College evangelization

[po18guy]

This thread was closed: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=786556

However, forget about Campus Crusade for Christ! We have our own F.O.C.U.S. now - the Fellowship Of Catholic University Students.

Have a look: advent.focus.org/

Pure Catholic. At the Christmas vigil mass, my parish was handing out the following book written by FOCUS founder Curtis Martin. I finished the book the next day and was impressed with it. It is good for both wavering/fallen away Catholics, as well as teaching the truth to non-Catholics. A great counter to CCfC.

goodreads.com/book/show/4755745-made-for-more

 

[eltoro89]

When I was in university, I was heavily involved in the FOCUS ministry and good friends with all of our campus missionaries. Their work really is great and I admire GREATLY what FOCUS does in terms of outreach. FOCUS takes discipleship to an interesting level not usually seen on a college campus. The missionaries invest in particular students and then encourage those students to invest in other students and so on and so forth so that a really strong support network develops, not just in matters of faith, but for life in general with college students. I was accepted as a FOCUS missionary when I graduated and had fully intended to do it because I really respect what they’re trying to do on campus, but familial obligations that were unforseen made it impossible for me to take up the post as a missionary in the end.

If your diocese has a FOCUS presence somewhere, I stroooongly urge anyone willing and able to become a partner with a FOCUS missionary. The bible studies they led and the campus outreach they do really is noticeable.

 

[eltoro89]

Sorry for the double post, I tried to edit to add in information, but couldn’t.

I wanted to share a little bit about my personal experience with FOCUS, for those who might be interested. At the time I came into contact with a FOCUS missionary, I had already been pretty involved in the Catholic faith for around a year despite not being confirmed (I had horrible luck with matching up with the times for RCIA). I attended daily mass with regularity and was pretty involved in my parish.

Even so, I’d say my spirituality was in its infancy until I became good friends with a FOCUS missionary. From him, I learned more about the importance of prayer and a relationship with Christ, how to build on those things, how to be a disciple to my peers. For nearly a year, the FOCUS missionary invested in me, always taking time to speak with me about concerns, questions, doubts, and troubles with the core values FOCUS emphasizes (chastity, sobriety, and excellence). We met formally weekly to discuss prayer life and obstacles I was facing and we also met just to hang out. They put into practice the idea of being a witness of Christ in your thoughts and actions and investing in students so that they come to see the positive effect faith has had in your life.

Having someone there my age who understood the struggles, who talked with me and not at me, and who helped me grow in my faith really increased my spirituality and I’m thankful for the time and effort the FOCUS missionary invested in me, and for his encouragement of my investing time in other students in the same way.

 

[maryjk]

If your diocese has a FOCUS presence somewhere, I stroooongly urge anyone willing and able to become a partner with a FOCUS missionary. The bible studies they led and the campus outreach they do really is noticeable.

We’ve supported FOCUS for many years. They are a great organization.

 

[m134e5]

Sorry for the double post, I tried to edit to add in information, but couldn’t.

I wanted to share a little bit about my personal experience with FOCUS, for those who might be interested. At the time I came into contact with a FOCUS missionary, I had already been pretty involved in the Catholic faith for around a year despite not being confirmed (I had horrible luck with matching up with the times for RCIA). I attended daily mass with regularity and was pretty involved in my parish.

Even so, I’d say my spirituality was in its infancy until I became good friends with a FOCUS missionary. From him, I learned more about the importance of prayer and a relationship with Christ, how to build on those things, how to be a disciple to my peers. For nearly a year, the FOCUS missionary invested in me, always taking time to speak with me about concerns, questions, doubts, and troubles with the core values FOCUS emphasizes (chastity, sobriety, and excellence). We met formally weekly to discuss prayer life and obstacles I was facing and we also met just to hang out. They put into practice the idea of being a witness of Christ in your thoughts and actions and investing in students so that they come to see the positive effect faith has had in your life.

Having someone there my age who understood the struggles, who talked with me and not at me, and who helped me grow in my faith really increased my spirituality and I’m thankful for the time and effort the FOCUS missionary invested in me, and for his encouragement of my investing time in other students in the same way.

If working out the timing for RCIA is a problem, and you’re not in it now, ask a priest or focus missionary about the possibility of private instruction with the priest or someone else who is able to teach you.