the depth of relationships between our students. For some, they get to spend more time together at Fall Camp than they would in a whole semester of Core!
Apprentices
Jalen and Caitlin are our UTA apprentices. I have been so blessed to work on a team with these talented young ministers! Above is a photo of them preaching their first sermon together at one of our Thursday Night Fellowships. Even though it was their first sermon, they were comfortable and clear communicators, and I was deeply moved by their message about the importance of connecting to God on a personal level.
In addition to preaching, all of our apprentices also spend plenty of time in class. I have the privilege of teaching a class to them on Financial Stewardship that begins this week. The Bible speaks frequently about money, greed, and generosity, and my task is not only to help them form a coherent understanding of how God wants them to deal with their finances, but also to teach them how to teach those principles to the students they meet with each day. It's a big task; your prayers are appreciated!
Baptisms
So far this semester, four of our young women at UTA have been baptized! Each of these ladies has made the choice to commit fully to God, and I couldn't be more honored to play a tiny part in their journeys. I know God has big plans for them! Would you pray for each of them? Their names are Megan, Carla, Natasha, and Jocelyn.
Thank you
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, but I want to begin early by thanking you for your prayers and financial support. You are making an impact on students at UTA!
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| UTA Fall Camp |
Fall Camp is a highlight of every year in ministry! Sometime in early October, we take our FOCUS students away for a 24-hour retreat at a beautiful campground. They spend time playing games, eating snacks, and hearing from their peers how God has been at work changing their lives. Although it's only a short time to get away from the hectic routine of college life, Fall Camp has a big impact on the depth of relationships between our students. For some, they get to spend more time together at Fall Camp than they would in a whole semester of Core!
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| Caitlin and Jalen preaching the word at TNF |
Jalen and Caitlin are our UTA apprentices. I have been so blessed to work on a team with these talented young ministers! Above is a photo of them preaching their first sermon together at one of our Thursday Night Fellowships. Even though it was their first sermon, they were comfortable and clear communicators, and I was deeply moved by their message about the importance of connecting to God on a personal level.
In addition to preaching, all of our apprentices also spend plenty of time in class. I have the privilege of teaching a class to them on Financial Stewardship that begins this week. The Bible speaks frequently about money, greed, and generosity, and my task is not only to help them form a coherent understanding of how God wants them to deal with their finances, but also to teach them how to teach those principles to the students they meet with each day. It's a big task; your prayers are appreciated!
Baptisms
So far this semester, four of our young women at UTA have been baptized! Each of these ladies has made the choice to commit fully to God, and I couldn't be more honored to play a tiny part in their journeys. I know God has big plans for them! Would you pray for each of them? Their names are Megan, Carla, Natasha, and Jocelyn.
Thank you
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, but I want to begin early by thanking you for your prayers and financial support. You are making an impact on students at UTA!
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
The Stampede is over
Each fall, UTA kicks off the new semester with the Maverick Stampede - a two-week extravaganza of moving in, waffles, free t-shirts, dance parties, pool parties, burgers, balloons, carnival games, and school spirit. These events are meant to welcome students to the campus, either for the first time or as returners, but FOCUS utilizes these events for a different purpose; our students show up to meet new people, make friends, and invite them into the FOCUS community and life with Jesus.
I am beaming with pride for how hard our student leaders have worked during the Mav Stampede. They were tirelessly meeting new people, getting phone numbers, and making connections. The result of their efforts was clearly seen at our first TNF - Thursday Night Fellowship.
Our first TNF was an outdoor gathering in the middle of campus. Meeting outside isn't ideal, but we were blessed to have beautiful weather for our first meeting. Since we were in a highly visible spot on campus, we also had a few people see us as they were walking by and decide to stay! Sarah shared a message about how Jesus was sent into the world to save it, and how we are now sent to on a mission to spread the good news. Lots of people were interested in what she had to say and engaged in conversation about the message afterward. Join me in praising God for leading these people to show up and hear from Him!
Core
I will be co-leading a Core this year with Charity; she's a senior accounting major with a goofy sense of humor and a passion for spreadsheets. Our first Core meeting is TONIGHT at 6 pm. Please pray for us and all the ladies we've invited. Core is a place where people make close friends and grow closer to God in the context of loving community. I'm praying that our Core will be that place for all the women we've been meeting on campus these past two weeks.
Next time I'll update you on how Core is going and our plans for Fall Camp. Please pray for that event as we prepare a special experience to help these young people connect with each other and with Jesus.
THANK YOU so much for your prayers, your financial support, and your love for college students at UTA and all our campuses.
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| On the first day of class, we handed out popsicles and encouraged students with these posters. |
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| Silly selfies at girls' game night - eight of the ladies in this picture are new friends we met last week! |
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| Most people in FOCUS come because of a personal invitation - but a few see signs like this and come to visit our meetings. |
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| Students milling around before our first TNF (photo cred: Ryan Jacobson) |
Core
I will be co-leading a Core this year with Charity; she's a senior accounting major with a goofy sense of humor and a passion for spreadsheets. Our first Core meeting is TONIGHT at 6 pm. Please pray for us and all the ladies we've invited. Core is a place where people make close friends and grow closer to God in the context of loving community. I'm praying that our Core will be that place for all the women we've been meeting on campus these past two weeks.
Next time I'll update you on how Core is going and our plans for Fall Camp. Please pray for that event as we prepare a special experience to help these young people connect with each other and with Jesus.
THANK YOU so much for your prayers, your financial support, and your love for college students at UTA and all our campuses.
Friday, August 4, 2017
Ready for a new semester!
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| Our FOCUS staff for the 2017-2018 school year. I'm so honored to serve with this team! |
On the first night of retreat, we all went around the group and spent a few minutes sharing about the first person who reached out to us to teach us about Jesus. It was an encouraging time to see how God has worked through so many different people. One thing that struck me was that few of us remembered specific things we had been taught, but we all remembered the way those people loved us - how they sacrificed their time to meet with us, how they remained committed even when we weren't, how they invested in us through real, deep relationships. As we get ready for another school year of ministering on our campuses, I am more convinced than ever that God is at work through our relationships with one another. Would you join me in praying that God would work through the FOCUS students and staff to provide those life-changing relationships to the new students arriving at all of our campuses?
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| Two of our UTA students at an Orientation Involvement Fair |
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| The 2017-2018 UTA FOCUS Staff (from left to right: Jalen, Caitlin, me, Sarah, Austin) |
Thank you for your support and prayers, especially during this busy season as we welcome new students to our campuses.
Thursday, June 8, 2017
Summer Shenanigans
The sun is out, the temps are rising, and the flood of students walking around campus each day has diminished to a trickle. That can only mean one thing: SUMMER!
