Just Back From Staff Retreat

Staff Retreat

On Monday, our new apprentices joined our staff, and we headed off for three days of prayer, praise, personal sharing, and play to grow together as a team and prepare for the coming school year. As we sat in one session, with each person sharing about how the Lord called them to this mission, I found myself returning to one of my regular prayers--asking God to bring revival to our campuses and towns and cities. In that moment, the Lord gave me this word: "Revival starts here." 

I don't think God was telling me that the FOCUS staff is the hope of the world. I think He was telling me that revival starts with transforming lives, one at a time. And He's been doing that for a long time in FOCUS! I looked at my team afresh, listening to the stories of how various imperfect people over the years were used by God to move these amazing young ministers onto His agenda. I know one thing: I can't take credit. God has assembled this group of passionate and talented men and women to carry this mission forward. Their example challenges and inspires me. They take seriously the promises they have made to the community God has given them to pastor. 

Will you join me in praying for them? God has revival plans for these campuses, and they begin with people who are giving years of their lives to reach college students with the good news of Jesus.

The 2017-18 FOCUS Staff. This team will be reaching out to 11 DFW College Campuses this fall!

And this is the UTD team that I work with most closely! We'll also be driving outreach to Richland, SMU, and TWU-Dallas.

Student Testimony

Morgan Chappell (Senior, Texas Woman’s University, Communication Sciences and Disorders)

“I grew up in the Methodist church surrounded by various spiritual mentors. Though I had a good church upbringing, I don’t think I really knew how to truly seek God. My spiritual growth was consequently very slow, with many stops and dead ends. I knew God was there, but for too many years I believed that I could find Him by myself. It was not until I began dealing with crippling anxiety and depression that I began truly seeking God. The support from my church during my time in a psychiatric hospital gave me a new thirst for God and community. I found FOCUS late into my first semester of college in 2015. Since joining, the ministry continuously shows me the importance of community in growing our relationship with God. FOCUS has challenged my beliefs, encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone, and even helped me to be more confident in my own skin. This year, I have been asked to be a student leader. Despite my fears of inadequacy, I know that I have been equipped with a community that will continue to guide and shape me into a better disciple, so I may go and make new disciples for God’s Kingdom.”

Thanks for your continued support financially and through prayer. God is preparing to do great things through our partnership this year!