I have the privilege of serving at Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina!! I’ve loved the Abbey since transferring there as a student in the spring of 2022. Through God’s grace, I’ve been given an opportunity to come back and serve as a part-time FOCUS missionary while I finish up my last year of college. Here’s our team!!

Left to right: Sam, myself, Becca, David, and Jacie! (missing from photo)

Although I grew up in the Catholic Church, it was never something I believed in or had any real stake in my life. As I grew up, I prayed less and less, reluctantly attended Mass on Sundays, and distanced myself from tradition and the prospect of a loving God. Through that time, I started putting my faith in the world and myself. I slowly began to believe that God wasn’t real and that it was all up to me. I spent much time alone and didn’t believe I was worth investing in. I was comfortable with that isolation; however, I was deeply unhappy. After my first year of college, I was invited to a college retreat where I met FOCUS missionaries for the first time. They didn’t impress me with their words, say anything wise, or establish any credit in our encounter; they just wanted to know me and my story. That simple interaction made me feel loved by them, and their genuine desire to be my friend deeply impacted me. After the retreat ended, I was ready to return to my former life of isolation and self-reliance, but the missionaries I met called me the next day and invited me to hang out. It was such a pure and intentional invitation, and I felt like, for the first time, I had people who cared about me. So much so that I wanted to go where they went; through their friendship, encouragement, and support, I saw the Lord in their lives and how He wanted to be in mine. I never knew what it was like to let Jesus be my friend. I never knew that all He wanted was to be in relationship with me. These simple things transformed my heart, and I fell in love with the Catholic Church and her sacraments. I wanted to go deeper and deeper in my faith because I found that my real identity was within, not somewhere out there. My heart for mission began to grow! After being in bible studies, leading some on my own, and walking with other men through their difficulties and desires. I couldn’t ignore my desire to help others encounter the person of Jesus Christ in the same way others helped me. To know Christ Jesus and fulfill The Great Commission!

Without you and other donors, souls would remain out of reach, children of God would not know their deepest identity, and men and women would continue looking for “God” in all the wrong places. FOCUS missionaries depend on the generosity of others to be free for mission. Similarly to the earthly ministry of Christ, our evangelization and ministry efforts depend on people like you who are partnering with us through prayer and giving.

Please reach out if you would like to hear more about our mission or how you can support me! I would love to share anything and everything you’d be willing to listen to!

Phone number: (610) 248-3983

Email: [email protected]