SICM
At the beginning of summer each year, FOCUS sends a group of students to SICM, the Student Institute of Campus Ministry, in Bellingham, WA. This year we sent around 80 students who have shown their potential for leadership in campus ministry through their faithfulness to God, their love for other people, and their willingness to learn and grow. Those students spent a week in intensive classes taught by seasoned ministers learning how to grow deep spiritual friendships and lead their peers toward a thriving relationship with Jesus. They also got to do a little sightseeing in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
Here's what a few of our UTA students said about the experience:
"This week I was blessed to go to Bellingham, Washington to spend my first week of summer participating in the Student Institute of Campus Ministry, learning more about how to be a disciple, and how to disciple others. Boy oh boy did God show up! I am so grateful for this wonderful community who values us each as individuals and as a whole! So excited to see all that God is going to do this next semester and to be a part of it!" - Goodness I.
"This trip was filled with so many memories that I won't forget. I love these people and their hearts for Jesus so much. Washington is so beautiful and a great reminder of how mighty our God is. SICM taught me and equipped me to be a better missionary on my campus and for that I am so grateful." - Brooklynn T.
"What an amazing week learning about God and how to further His Kingdom spent with amazing people who strive to do it alongside me." - Taylor R.
Those quotes are answered prayers for these students and many more. Please pray with me that all the students who attended SICM would take what they've learned to their campuses and make disciples for Jesus there.
School of Ministry
Even though most of our students are out of school for the summer, ministry doesn't stop! One of my favorite things about summer is School of Ministry, in which FOCUS invites students to engage with their faith on a more academic level. This summer I am leading a ten-week class going through the entire New Testament. We're listening to the New Testament Foundations class taught by Dr. Rikk Watts at Regent College. After listening to the lectures, we come together as a group to ask questions, share insights, and reflect on what the books of the New Testament have to say to us. This class has been personally enriching for me, and I am hopeful that the students participating will experience the same benefit. Would you pray that all of our FOCUS students would continue learning and growing in their faith this summer whether or not they are in class?
Summer Fundraising
Summer is the season when we, the FOCUS staff, contact friends, family, past FOCUS alumni, and other members of our community and ask them to invest in what God is doing on our college campuses through FOCUS. Our new apprentices are raising their entire budget for the next school year, while the rest of our staff are trying to increase their monthly support or raise money for the general fund. Either way, every donation received helps us to continue the important work of making and maturing disciples on our campuses.
I have two requests to make:
- First, please pray for our entire staff, and especially our apprentices, that God would stir the hearts of generous people and move them to support us and the mission of FOCUS.
- Second, would you prayerfully consider supporting FOCUS financially? Or if you already support, would you consider increasing your regular donation by 10%? You can make a donation at anyfocus.org/donate or email me at kelly@anyfocus.org with any questions.
Thank you so much for your prayers, your financial support, and the love you show me and all our FOCUS students!
SICM
At the beginning of summer each year, FOCUS sends a group of students to SICM, the Student Institute of Campus Ministry, in Bellingham, WA. This year we sent around 80 students who have shown their potential for leadership in campus ministry through their faithfulness to God, their love for other people, and their willingness to learn and grow. Those students spent a week in intensive classes taught by seasoned ministers learning how to grow deep spiritual friendships and lead their peers toward a thriving relationship with Jesus. They also got to do a little sightseeing in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
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| Some of our UTA ladies enjoying the weather at SICM |
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| SICM students at Peace Arch Park on the border with Canada |
Here's what a few of our UTA students said about the experience:
"This week I was blessed to go to Bellingham, Washington to spend my first week of summer participating in the Student Institute of Campus Ministry, learning more about how to be a disciple, and how to disciple others. Boy oh boy did God show up! I am so grateful for this wonderful community who values us each as individuals and as a whole! So excited to see all that God is going to do this next semester and to be a part of it!" - Goodness I.
"This trip was filled with so many memories that I won't forget. I love these people and their hearts for Jesus so much. Washington is so beautiful and a great reminder of how mighty our God is. SICM taught me and equipped me to be a better missionary on my campus and for that I am so grateful." - Brooklynn T.
"What an amazing week learning about God and how to further His Kingdom spent with amazing people who strive to do it alongside me." - Taylor R.
Those quotes are answered prayers for these students and many more. Please pray with me that all the students who attended SICM would take what they've learned to their campuses and make disciples for Jesus there.
School of Ministry
Even though most of our students are out of school for the summer, ministry doesn't stop! One of my favorite things about summer is School of Ministry, in which FOCUS invites students to engage with their faith on a more academic level. This summer I am leading a ten-week class going through the entire New Testament. We're listening to the New Testament Foundations class taught by Dr. Rikk Watts at Regent College. After listening to the lectures, we come together as a group to ask questions, share insights, and reflect on what the books of the New Testament have to say to us. This class has been personally enriching for me, and I am hopeful that the students participating will experience the same benefit. Would you pray that all of our FOCUS students would continue learning and growing in their faith this summer whether or not they are in class?
Summer Fundraising
Summer is the season when we, the FOCUS staff, contact friends, family, past FOCUS alumni, and other members of our community and ask them to invest in what God is doing on our college campuses through FOCUS. Our new apprentices are raising their entire budget for the next school year, while the rest of our staff are trying to increase their monthly support or raise money for the general fund. Either way, every donation received helps us to continue the important work of making and maturing disciples on our campuses.
I have two requests to make:
- First, please pray for our entire staff, and especially our apprentices, that God would stir the hearts of generous people and move them to support us and the mission of FOCUS.
- Second, would you prayerfully consider supporting FOCUS financially? Or if you already support, would you consider increasing your regular donation by 10%? You can make a donation at anyfocus.org/donate or email me at kelly@anyfocus.org with any questions.
Thank you so much for your prayers, your financial support, and the love you show me and all our FOCUS students!
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
It's been an a-MAY-zing month!
Greetings from Arlington! Students are taking finals this week, and FOCUS events for the school year have wrapped up. We celebrated the end of the year with Formal. We took some time together to laugh, eat desserts, and remember what God has done in the past school year. Check out some of the cute photos below!
Tomorrow at 4:15 AM (yes, in the morning!) our students and staff will be leaving to attend SICM! This conference will train and equip our students to reach out to their peers on campus with the gospel of Jesus. Would you join me in praying that God would move in their lives and they would return fired up to serve him at UTA?
I know many of you have been praying for me and Matt as we look for a house in Arlington. I'm pleased to share with you that we have found a beautiful home close to campus! We'll close on the house June 1, so please pray that we would have a smooth transition and that we would be able to welcome many students into our new home.
In my next post, I'll share with you all about what we do over the summer here in FOCUS! Thank you so much for your prayers and support!
