Abbey Heinrichs

Hi:) My name is Abbey. I’m a third year FOCUS missionary now serving at University of Illinois Chicago.

Where I serve

I am so excited to follow God’s call to a new campus this school year. After two beautiful years of witnessing the Lord work at Grand Valley State University in Michigan, and through a prayerful discernment, I have decided to give another year as a FOCUS missionary at the University of Illinois Chicago. It is the greatest gift to let the Lord work through the little I can give him. My faith and my love for Him continue to grow deeper as I watch Him perform miracles and call His children back to the abundant life every single day.

Below is a picture of my team! Gil, Fr. Tim, Jonah, Daniela, myself, and Daniela.

My Story

I grew up in a very loving Catholic home, going to Catholic school, and participating in all sorts of youth ministry retreats and activities. I remember having a very powerful experience in adoration at NCYC as a high schooler and knowing my faith was something I wanted to keep as a priority going off to college. During my time at Iowa State University, I had my ups and downs with prioritizing my faith. Keeping a very long story very short, the FOCUS missionary on my campus met me where I was at my junior year and walked with me until I decided I was ready to go all in on a life with Christ. Through many coffee dates, a sorority bible study, an Antioch Retreat, and the SEEK conference my senior year, Jesus slowly became the center of my life and truly my best friend. After graduating from Iowa State, I attempted to pursue my dreams of van life and took an epic road-trip through the Pacific Northwest while working as an online health coach. After a few incredible months of travel, I took a job as a youth minister in my hometown and let the adventure continue in a whole new way. After two years with the high school and middle school students, I felt the Lord calling me here, to serve college students and help be Christ to them the way my missionary was to me.

Your Impact

As a missionary with FOCUS, I have chosen to rely on the generous gifts of others, both spiritually and financially, to allow me to pursue this call from the Lord. I have been blessed with an incredible support system my entire life, and am continuously blown away by the way they continue to support me in this next chapter. If you are interested in joining my support team in any capacity, spiritually and/or financially, send me a message and I would love to chat!

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