NT Wright & An Opportunity to Invest

An Opportunity to Invest

We are currently in the midst of our annual Keep FOCUS Growing campaign. This annual fundraiser allows us our ministry to continue to operate. It pays for a lot of the things that people don't find exciting - like office supplies and overhead expenses. But it also pays for a lot of super exciting things like outreach and advertising supplies, booklets for one-on-one Bible studies, administrative staff salaries (which includes a portion of my salary!), and more! 

This fundraiser also gives us the flexibility to move into action when God calls us to. SMU is one great example of this; we had not planned to plant SMU when we did. But God called us to this campus, and our annual fundraiser made it possible!

This year we are focusing on our #NewChapter, because God has used this ministry to change so many people's stories. Ultimately, our mission to reach people with the gospel and this fundraiser allows us to do that to the best of our ability!

As of Dec 1, we've received $33,559.23 of our $50,000 goal! That's an incredible amount, and I'm so thankful for the generosity of so many people! Would you consider giving to help us reach our goal? You can give online at www.anyfocus.org/newchapter. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me!

NT Wright at SMU

SMU Group Selfie with NT Wright :)

This month, SMU invited NT Wright to lecture on "Art and the Church". NT Wright is said to be one of the greatest living theologians so it was a big deal to be able to hear him speak (and for free)! I was hesitant, at first, about the topic. But I walked away from the lecture with a whole new perspective on how the church could engage better with art. 

The next day, our ministry at SMU was invited to a special talk given by NT Wright. NT Wright lectured to a super small group and then opened it up to questions at the end. It was cool to see the other campus ministries and spiritual leaders on our campus engaging with NT Wright and asking how they could better engage with their students about faith.

December's Alumni Testimony

Danyelle Grave de Morón
UNT Graduate 2013
Social Work

I'm so excited to share this month's alumni testimony with you! Typically, we share a student's story, but every once in a while we like to share an alumni's story. Danyelle was a huge part of why I am a part of FOCUS. She was one of the first friends I made on campus, and was one of my leaders in my first Core! Here's her testimony:

"I always dreamed of being a missionary. My plan was to go to college to please my parents, graduate as quickly as possible, and then leave the country. As I got more involved in FOCUS, I began to see how purposefully the people around me shared their lives and faith. The Lord began to show me that ‘missions’ is not what happens in other countries but in our everyday lives. Through the example of dear friends, I learned what it looks like to love like Jesus even when it is not fun or easy.  After graduation, the Lord opened doors for me to move to Bolivia as a missionary. Looking back on my time in college, I believe that the Lord prepared me through the friendships, community, and study in FOCUS far more than through my degree program. I am so thankful that the Lord, in His mercy, did not let me rush through college to please my parents, but used the ministry of FOCUS to lay a foundation for years to come."

Prayer Requests

• Pray that the students would boldly look for opportunities to be purposeful with their faith and family over the holidays. Pray for safety for the students who will be traveling.
• Please pray for our annual Keep FOCUS Growing fund that God would provide the funds to allow our ministry to keep operating and expanding as He desires.