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| Wednesday night Core - It has been my privilege to worship and learn with these ladies all year! |
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| My partner-in-Core Renee - this young woman is beautiful inside and out! |
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| Commuter Core with my teammates April and Austin on the left |
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| Formal was May 4, so a few of our guys celebrated Star Wars Day! |
I know many of you have been praying for me and Matt as we look for a house in Arlington. I'm pleased to share with you that we have found a beautiful home close to campus! We'll close on the house June 1, so please pray that we would have a smooth transition and that we would be able to welcome many students into our new home.
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| Looking forward to hosting lots of students in our new house! |
Thursday, April 13, 2017
April Awesomeness
Hello friends! March and April have held so many blessings for the FOCUS community.
In late March, a small group of students came to Texas from Washington state on their spring break. Instead of enjoying a relaxing vacation, they spent their week reaching out to students on our campuses for Jesus. These students came from Campus Christian Fellowship (CCF), a college ministry in Washington that has blessed FOCUS by sharing their wisdom and experience with us for many years. Our campuses were blessed to have those students visit, and our local students were motivated to reach out to others on campus as well.
In late March, a small group of students came to Texas from Washington state on their spring break. Instead of enjoying a relaxing vacation, they spent their week reaching out to students on our campuses for Jesus. These students came from Campus Christian Fellowship (CCF), a college ministry in Washington that has blessed FOCUS by sharing their wisdom and experience with us for many years. Our campuses were blessed to have those students visit, and our local students were motivated to reach out to others on campus as well.
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| Washington students starting spiritual conversations at UNT |
On April 1, a few hundred FOCUS students, alumni, supporters, and friends gathered to enjoy an evening of music and art at Spring Showcase. This event was a huge success - incredible performers, beautiful custom artwork for sale, and lots of funds raised to send our students to SICM this summer. But the most encouraging thing to me about Spring Showcase is seeing so many people who have been impacted by FOCUS all together in one room. FOCUS not only touches the lives of our student members, but it impacts their families, their friends, their coworkers and neighbors - and many of those people enjoyed a fun and entertaining evening to support FOCUS. If you made it to Spring Showcase, THANK YOU for coming out and blessing our students!!!
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| All the friends who attended Spring Showcase! |
The school year is winding down at this point. Students are working on final projects and studying hard for exams. Please pray for the following needs at this time:
- Pray for students to be open to Jesus even at this busy time. Just last night a new friend visited our Core for the first time! Praise God!
- Pray for students attending SICM (Student Institute of Campus Ministry) in May. This is a huge opportunity for them to learn how to lead their peers toward Jesus.
- Pray for summer plans - FOCUS continues to meet over the summer, and we also hold School of Ministry classes for our students. We also have an intense season of fundraising ahead in order to welcome 8 new apprentices to our staff!
- Pray for me and Matt. We are currently searching for a house in Arlington. Please pray that we would find something close to UTA and suitable to host students for Cores and fun events.
Thank you so much for your prayers and support!
Thursday, March 9, 2017
March Madness
Spring is in the air, and that means we are gearing up to send students to SICM!
SICM (Student Institute of Campus Ministry) is the annual student leader training conference in Bellingham, WA, where hundreds of FOCUS students have learned how to reach their peers on campus and invite them to become disciples of Jesus. SICM has been a transforming experience for many FOCUS students, and I am praying that God will work powerfully in those we take this year. We've invited around 90 students to attend SICM, and now we're in the process of raising money to help pay for their trip.
One way we help our students pay for SICM is...
Spring Showcase is our annual concert fundraiser to support SICM students. The Showcase features performances by talented students and alumni, and an art sale with a wide variety of one-of-a-kind works. Spring Showcase is the evening of April 1, and you can buy your tickets here. I invite you to join us for this special evening in support of our students.
New Apprentices
Another exciting development in the life of FOCUS is the group of seven young leaders we've recently accepted to our 2017-2018 apprenticeship program. These talented and faithful young people are committing to serve students on our campuses for the sake of Jesus for an entire school year. Right now, they are gearing up to start raising their support. Please pray that God would provide for their needs during this time.
I'm especially excited that two of these apprentices will be joining the UTA team here in Arlington!
SICM (Student Institute of Campus Ministry) is the annual student leader training conference in Bellingham, WA, where hundreds of FOCUS students have learned how to reach their peers on campus and invite them to become disciples of Jesus. SICM has been a transforming experience for many FOCUS students, and I am praying that God will work powerfully in those we take this year. We've invited around 90 students to attend SICM, and now we're in the process of raising money to help pay for their trip.
One way we help our students pay for SICM is...
SPRING SHOWCASE!!!
Spring Showcase is our annual concert fundraiser to support SICM students. The Showcase features performances by talented students and alumni, and an art sale with a wide variety of one-of-a-kind works. Spring Showcase is the evening of April 1, and you can buy your tickets here. I invite you to join us for this special evening in support of our students.
New Apprentices
Another exciting development in the life of FOCUS is the group of seven young leaders we've recently accepted to our 2017-2018 apprenticeship program. These talented and faithful young people are committing to serve students on our campuses for the sake of Jesus for an entire school year. Right now, they are gearing up to start raising their support. Please pray that God would provide for their needs during this time.
I'm especially excited that two of these apprentices will be joining the UTA team here in Arlington!
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| Caitlin, our first UTA student to become an apprentice! |
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| Eddie, left - Dallas team. Jalen, right, will join our UTA team! |
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
February Fun!
The spring semester is well underway, and God is at work on our many campuses! There are three special events that I'd like to share with you: Winter Camp, SMU Kickoff, and Open House.
Winter Camp
Our annual Winter Camp gets better every year! This year we had over 600 people in attendance for a long weekend at Sky Ranch. The weekend was packed with worship, games, food, friendship, talks by the FOCUS staff (myself included) and others, and most importantly, an opportunity to experience God together as a community.
One of the most memorable parts of this Winter Camp was dancing together during worship as Leeann and Renee, two of our UTA Corefas, led the group in some simple movements inspired by the words of the worship songs. Most of us looked a little silly as we tried to follow along, but I think this activity helped us to quit thinking about how we looked and enjoy the chance to praise our God together.
If you're interested in hearing any of the talks from Winter Camp, they are available by clicking here.
SMU Kickoff
I don't have any pictures, but we had our very first FOCUS meeting at SMU! God brought a handful of interested students to that meeting, and we keep finding more connections with people at SMU who want to be a part of what God is doing on that campus. Please keep SMU and the students there in your prayers as we plan for the future of FOCUS there. And if you know any students or staff there who would be interested, please let me know!
UTA Open House
This coming Saturday, you are invited to Open House at UTA! We will have a special event to invite students' families, professors, and other community members to see what FOCUS at UTA is all about. You are invited to this fun time! Please let me know if you plan to attend.
God is at work on our campuses. Please keep us in your prayers, and thank you for your support of FOCUS!
