This last October I participated in the Synod for New Evangelization. During this time, participants gave interventions or short speeches to everyone who was involved in the Synod, including the Holy Father.

Mike Antonacci just started as a full-time missionary at University of Tulsa this August. Not only had Mike never personally experienced FOCUS while in college, he even turned down an amazing job offer with GM in order to interview to be a full-time missionary.

I hate flying. . . Well, maybe that’s not the best way to describe it. I have an incredibly irrational, yet very real, white-knuckle fear of flying.  And when you add that with my desire to keep away from things that make me nervous and anxious, flying would not rank high on a list of things I like to do.

One of the many perks of serving the alumni is hearing stories and seeing photos of the early days of FOCUS. Above is a throw-back photo from FOCUS’ first day

As a graduate of a Catholic college, and after serving as a missionary at a Catholic university with the largest seminary in the United States, the answer to the question, “Why is FOCUS at Catholic colleges?” is an integral part of my testimony, as well as my experience in ministry.

About two years ago, Curtis Martin, the president and founder of FOCUS had an idea: What if we dedicated a group of missionaries to work with students online? My first reaction was less than enthusiastic. My mind raced to a number of thoughts about why this wouldn’t work.

Jesus became a friend of mine during college at University of Colorado. We were introduced through friends and FOCUS missionaries. My involvement in a FOCUS Bible study stirred me to keep introducing Him to others.

Greetings from the Emerald Isle!
After many days of preparation, flying thousands of miles over the U.S. and the Atlantic Ocean and fighting ardently against (and losing to) jetlag

There’s a saying in Ireland: “There’s two kinds of people in this world, those who are Irish and those who wish they were.” Well, lucky for me, approximately one-sixteenth of my blood can be attributed to the old Emerald Isle. While I often submerge myself in the Hispanic culture (from which the majority of my heritage comes), I will have the opportunity to experience Ireland this summer at the FOCUS International Conference.

FOCUS missionaries do a lot of crazy things. They fundraise their salaries. They move to wherever they are told throughout the country. They talk to strangers about Jesus. But perhaps one of the most shocking things they do is give up dating for an entire year.