You're Invited!

You're Invited!

Some of our performers from last year! (Photo: Sean Do)

You are invited to our Spring Showcase on April 7, 2018. Every year, we hold a fundraiser art show and concert to support one of our biggest events of the year - SICM. We take a group of our potential leaders to the Student Institute of Campus Ministry (SICM) in Bellingham, Washington. This is a huge opportunity for our potential leaders to develop hands-on ministry skills, learn more about leading a small group and ministering to their peers, and grow in their relationship with God.

There are a variety of music genres and art forms at the showcase
(Photo: Sean Do)

A campus ministry in Bellingham partners with us and is super generous with us! Families from a church in Bellingham hosts a majority of our students - giving them a place to stay and food for the whole week - to cut down costs for our students. Even still, this ten-day trip is expensive for many college students. It costs about $815 per student, so this event makes a tremendous impact in allowing our students to afford the trip!

The show is jam-packed with talent! We ask students, alumni, and music professionals to perform for the show. In between our shows, we hold an art sale with a variety of different pieces created by local artists and students. I'd love for you to come!

When is it? 
Saturday, April 7, 2018

Matinee Show: Doors open at 2:30 pm; Show begins at 3:00 pm
Art Show: 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Evening Show: Show begins at 7:00 pm

Where is it?
Bent Tree Bible Fellowship Church, Bent Tree Family Theater
(4141 International Pkwy, Carrollton, TX 75007)

What is the cost?
$20 General Admission; $15 Student Admission

Where can I buy my ticket?
www.anyfocus.org/showcase

Pizza Theology: Exploring Jesus' Second Coming

This semester, our Pizza Theology topic was Jesus' Second Coming. We hold a pizza theology every semester, and it's one of the few events where the students and staff members from all of our campuses get time together.

For four hours, our pastors spoke about Jesus' Second Coming. Isn't it kinda amazing that so many students would be willing to sacrifice 4 hours on a Sunday afternoon to learn more about God's word?

My favorite part of the talk was near the end. Miriam, one of our campus pastors at UNT, spoke about Revelations. Typically, I think of doom and gloom when I think of Revelations. It can be scary to think about tribulations, judgment, or the "end of time". But Miriam spoke about the hope of Jesus' coming! She read parts of Revelation out loud to us, including these verses:

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4

No more tears, no more mourning... God's dwelling place is now among the people! That's a different kind of message. That's a message of hope, of God's plan coming to pass.

Student Testimony

Devin Rardin
University of North Texas
Journalism

 "When I was growing up, I was too afraid, timid and shy to make many friends. My parents encouraged me to join the swim team in high school, and I finally found a group of consistent friends there. That time brought a lot of confusion about my own sexuality. My attempts to figure out my own sexuality caused me to have a selfish outlook on those friendships. I had a group of friends that I was grateful for, but I still never experienced deep and true relationships. My main goal as I began college was to make new friends. During my first week at UNT, Pedro Paz befriended me and started to build a relationship with me while introducing me to the FOCUS community. My desire to find friends kept me coming back to different FOCUS events, and I began to see God work in my life. Even though I didn’t know Him at the time, God was chasing after me. I saw myself start to change as I obtained a new understanding of friendship and sexuality. I saw God use people like Matt Clark, who was shy like me, to impact hundreds of people. God taught me how to be expressive while still using my quiet nature as a tool for discipleship. I have friends that have sacrificed so much to help me through my struggles. God’s love shone through these people and I was able to see that my own desires, deriving from my sexuality, would not bring the joy I searched for. I realized that I was searching for love, but God was always with me. He offers the most intimate and greatest love."

Prayer Requests:

• Please be praying for Spring Showcase! This is the first year we are planning two shows so there are more added components. Please pray that God would use this event to provide the funds to allow every student who needs financial support to attend SICM.