Winter Camp
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| The UTA crew at Winter Camp! |
Our annual Winter Camp gets better every year! This year we had over 600 people in attendance for a long weekend at Sky Ranch. The weekend was packed with worship, games, food, friendship, talks by the FOCUS staff (myself included) and others, and most importantly, an opportunity to experience God together as a community.
One of the most memorable parts of this Winter Camp was dancing together during worship as Leeann and Renee, two of our UTA Corefas, led the group in some simple movements inspired by the words of the worship songs. Most of us looked a little silly as we tried to follow along, but I think this activity helped us to quit thinking about how we looked and enjoy the chance to praise our God together.
If you're interested in hearing any of the talks from Winter Camp, they are available by clicking here.
SMU Kickoff
I don't have any pictures, but we had our very first FOCUS meeting at SMU! God brought a handful of interested students to that meeting, and we keep finding more connections with people at SMU who want to be a part of what God is doing on that campus. Please keep SMU and the students there in your prayers as we plan for the future of FOCUS there. And if you know any students or staff there who would be interested, please let me know!
UTA Open House
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| The room is University Hall 121 - Please join us! |
This coming Saturday, you are invited to Open House at UTA! We will have a special event to invite students' families, professors, and other community members to see what FOCUS at UTA is all about. You are invited to this fun time! Please let me know if you plan to attend.
God is at work on our campuses. Please keep us in your prayers, and thank you for your support of FOCUS!
Sunday, January 1, 2017
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to you! This is a time of fresh starts and new beginnings for many people as we turn the calendar to 2017. I pray that God would bless you richly in the new year, as He has generously blessed me in 2016. If you're thinking about goals for the coming year, I encourage you to include this one: to experience and love Jesus Christ more deeply in the next year, allowing yourself to be changed by His presence in your life.
I'd like to share with you this testimony from Chiazo, one of the UNT girls I spent time with last year:
"Before college, I spent a vast majority of my time at church, from volunteering to mission trips. After graduating, I was nervous about what Christian community would look like now that I had to find it for myself. I prayed for a group of friends who cared about me. I was at the gym six weeks into my freshman year and while I was working out on the treadmill, something made me turn around (while running 80% speed) and I saw a banner for FOCUS. I visited that Friday night and stayed because people sought out His Word, ways to practice His teachings and made Christ-likeness a lifestyle- specifically, Autumn Priestley, a senior at the time I joined FOCUS. I constantly asked myself “why would someone who’s about to leave college want to spend time with me”? She spent time with me because of the lessons she learned through FOCUS. As I make my transition into the “real world” and becoming a teacher, I will remember to seek to understand then be understood when working with students, parents, and other teachers. I will look at my students and love them. I will consider their needs and provide for them, whether that means that I attend their sporting events or support them through tough times. I will show them who Jesus is through my teaching, patience, and discipline on and off the podium. It’s because of my involvement in FOCUS that I am able to know what it looks like to be a disciple in the “real world”."
Chiazo is about to begin student-teaching as a middle school choir director for the last semester of her degree. I know that she will bring her passion for serving the Lord into her classroom and bless her students tremendously. Please pray for her and all the students who are nearing the end of their degree programs and the start of their careers.
Over the Christmas break, while our students were away with their families, the FOCUS staff have read The Signature of Jesus by Brennan Manning. The following section from this book touched me deeply, and I hope it does the same for you:
"My futile attempts at self-improvement, the sadness that I am not yet perfect, the boasting about my victories in the vineyard, my sensitivity to criticism, and the lack of self-acceptance belie my profession of faith that Jesus is Lord - lip service from a shackled servant still in bondage to the insecurity that wears a thousand masks, still lacking the courage to risk all on him who is all, still thrashing about trying to fix myself, still struggling for that elusive achievement that will make me presentable to God... I resist the saving truth that I am lovable simply and solely because he loves me."
These words remind me that nothing I can say, do, or believe will change God's love toward me. I can't, by hard work and discipline, earn any more of His love; I can't, through selfishness and wanton sin, dampen the strength of His affection for me. God's perfect act of love was shown to us by Jesus on the cross; He waits only for us to accept it. I pray that you would accept the love that God so graciously extends to you, and that you would be comforted by the knowledge that your own efforts won't change it.
As we enter the new year and prepare for the spring semester, please pray for the many exciting things coming up in the life of our FOCUS community:
- Pray for the Keep FOCUS Growing fundraiser. We have raised over $40,000 and are still asking for your help to get to our goal of $55,000. Please pray for us, and also please consider giving if you haven't already: anyfocus.org/next20
- Pray for Winter Camp. This event is where many new students will catch the vision of what God is doing through FOCUS for the first time. Pray that our students who haven't decided yet would choose to go, and pray that they would be prepared to experience God there.
- Pray for SMU. We are planning our first outreach events at SMU this semester. FOCUS has been blessed with a special opportunity to reach this campus, so please pray that we would connect with students who are ready to hear from God.
- Pray for leaders. We are already thinking about which students will be ready to lead their peers next school year. Please pray for wisdom for the FOCUS staff as we make decisions about whom to invite to SICM, our annual leadership training conference that prepares many of our future Corefas.
Thank you for your donations and prayers! I wish you all the best in 2017.
I'd like to share with you this testimony from Chiazo, one of the UNT girls I spent time with last year:
Chiazo is about to begin student-teaching as a middle school choir director for the last semester of her degree. I know that she will bring her passion for serving the Lord into her classroom and bless her students tremendously. Please pray for her and all the students who are nearing the end of their degree programs and the start of their careers.
Over the Christmas break, while our students were away with their families, the FOCUS staff have read The Signature of Jesus by Brennan Manning. The following section from this book touched me deeply, and I hope it does the same for you:
"My futile attempts at self-improvement, the sadness that I am not yet perfect, the boasting about my victories in the vineyard, my sensitivity to criticism, and the lack of self-acceptance belie my profession of faith that Jesus is Lord - lip service from a shackled servant still in bondage to the insecurity that wears a thousand masks, still lacking the courage to risk all on him who is all, still thrashing about trying to fix myself, still struggling for that elusive achievement that will make me presentable to God... I resist the saving truth that I am lovable simply and solely because he loves me."
These words remind me that nothing I can say, do, or believe will change God's love toward me. I can't, by hard work and discipline, earn any more of His love; I can't, through selfishness and wanton sin, dampen the strength of His affection for me. God's perfect act of love was shown to us by Jesus on the cross; He waits only for us to accept it. I pray that you would accept the love that God so graciously extends to you, and that you would be comforted by the knowledge that your own efforts won't change it.
As we enter the new year and prepare for the spring semester, please pray for the many exciting things coming up in the life of our FOCUS community:
- Pray for the Keep FOCUS Growing fundraiser. We have raised over $40,000 and are still asking for your help to get to our goal of $55,000. Please pray for us, and also please consider giving if you haven't already: anyfocus.org/next20
- Pray for Winter Camp. This event is where many new students will catch the vision of what God is doing through FOCUS for the first time. Pray that our students who haven't decided yet would choose to go, and pray that they would be prepared to experience God there.
