Missionaries, who make a living by fundraising salaries, undergo a five-week training program at the organization's Denver Support Center the summer prior to their assignments. Missionaries are typically recent graduates who have some experience with the organization's Bible studies as undergraduates, who dedicate a year or two of service stationed on a campus with a FOCUS program. A Bible study leader will typically meet one-on-one with a couple of select members once a week outside of study sessions in what are called "discipleship" sessions. Meetings generally follow formats and lesson plans distributed by the organization and available online. FOCUS Bible studies are either all-male or all-female. The organization calls this small-group model "the method modeled by the master," that is, it purports to base its modes of evangelization off of Jesus' actions in the gospels. The greater part of FOCUS' work occurs in Bible studies, small groups that meet weekly to discuss a passage of Scripture, typically led by a missionary for the organization. FOCUS works with the approval of the local bishop and the support of the local pastor, as well as existing campus ministries. FOCUS staff members make an initial two-year commitment to this full-time work on campus. ![]() FOCUS takes recent college graduates, trains them in the teachings of the Catholic Church, Scripture and practical aspects of ministry, and sends them out typically in teams of four to serve on college campuses. ![]() įOCUS currently has over 500 full-time staff members. The group is now headquartered outside of Denver. Chaput, former archbishop of Denver, a FOCUS program was established in the fall of 1998 at the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley. At the invitation of Archbishop Charles J. Curtis Martin discussed the mission of the organization with Pope John Paul II that same year. Many students experience profound healing as they give their life over to Jesus, and many join the work of evangelization that the entire world might be saved.įOCUS established its pilot program in January 1998 at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, with two staff members and 24 students. The mission statement of FOCUS is to "Know Christ Jesus and fulfill His great commission." How FOCUS does that is by sending missionaries college campuses to encounter students and invite them into a lifelong relationship with Jesus.
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