FOCUS Testimonies

I had everything any high school guy could ever want: a pretty girlfriend, a brand new red Chevy Camaro, lots of friends, a loving family, and many awards and honors, including Valedictorian and Male Athlete of the Year. From the outside it certainly did look like I had everything, yet few people knew that on the inside I was severely depressed. All of my friends, my beautiful girlfriend, honors, and material things did make me happy, but there was still a missing piece that I did not have.

A year after high school, I transferred from DePaul University to the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, where I met a complete stranger named Greg Doring. Little did I know that Greg was the person that God had sent to help me find the missing piece to fill the emptiness I had inside.

Until this point, I was just going through the motions every Sunday, and God was not really a part of my life at all. My relationship with God changed dramatically when I decided to join a FOCUS Bible study. Greg was the leader for my group, and it was what he did for me that helped me become closer to Christ. He prayed for me, provided me Catholic books to read, and even gave me his own Miraculous Medal and explained its significance. Little by little he began to win me over to Christ, and I started doing things I had never done before in my life: attending daily Mass, praying more often, serving at Mass, and going on retreats, all of which have helped me grow closer to God. When I started putting God into my everyday life, and let Him be the foundation upon which my life is built, I discovered the missing piece in my life, and the emptiness I used to have inside is gone. I strongly believe everything happens for a reason, and I know God put FOCUS into my life to help me open up my heart and mind to Him.

—Philip McBride
University of Nebraska

I am very thankful I have FOCUS in my life! It has brought me much closer to God. The Bible studies are really great. I like the fact that we are talking about issues that affect our daily lives as women in college. We are also learning apologetics, which helps me more effectively explain my Catholic faith to others. I also enjoy one-on-one discipleship meetings. It is as if I have my own personal trainer for getting to know and love the Lord. In addition, we are studying verses directly from Scripture. When I found FOCUS, I was going through a difficult time in my life, and it has helped me to turn to God.

—Melissa Mohr
University of Nebraska

I became more involved in the Newman Center here at the university when I was a sophomore in college. At that point in my life I believed that going to Mass on Sundays was sufficient for fulfilling my obligation.

My mom, however, was not very satisfied with some of the decisions I had been making. She told me that I needed to see a priest here in town. I was willing to make her happy, so I went ahead and met with him. This one meeting turned out to have a major impact on my life. Not only did he give me advice, but he also informed me that a spot in his brother’s house had recently become available. Living in a house with Catholic guys supporting me in my faith made a difference in my coming back to the faith.

In the middle of the summer before my junior year, I received a call from my mom. She asked me if I had heard about the FOCUS group that was coming to the university. She began to explain many wonderful things that she had heard about this group, but on the other end of the line, I was rolling my eyes. I was thinking to myself that these people were not going to be people I could relate with at all. I am happy to tell you that my prediction was wrong. Being in a FOCUS Bible study has had a major impact on me. We have looked at many topics and discussed how people in Scripture reacted to certain situations. Before, I did not think it was possible to draw parallels between my life and the people of the Bible. I now look at the events of my life and realize that they happen for a reason.

—Chris Bedient
University of Nebraska

FOCUS is seeking recent college graduates who would like to make a two-year commitment to serve Christ as FOCUS staff members on several college campuses in the upcoming year. Contact the FOCUS headquarters at 2204 11th Ave., Greeley, CO 80631, or call (970) 353-7015 for an application and more information.

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