- Pray for SMU. We are planning our first outreach events at SMU this semester. FOCUS has been blessed with a special opportunity to reach this campus, so please pray that we would connect with students who are ready to hear from God.
- Pray for leaders. We are already thinking about which students will be ready to lead their peers next school year. Please pray for wisdom for the FOCUS staff as we make decisions about whom to invite to SICM, our annual leadership training conference that prepares many of our future Corefas.
Thank you for your donations and prayers! I wish you all the best in 2017.
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Keep FOCUS Growing
I hope you are keeping warm on this blustery December day! The students are anxiously studying for finals, the FOCUS staff are putting the finishing touches on our Christmas party preparations, and I am here to tell you about one of the most important things we ask you to participate in each year: the annual Keep FOCUS Growing Fund!
Each year around this time, we ask our students, alumni, donors, and friends of the community to make a special gift to the Keep FOCUS Growing fund. The money we raised last year as part of Keep FOCUS Growing helped us bring on more staff to minister to students, purchase useful equipment to keep our office functioning efficiently, and pay for events like Pizza Theology to help students engage with their faith on a deeper level. We couldn't do those things without your generous gifts. THANK YOU!
This year, we hope to expand to another campus in the DFW area. Check out this video to see more:
Each year around this time, we ask our students, alumni, donors, and friends of the community to make a special gift to the Keep FOCUS Growing fund. The money we raised last year as part of Keep FOCUS Growing helped us bring on more staff to minister to students, purchase useful equipment to keep our office functioning efficiently, and pay for events like Pizza Theology to help students engage with their faith on a deeper level. We couldn't do those things without your generous gifts. THANK YOU!
This year, we hope to expand to another campus in the DFW area. Check out this video to see more:
Would you consider making an investment to Keep FOCUS Growing? Please go to anyfocus.org/next20 to donate.
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Fall Fellowship
October is here, which means the students in FOCUS at UTA are making new friends, learning and growing together in Core, and getting ready for our annual Fall Camp! Here are just a few of the exciting things God has been doing on our campus:
Core
Renee and I are co-leading a Core group this semester. The beautiful ladies in the picture below (and a few more who have joined after we took that picture) gather together each Wednesday evening to share lives, pray and worship together, and learn about God through the Bible.
We believe in doing ministry through Core because it reflects the example set for us by Jesus. He gathered around himself twelve men who were willing to spend time with him and learn from him. When his time with them came to an end, he sent them out to go and make more disciples. In FOCUS, we hope that the structure of a Core helps us to do the same thing. The women in our Core are not just people I see once a week for an hour of Bible study. They are my friends. As I share my life with them this school year, I hope that we can grow together as disciples of Jesus.
Questions on Display
After the excitement of the first few weeks of school wears off, it can be hard to meet new people on campus. In order to continue meeting people and building new relationships, FOCUS at UTA does outreach events called Questions on Display. We set up a display in a heavily trafficked part of campus and ask people walking by to answer a question. For those who seem interested, we initiate deeper conversations based on those questions.
Core
Renee and I are co-leading a Core group this semester. The beautiful ladies in the picture below (and a few more who have joined after we took that picture) gather together each Wednesday evening to share lives, pray and worship together, and learn about God through the Bible.
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| Our Core! |
Questions on Display
After the excitement of the first few weeks of school wears off, it can be hard to meet new people on campus. In order to continue meeting people and building new relationships, FOCUS at UTA does outreach events called Questions on Display. We set up a display in a heavily trafficked part of campus and ask people walking by to answer a question. For those who seem interested, we initiate deeper conversations based on those questions.
This time around, we asked people, "What makes you afraid?" Some of the answers people gave were silly (spiders, bees, dry skin), but some were deeper or more thoughtful (failure, losing a loved one, rejection). I and the FOCUS students who came to help got to have encouraging conversations with many of the people who stopped and gave an answer. I believe that God was honored through those conversations and that people got to hear the good news about Jesus!
Arlington Church
Arlington is an exciting city with a diverse, multicultural population, many famous sports and entertainment destinations, and a university that is growing rapidly and may soon become the largest in Texas. As part of a larger community of churches around DFW, FOCUS has received tremendous support and help from those churches. One of our goals, however, is that FOCUS at UTA would have a church in Arlington to support our students and welcome them into its ministries after graduation. This past weekend we took the first step in that direction by meeting on a Sunday morning. Check out who came in the photo below:
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| First meeting of Arlington Church |
Please pray for the following needs:
- Fall Camp - Pray that students attending our upcoming Fall Camp would deepen their relationship with God during that time.
- Leaders - Pray that God would help us find and develop young men and women at UTA who are ready and willing to go and make disciples for Jesus.
- Arlington Church - Pray that we would be sensitive to the Spirit as we move forward with plans to establish a church in Arlington.
And please don't forget this upcoming event! You are all invited:
Monday, September 5, 2016
WOW!
WOW! It's Labor Day, and that means I and the rest of the UTA team are finally catching our breath. We just finished the Maverick Stampede (two weeks jam-packed with welcome events, including the first day of classes and our first FOCUS meeting of the semester) and God has shown that He is working at this campus. I wish I could tell you about all the amazing things I've seen and heard in the past couple of weeks, but I would have to write a novel! I'll just give you a few highlights:
Our UTA students have shown a tremendous enthusiasm and dedication for campus ministry this past month. They helped new students move into the dorms, invited them to play games and eat together, and some have already had the opportunity to share about their faith in Jesus! FOCUS wouldn't function without student leaders who take on the responsibility of ministering to their peers, and I am in awe of the incredible young people who have chosen to take on that responsibility this year.
Much of our outreach during the first few weeks of school is making new friends and having fun together. The other staff and our student leaders attended many dance parties, BBQs, and other campus events with the goal of meeting lots of new people. We made connections, got phone numbers, and invited people into our community throughout the week.
This year, I will be a Corefa again! It's been a few years since I've had the chance to facilitate a Core, and I'm excited to see how God works in the girls who will be gathering together every Wednesday night. Pictured above are the girls who came to a game night hosted by me and Renee (my Co-Fa). I'm praying that they will come back this Wednesday night for our first Core and that they would be open to learning what God wants to teach them!
Last Thursday, we celebrated our first Thursday Night Fellowship (TNF) of the semester. Over 100 students packed into a meeting room in the University Center to worship Jesus together and hear preaching from the scripture! Some of those students signed up for FOCUS at their orientation, some saw a poster or sign on the campus advertising our organization, but most were invited personally by someone who purposefully met and befriended them this week. God worked through those one-on-one interactions to bring this group of students together in His name. Please pray with me that these students would come back to TNF and join Cores so that we can continue to call them to become disciples of Jesus.
