Hey everyone!  Every January, FOCUS holds a 4-day Winter Retreat - a weekend of very little sleep, lots of board games and sports, lively worship, and meaningful sermons. All of the FOCUS campuses in the metroplex join together for this event. This year, there were over 600 people present! There is nothing like long car rides, a change of scenary, and a little snow to bond people together! This frigid weekend was full of fun, deep conversations and life-changing moments. The guest speaker, Dr. Daniel Lee from Fuller Semenary spent the weekend talking about the grace of God, centering in on the the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15. He talked a lot about how we, like the older son in the parable, often live as spiritual orphans, not realizing that we have a heavenly Father who says all that He has is ours. Through his messages, there was a deep realization on the shocking extent of the goodness of God and His tremendous love toward us.  Some of the highlights from Winter Retreat:

Happy New Year!! 2024 is here! I hope this holiday season you have been able to find peace and rest, reflecting on the arrival of our Savior - Emmanuel. December marks the end of my first semester being a minister at Dallas College! As I reflect on this semester, I am astonished at all that God has done. Before my eyes, I have seen the students in our ministry mature in their faith and grow in love for God and each other. Several of them have faced challenges, but have persevered and sought to remain steadfast through it all. I am so proud of them and thankful to God! As a first-year minister / pastoral apprentice, I have often found myself (metaphorically) waddling around in shoes a few sizes too big for me. I have been given the task to shepherd students toward God, to be a peacemaker in our community when conflict arises, to speak truth even when it is difficult to say, and to care for the various spiritual, emotional, and physical needs that come up. At the age of 23, I feel so you