Missions - Winter 2024
FOCUS On God's Mission Work
Brendon Grech
“I am thankful for FOCUS because it is a place where I can learn more about the Christian faith in a way that is relatable for students. My FOCUS leader is a good friend and mentor — someone I can talk to, who will be there for me.”
“FOCUS provides the opportunity for me to explore Christianity and to learn more about myself and my faith. I am really grateful for the opportunities FOCUS has given me.”
“FOCUS has allowed me to learn more about Jesus, and it is a good place to invite my friends who know little about God and Christianity.”
These quotes from our high school students give a glimpse of how God has used your partnership with FOCUS to bless the lives of many in the Greater Philadelphia Area independent schools. Springton Lake Presbyterian has been a longtime supporter, and it is a joy to report to you about how FOCUS provides a safe space for students to consider life’s most important questions, the claims of Christ, and the good news of the gospel.
For those who are unfamiliar with FOCUS, it stands for Fellowship of Christians in Universities and Schools, and it is a non-profit organization funded through the donations of individuals, churches, foundations and businesses. It has been hosting meetings at various high school campuses in the Greater Philadelphia Area for more than 50 years. FOCUS is a place for students to explore the Christian faith in a way that is fun, intellectually engaging, and applicable to their lives. Most students who attend FOCUS are unfamiliar with Christianity and the Bible, so it is a place for the skeptic, seeker, and believer to ask their questions and wrestle with the truths of Scripture.
We currently have meetings on six campuses in the Philadelphia area, hosting about 200 students every week. Students attend our meetings during lunch or dinner (at our boarding schools) to enjoy delicious food, share laughs while they play an entertaining game, and then open up their Bibles to talk about a specific passage.
This past semester, we teamed up with FOCUS Baltimore to create a teaching curriculum entitled, “Luke - Investigating Jesus.” We studied Jesus through Luke’s Gospel and investigated the historical reliability and plausibility of the book. Luke 1:3 has guided our teaching: “With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you…”
As I think about the FOCUS Philadelphia ministry, I am reminded of God’s faithfulness. Maverick Jacobs and Emma Kate Smith joined the Philly staff team this fall, which was a huge answer to prayer. It has been a joy to see the ways the Lord is already using them to build mentorships with students, teach at meetings, and cheer from the sidelines at sports events.
Our strong first weeks of meetings this school year were evidence of answered prayers for continued growth, as every school had a wonderful turnout. At Episcopal Academy, we often lose students as they transition from the Middle School to the Upper School. This year, most of our students have continued to attend; new students have joined, and students whom we haven’t seen in a couple of years are returning to meetings. At The Haverford School, we had 55 boys attend our first meeting which was an unprecedented number for FOCUS at Haverford. Two weeks later, we had 73 boys attend. We are now the largest club on campus. I give thanks for our student leaders and faculty advisors that make this possible.
Lastly, I want to leave you with another perspective on God’s faithfulness and work through FOCUS. I think you’ll enjoy this testimony from our Hill School faculty advisor about how he has seen the Lord move through FOCUS over the past two decades:
- Faculty Perspective on FOCUS at The Hill School ~ David Allain
“It’s hard to believe that I have partnered with FOCUS at The Hill School for more than 20 years. Those years are mostly a blur of picking up pizzas, “tough question” sessions, and hanging out with students. However, some distinct memories stand out. There is the conversation with a student from California who told me after graduating, “I never really understood why I chose to come to Hill, but now I understand that God was behind my decision. It was about meeting Him through FOCUS.” Other highlights involve a couple of years of interesting conversations with a regularly-attending Jewish student, a one-on-one Bible study with a Christian basketball player grappling with how to share his faith through his sport, and the year our group exploded in size from a regular attendance of 20 to one meeting with over 100 students – that was a lot of pizza!”
As you pray for FOCUS Philadelphia, please pray specifically for:
- Meaningful, Spirit-led conversations around our Luke studies.
- Maverick’s and Emma Kate’s continued effectiveness in their relationships with the students as they get established on the FOCUS Philadelphia staff.
It takes many ministry partners and God’s grace to make success stories possible. God uses FOCUS staff, student leaders, faculty advisors, volunteers, and donors to continue to bless many students and families right here in our neighborhood. Thank you, Springton Lake Church, for your generosity and prayers through the years. We are grateful for your partnership in the gospel. Happy New Year!
For more information contact:
Brendon Grech ~ FOCUS Philadelphia Area Director