Finally, I would like to invite you to our 20 Year Celebration! FOCUS has been making disciples on campuses around DFW for 20 years now, and I think that's worthy of a celebration! If you are excited about the work God is doing on our campuses through FOCUS, please plan to join us on October 8 for this celebration! And please let me know if you plan to come.
As always, thank you for your prayers and support! I am so encouraged to know I have a team like you supporting FOCUS at UTA.
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| UTA Student Leaders ready to help with move in |
Our UTA students have shown a tremendous enthusiasm and dedication for campus ministry this past month. They helped new students move into the dorms, invited them to play games and eat together, and some have already had the opportunity to share about their faith in Jesus! FOCUS wouldn't function without student leaders who take on the responsibility of ministering to their peers, and I am in awe of the incredible young people who have chosen to take on that responsibility this year.
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| Cooling off with water balloon dodgeball on the second day of class |
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| Girls' Game Night |
This year, I will be a Corefa again! It's been a few years since I've had the chance to facilitate a Core, and I'm excited to see how God works in the girls who will be gathering together every Wednesday night. Pictured above are the girls who came to a game night hosted by me and Renee (my Co-Fa). I'm praying that they will come back this Wednesday night for our first Core and that they would be open to learning what God wants to teach them!
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| Our first Thursday Night Fellowship |
Last Thursday, we celebrated our first Thursday Night Fellowship (TNF) of the semester. Over 100 students packed into a meeting room in the University Center to worship Jesus together and hear preaching from the scripture! Some of those students signed up for FOCUS at their orientation, some saw a poster or sign on the campus advertising our organization, but most were invited personally by someone who purposefully met and befriended them this week. God worked through those one-on-one interactions to bring this group of students together in His name. Please pray with me that these students would come back to TNF and join Cores so that we can continue to call them to become disciples of Jesus.
Finally, I would like to invite you to our 20 Year Celebration! FOCUS has been making disciples on campuses around DFW for 20 years now, and I think that's worthy of a celebration! If you are excited about the work God is doing on our campuses through FOCUS, please plan to join us on October 8 for this celebration! And please let me know if you plan to come.
As always, thank you for your prayers and support! I am so encouraged to know I have a team like you supporting FOCUS at UTA.
Monday, August 8, 2016
It's time to "Mav Up!"
Now that I live in Arlington, I get to see the roller coasters at Six Flags almost every day as I drive around town. It reminds me of a perfect analogy for my work in ministry: at this point in August, I and my fellow campus ministers feel like we're sitting in a roller coaster car at the very top of the Titan, the ratcheting sounds below us have slowed, and we're about to plunge screaming with delight into loops, twists, and turns on a wild ride. Summer is almost over, new students are about to arrive, and we're ready to hit the ground running and "Mav up"! That's what we say here to show our school spirit because we're the UTA Mavericks!
"So what do campus ministers do all summer?"
If you've wondered that question, let me tell you the answer: a lot!
UTA has surprised me with the number of students who are on campus over the summer! There are crowds of new students attending orientations once or twice a week all summer. We've met hundreds of those new students at the "Involvement Fair," which is the portion of orientation that gives students the chance to connect with existing organizations on campus. Many of them signed up to receive more information about FOCUS, so we will be inviting them to join our Cores and Thursday Night Fellowship meetings that will begin soon.
There are also many current students on campus taking summer classes, working at part-time jobs in the library and University Center, or doing research in the lab through special summer programs. Our team has organized outreach events, like the one pictured above, to engage these students in spiritual conversations. The goal of these times isn't to convert someone to Christ in a single conversation; rather, it's to encourage people to start thinking about the big questions in life and let them know that we are available to help them work through those questions in the context of one-on-one relationships.
Summer is also an important time for our staff, which changes every year. On August 1, we welcomed seven new apprentices to our team. They made a commitment to serve alongside us for ten months as they develop the skills of campus ministry. The biggest task by far in preparing them for the apprenticeship is fundraising. With coaching and direction from myself and others on staff, they worked hard and asked many people to invest in the vision of FOCUS. Some of them are still seeking supporters who will pledge to fund their apprenticeship this school year, so please continue to pray for our fundraising efforts.
Mav Stampede
"Mav Stampede" begins on August 22 when new students move into on-campus housing at UTA. The University hosts all kinds of events for the students to welcome them to campus. There are informative events about the various departments, events with games and movies, and a ton of free food. Most importantly, tons of students will be out on campus and open to making new friends. Our student leaders will take advantage of this opportunity to meet new people and make friends. Those new people we meet at Mav Stampede events will become UTA FOCUS members, student leaders, and maybe even staff in the years to come. If we are faithful with this opportunity, I believe God will work amazing things through us. Please pray for our student leaders as we prepare them for Mav Stampede; pray that they (and we) would have relentless energy and a keen sense of where the Spirit is leading us during this vitally important time.
Please be in prayer for us as we get ready for the roller coaster of the new semester. Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support!
"So what do campus ministers do all summer?"
If you've wondered that question, let me tell you the answer: a lot!
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| Evangelism displays on campus |
There are also many current students on campus taking summer classes, working at part-time jobs in the library and University Center, or doing research in the lab through special summer programs. Our team has organized outreach events, like the one pictured above, to engage these students in spiritual conversations. The goal of these times isn't to convert someone to Christ in a single conversation; rather, it's to encourage people to start thinking about the big questions in life and let them know that we are available to help them work through those questions in the context of one-on-one relationships.
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| FOCUS Staff at our ordination ceremony |
Mav Stampede
"Mav Stampede" begins on August 22 when new students move into on-campus housing at UTA. The University hosts all kinds of events for the students to welcome them to campus. There are informative events about the various departments, events with games and movies, and a ton of free food. Most importantly, tons of students will be out on campus and open to making new friends. Our student leaders will take advantage of this opportunity to meet new people and make friends. Those new people we meet at Mav Stampede events will become UTA FOCUS members, student leaders, and maybe even staff in the years to come. If we are faithful with this opportunity, I believe God will work amazing things through us. Please pray for our student leaders as we prepare them for Mav Stampede; pray that they (and we) would have relentless energy and a keen sense of where the Spirit is leading us during this vitally important time.
Please be in prayer for us as we get ready for the roller coaster of the new semester. Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support!
