John Huynh

Hi! My name is John. I’m a Major Gift Officer with FOCUS, but long before I came back to FOCUS in this role, I was a missionary myself. Nearly two decades ago, FOCUS changed the course of my life and introduced me to Christ and the Catholic Church.

Before anything else, I am a beloved son of God the Father. My goal is to live from that identity each day and, through my work with FOCUS, help others encounter the same love of Christ that has transformed my own life.

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Where I serve

Nearly two decades ago, I arrived at MIT as a first-year FOCUS missionary, eager to share my love of Christ with college students. Today, after nearly two decades, I have been blessed to return to FOCUS as a Major Gift Officer, working with FOCUS supporters throughout New England.

It is a joy to come back to the mission that has had such a profound impact on my own life. I now have the opportunity to walk alongside those who make the work of FOCUS possible and help bring the life-changing mission of FOCUS to even more college students.

My Story

When I first arrived at MIT as a FOCUS missionary, I had the privilege of walking alongside students as they encountered Christ, grew in their faith, and learned to share that faith with others. I saw firsthand the power of one person investing in another through friendship, mentorship, and genuine relationship.

But FOCUS wasn’t just a place where I served—it became a place where my own life was transformed.

Through FOCUS, I encountered Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church in a way that changed the entire direction of my life. I became Catholic, discovered a deeper purpose, and eventually met my wife, Erin, while on mission with FOCUS.

My career since then has continued to be shaped by that experience. I spent ten years at Portsmouth Abbey School, a Catholic Benedictine boarding school, where I taught theology, mentored students, coached, and helped young people grow in faith and virtue. I later spent two years in consulting, where I developed skills in leadership, strategy, and helping organizations navigate complex challenges.

Looking back, I can see how God has used each chapter of my life to prepare me for this moment.

FOCUS didn’t simply influence what I chose to do professionally—it shaped who I became and gave me a vision for what it means to invest in the lives of young people.

Today, I have the opportunity to help make that same encounter possible for thousands of college students across the country. FOCUS missionaries meet students where they are, build authentic friendships, invite them into a deeper relationship with Christ, and equip them to become missionary disciples themselves.

I know personally what that can mean.

FOCUS changed my life, my faith, my marriage, and ultimately the direction of my career.

Your Impact

The mission of FOCUS is possible because people choose to invest in the lives of college students.

Every friendship a missionary builds, every Bible study that gathers, every student who encounters Christ, and every young person who is equipped to share the Gospel with others is made possible through the generosity and partnership of people who believe in this mission.

As a Major Gift Officer, I have the privilege of meeting many of those people and hearing why they care so deeply about the Church, young people, and the work of evangelization.

My hope is that, together, we can help make the same kind of transformation I experienced through FOCUS possible for the next generation.

If you’d like to learn more about FOCUS, the students we serve, or ways you can be part of this mission, I would be honored to connect with you and share more about what God is doing through FOCUS.

Give Now

If you have any questions or need help setting up your gift, please contact us at [email protected].

Find other missionaries

FOCUS brings the joy of the Gospel to colleges and parishes across the United States (and beyond)!

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FOCUS Find A Missionary Know Love Serve God Monstrance

Know, Love and Serve God

We encounter God in an intimate relationship through daily prayer, the sacraments and the Scriptures.

Build Virtuous Friendships

By building genuine friendships, we meet students on a deeper level.

FOCUS Find A Missionary Teach Others Share Christ Smiling

Teach Others to Share Christ

We teach students how to share the gospel, who in turn teach other students how to pass it on.

Host	Retreat Type	Start Date	End Date
Tulane University	Way of the Disciple	09/05/24	09/07/24
University of Nebraska Lincoln	The Sanctifier	09/13/24	09/15/24
Parish Outreach	The Father’s House	09/16/24	09/18/24
Kansas State University	The Father’s House	09/20/24	09/22/24
University of Delaware	Rec	09/20/24	09/22/24
University of South Carolina – Columbia	Rec	09/27/24	09/29/24
St. Francis University	The Father’s House	10/04/24	10/06/24
Nicholls State University	The Father’s House	10/04/24	10/06/24
Northwestern State University	The Father’s House	10/11/24	10/13/24
University of Memphis	The Father’s House	10/11/24	10/13/24
Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville	The Father’s House	10/18/24	10/20/24
Ohio State University	The Father’s House	10/18/24	10/20/24
University of Dallas	The Sanctifier	10/24/24	10/26/24
Central Connecticut State University	The Father’s House	10/25/24	10/27/24
Universidad de Monterrey	The Father’s House	10/25/24	10/27/24
California State University – Fullerton	The Father’s House	10/25/24	10/27/24
Sts. Anne and Joaquim, Fargo, ND	Way of the Disciple	11/01/24	11/03/24
University of Krems	Men’s	11/01/24	11/03/24
University of Mary	The Father’s House	11/08/24	11/10/24
DePauw University	Rec	11/08/24	11/10/24
Philanthropy Engagement	Way of the Disciple	11/15/24	11/17/24
University of Passau	Rec	11/21/24	11/23/24
Texas A&M University	The Sanctifier	02/07/25	02/09/25
FOCUS Greek Southeast	The Father’s House	02/14/25	02/16/25
FOCUS Greek Midwest	The Father’s House	02/14/25	02/16/25
Worcester Polytechnic Institute	The Sanctifier	02/14/25	02/16/25
FOCUS Greek Southwest	The Father’s House	02/21/25	02/23/25
Wayne State University	The Father’s House	02/21/25	02/23/25
University of Illinois-Chicago	The Sanctifier	02/21/25	02/23/25
Queens College of the City University of New York	The Father’s House	03/07/25	03/09/25
Nicholls State University	Way of the Disciple	03/07/25	03/09/25
Grand Valley State University	The Father’s House	03/28/25	03/30/25
University of Northern Iowa	Way of the Disciple	04/03/25	04/05/25
University of Nebraska Lincoln	The Father’s House	04/04/25	04/06/25
Arizona State University	Men’s	02/07/25	02/09/25
University of Nebraska at Kearney	Rec	09/27/24	09/29/24