Mission News: The Right Focus

Snacks! Hang-out! A silly game! Singing with guitar accompaniment! A talk! Such is the format for some 60 kids who come to the monthly FOCUS (The Fellowship of Christians in Universities and Schools) event from a variety of Baltimore private schools. On February 14th, this group will be hearing Matt Stover, the Baltimore Ravens' place kicker.

In addition to the regular large group gathering, there are small groups meeting for Bible study on various school campuses or in homes. One boys' Bible study is currently reading John Eldridge's book, "Wild at Heart," written specifically for Christian men exploring their manhood from a biblical perspective. Another group enjoys pizza and discussion led by two students with a Christian faculty overseer. Christian faculty from Baltimore independent schools meet occasionally under the FOCUS banner for fellowship and discussion.

FOCUS' roots go back to the 1960's, when independent schools were feeling the impact of the secular revolution, challenging the schools' Judeo-Christian heritages. From simple beginnings, the program to address such issues grew as friends, faculty, parents and school heads recognized that top-down religious programs had lost their effectiveness.

Today, FOCUS is creating settings where thoughtful young people can open a Bible, hear a talk that gets them thinking, and discover Christ's call. Besides local gatherings up and down the east coast, there are regional weekend events (winter camping, bike-a-thons, concerts) and typical summer activities at the Study Center on Martha's Vineyard. Convinced that maturing teenagers deserve to encounter the very best representatives of Christianity, FOCUS has developed programs that touch thousands who might never have given the Good News a second thought. FOCUS staff reach students in 190 independent schools from New England to North Carolina.

Pray that a young man graduating from Trinity School for Ministry, who is visiting Baltimore this month, will be led to join the local FOCUS staff.