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Student Spotlight: Brooklynn
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| Brooklynn, sophomore at UTA |
"I grew up with a single mom and was privileged to grow up in a Christian household. Leaving for school was a big step for me, and I wasn’t really sure what to expect. Coming into college I felt I had two options: I could go off, explore the party scene, and be rebellious in way that I never really have, or I could pursue my faith. During welcome week I met some of the student leaders in FOCUS; they really seemed to be interested in my life and pursued my friendship in a way that I wasn’t used to. I took that as my sign. Since then, my corefas and the other leaders in FOCUS have taught me, and displayed what living life with Jesus as a disciple looks like. Prior to college I was a Christian, but I wouldn’t say I was a disciple. Studying FOJ challenged me in that aspect. I have come to know how freeing it is to give my life completely over to God and let him set my priorities. Most of my favorite memories from my freshman year have centered around, or at least involved, the friends I have made in FOCUS. I have made deep, meaningful, Christ‐centered relationships that I wouldn’t have found, or known how to find without community. FOCUS has loved me in a way that I haven’t experienced outside of my family, and as an orientation leader, I want all of my freshman orientees to have that as well."
Brooklynn's story is exciting to me because she is one of the students I'll be working with at UTA this fall. I've already gotten to meet up with her a few times. She has a humble heart and a lot of love for God and His people. I can't wait to see how God works through her to impact this campus!
Urgent Prayer Request:
Our staff and upcoming apprentices have less than one month to finish raising their financial support for the coming school year. Please pray that God will provide financially so that all of us can continue to do the work He has called us to do. It is only through the generous support of our donors that we are able to spend our time ministering to students and making disciples on our campuses.
Ways You Can Help:
- Pray! I believe that God hears our prayers and wants us to ask for His help during this season of support-raising.
- Give. If you are not a current financial supporter, would you consider becoming one? Our upcoming apprentices need supporters who are willing to give monthly over the course of their 10-month apprenticeship that starts August 1. If you are interested in supporting an apprentice or giving to the FOCUS General Fund, please contact me at kelly@anyfocus.org.
- If you already give to FOCUS, thank you! Would you consider increasing your current support by 5%-10%? Even a small increase can help us cover our full budget for the coming 2016-2017 school year. If you would like to increase your current donation, please contact me at kelly@anyfocus.org.
Thank you so much for your prayers and support. Let me know if you have questions about FOCUS at UTA or if there is any way I can be praying for you. I love hearing from you!
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Summer - A Season of Transitions
This summer is a season of change for many of us in FOCUS. The spring semester has ended, students are headed back home or starting summer jobs, and new graduates are discovering life after college for the first time. Please pray for all our students over the summer - that they would make smooth transitions and use their summer break wisely.
It's also a time of transition for the FOCUS staff. May 31 was the last day of the FOCUS Internship. We gathered together to celebrate our fourteen interns and thank them for their service over the past ten months. Of those fourteen, some already have new jobs lined up. Others are still searching and waiting. Some will pursue graduate education. And four of our graduating interns will continue on as members of the FOCUS staff. Please pray for all fourteen graduating interns; pray that God would guide them through the transitions they are facing and that they would continue to serve him faithfully wherever they go.
As you may remember, I will also be going through a major transition of my role in FOCUS. Next Saturday, I will be packing up a truck and moving to Arlington! I will be joining Sarah King, Austin Gage, and April Ashton on the FOCUS team at University of Texas at Arlington. FOCUS has only existed at UTA for one school year. It's a young group, but it's just bursting with enthusiasm for following Jesus and growing His kingdom on that campus! Please pray for me and the UTA team as we get to know each other and work to prepare for the coming school year. Please pray also for the Denton team that I am leaving. They are losing me and Sarah Hubbard, but they will be gaining Danielle Rodriguez.
I am eager to get to know my new campus, and I hope you are, too. Here are some quick facts about UTA so you will know the situation we are headed into.
- Founded as Arlington College in 1895
- Incorporated into the UT System in 1965
- Over 37,000 students currently attend classes on campus.
- 72% undergraduate students; 28% graduate students
- 12% of enrolled students are internationals!
- Popular fields of study include nursing, engineering, and public affairs.
I can't wait to start connecting with those students and introducing them to Jesus!
Please keep me, the FOCUS staff, and all our students in your prayers this summer. I appreciate your support!
It's also a time of transition for the FOCUS staff. May 31 was the last day of the FOCUS Internship. We gathered together to celebrate our fourteen interns and thank them for their service over the past ten months. Of those fourteen, some already have new jobs lined up. Others are still searching and waiting. Some will pursue graduate education. And four of our graduating interns will continue on as members of the FOCUS staff. Please pray for all fourteen graduating interns; pray that God would guide them through the transitions they are facing and that they would continue to serve him faithfully wherever they go.
As you may remember, I will also be going through a major transition of my role in FOCUS. Next Saturday, I will be packing up a truck and moving to Arlington! I will be joining Sarah King, Austin Gage, and April Ashton on the FOCUS team at University of Texas at Arlington. FOCUS has only existed at UTA for one school year. It's a young group, but it's just bursting with enthusiasm for following Jesus and growing His kingdom on that campus! Please pray for me and the UTA team as we get to know each other and work to prepare for the coming school year. Please pray also for the Denton team that I am leaving. They are losing me and Sarah Hubbard, but they will be gaining Danielle Rodriguez.
I am eager to get to know my new campus, and I hope you are, too. Here are some quick facts about UTA so you will know the situation we are headed into.
- Founded as Arlington College in 1895
- Incorporated into the UT System in 1965
- Over 37,000 students currently attend classes on campus.
- 72% undergraduate students; 28% graduate students
- 12% of enrolled students are internationals!
- Popular fields of study include nursing, engineering, and public affairs.
I can't wait to start connecting with those students and introducing them to Jesus!
Please keep me, the FOCUS staff, and all our students in your prayers this summer. I appreciate your support!
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
SICM - Student Institute of Campus Ministry
At our lunch break today, I got a chance to talk to one of our young men from UNT. His attitude about this conference encouraged me so much. He told me he is working hard (and drinking lots of coffee) to stay awake and alert during the classes. He described this conference as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; he described the wise and experienced speakers as "diamonds," people with a rare and valuable gift to impart.
As our students continue their classes for the rest of the week, please pray with me that they would all have the humble heart and open mind of that young man. Pray also that they would return to Texas filled with the Holy Spirit and ready to advance the kingdom of God on their campuses!
Friday, May 6, 2016
The End is Near
Don't be too shocked by the title, I'm only talking about the school year! As I write this, many of our Denton students are studying for the finals they will take next week. After that, some will graduate, others will move back home, and still others will stay in the DFW area to work, take summer classes, and participate in our summer FOCUS activities.
Spring Formal
To wrap up the 2015-2016 school year, we celebrated with Spring Formal. We take this time at the end of each year to honor our graduates and to thank our Corefas, worship team, and other volunteers who have worked hard for God's kingdom on our campuses. Pray with me for our many graduates from TWU and UNT who will be starting their careers for the first time. It's a difficult transition for many of them, but I am confident that through FOCUS they have learned valuable lessons that will help them follow God's path in their futures.
Leader Team
Don't be deceived! The silly looking people in the photo above are some of the hardest working, most competent, and deeply faithful college students you will ever meet. Most of them served this year as Corefas (Core facilitators), working in pairs and trios to lead a same-gendered group of fellow students in the pursuit of Jesus. A few others served as worship pastors; they spent time each week practicing their music and prayerfully considering how God wants them to lead our community in worship. A handful of these fine people led the push to start FOCUS at NCTC (North Central Texas College), a community college in Corinth, south of Denton. They spent time on campus weekly, meeting new people, building friendships, and engaging them in spiritual conversations.
I am tremendously grateful for the hard work and dedication of each person in the photo above. It has been an honor to work alongside these students, many of whom volunteered fifteen hours or more per week to lead their Cores. We are already thinking about the composition of our leader team for next school year, and I pray that we find even more students who are just as committed as those above!
SICM
On May 12, FOCUS will be taking over 100 students from all our campuses to Washington for our annual SICM conference! SICM stands for "Student Institute of Campus Ministry." It's a week-long conference packed with intensive classes that teach our students how to reach out to their peers on campus, how to study the Bible deeply, how to teach others about the Gospel, and so much more. The 100+ students we're taking to SICM have been specially selected for this conference because we believe that they have the potential to serve our community by leading Core or filling other leadership roles. My prayer is that by the end of SICM, all of those students catch the vision for what God is doing on college campuses and see their crucial role in building His kingdom.
I want to mention a few things about how we selected the students we will take to SICM. Some organizations ask for applications for leaders. Others seek out and recruit people who are outgoing, put-together, or otherwise seem like "natural leaders." In FOCUS, we use the FAITH acronym to determine who could become a leader:
F: Faithful to God and people. Is this person faithfully devoted to Jesus? Does this person keep the commitments he makes?
A: Available. Has this person made herself available by attending community events? Has he structured his life in such a way that he is available to serve and participate?
I: Initiative. Does this person take initiative in leading and serving people around her, even without a formal leadership title?
T: Teachable. Is this person humble and willing to listen when others correct him or share differing views? Has this person actively sought to grow and improve?
H: Heart for God and people. Does this person have a passion for serving God and others? Does this person have an internal motivation rooted in love?
Jesus surrounded himself with twelve disciples who didn't look too impressive to their society. He didn't pick twelve valedictorians, or twelve all-star quarterbacks, or twelve Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, or twelve Senators. He chose fishermen and tax collectors, unschooled, ordinary men. But those twelve exemplified the same qualities depicted in the FAITH acronym. Jesus chose them, lived His life together with them, and ultimately entrusted them with the task of spreading His message. As we look forward to choosing our Corefas for the next year, we look for people who possess the same qualities, because they will be entrusted with the same vital mission.
Please pray now for the students we're sending to SICM. Pray that they will learn and grow as the Spirit works in them, and pray that we as a FOCUS staff would choose wisely as we recruit a team of students who will continue the mission on their campuses.
Moving to Arlington
It has been my honor this past year to work with the gorgeous and gifted people above. They deeply love our students and pour out their hearts to help them grow. They work long hours doing work that is sometimes physically demanding and other times heartbreaking. They don't get paid nearly enough. And they've spent the year patiently tolerating my nit-picking, sarcasm, and occasional tearful outbursts. I thank God for these beautiful people and the blessing I have found in them.
Matt and I are now in the process of selling our house in The Colony, and we will move to an apartment in Arlington in June. There, I will join a new team of co-ministers at UT Arlington. I'm certain I will love and respect that new group just as much, but I will certainly miss the people in the photo above. It is with a mixture of sadness and eager expectation that I end this phase of life and begin a new one. I'm so excited to see what God has in store for me in Arlington!
I ask that you pray for everything going on in the life of FOCUS, and I thank you for your faithful gifts that help us answer God's call to reach college campuses in the DFW area.
Spring Formal
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| Get used to seeing those beautiful people behind me and Miriam - those five will all be FOCUS Apprentices next school year! |
To wrap up the 2015-2016 school year, we celebrated with Spring Formal. We take this time at the end of each year to honor our graduates and to thank our Corefas, worship team, and other volunteers who have worked hard for God's kingdom on our campuses. Pray with me for our many graduates from TWU and UNT who will be starting their careers for the first time. It's a difficult transition for many of them, but I am confident that through FOCUS they have learned valuable lessons that will help them follow God's path in their futures.
Leader Team
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| This is our 2015-2016 Leader Team |
I am tremendously grateful for the hard work and dedication of each person in the photo above. It has been an honor to work alongside these students, many of whom volunteered fifteen hours or more per week to lead their Cores. We are already thinking about the composition of our leader team for next school year, and I pray that we find even more students who are just as committed as those above!
SICM
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| In case you don't remember, here's a photo of our SICM students last year! |
I want to mention a few things about how we selected the students we will take to SICM. Some organizations ask for applications for leaders. Others seek out and recruit people who are outgoing, put-together, or otherwise seem like "natural leaders." In FOCUS, we use the FAITH acronym to determine who could become a leader:
F: Faithful to God and people. Is this person faithfully devoted to Jesus? Does this person keep the commitments he makes?
A: Available. Has this person made herself available by attending community events? Has he structured his life in such a way that he is available to serve and participate?
I: Initiative. Does this person take initiative in leading and serving people around her, even without a formal leadership title?
T: Teachable. Is this person humble and willing to listen when others correct him or share differing views? Has this person actively sought to grow and improve?
H: Heart for God and people. Does this person have a passion for serving God and others? Does this person have an internal motivation rooted in love?
Jesus surrounded himself with twelve disciples who didn't look too impressive to their society. He didn't pick twelve valedictorians, or twelve all-star quarterbacks, or twelve Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, or twelve Senators. He chose fishermen and tax collectors, unschooled, ordinary men. But those twelve exemplified the same qualities depicted in the FAITH acronym. Jesus chose them, lived His life together with them, and ultimately entrusted them with the task of spreading His message. As we look forward to choosing our Corefas for the next year, we look for people who possess the same qualities, because they will be entrusted with the same vital mission.
Please pray now for the students we're sending to SICM. Pray that they will learn and grow as the Spirit works in them, and pray that we as a FOCUS staff would choose wisely as we recruit a team of students who will continue the mission on their campuses.
Moving to Arlington
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| 2015-2016 Denton FOCUS Staff |
Matt and I are now in the process of selling our house in The Colony, and we will move to an apartment in Arlington in June. There, I will join a new team of co-ministers at UT Arlington. I'm certain I will love and respect that new group just as much, but I will certainly miss the people in the photo above. It is with a mixture of sadness and eager expectation that I end this phase of life and begin a new one. I'm so excited to see what God has in store for me in Arlington!
I ask that you pray for everything going on in the life of FOCUS, and I thank you for your faithful gifts that help us answer God's call to reach college campuses in the DFW area.
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