Bella Woodard

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

– John 15:5

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Where I serve

I am a first year missionary at Howard University in Washington DC! HU! YOU KNOW! Howard is the first and only HBCU campus where FOCUS is present (for now). All students are longing to be fulfilled by Christ, and I am so blessed to help my fellow brothers and sisters at this historically Black university encounter our Lord. Especially during these college years, I have the privilege of helping students build a foundation of faith that can last a lifetime.

Team Howard 2026-2027: Bella, Jose, Madelyn!!

My Story

I encountered Christ in a deeper way my sophomore year at Carnegie Mellon University. I was playing volleyball at the school of my dreams and double majoring in biomedical engineering and electrical & computer engineering. I was exactly where I had hoped to be my entire life. I achieved many of my goals, but I still felt a deep desire for something more.

Christ began sending me small invitations, starting with a desire to return to Mass. Saying yes to that invitation led me to meet FOCUS missionaries where I entered into Bible studies, discipleship, and a deeper love for the sacraments.

A pivotal moment in my journey back to Christ was at FOCUS’s national conference SEEK in 2024. I was impacted by the story of the rich young man. And one verse in particular pierced my heart:

“And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.‘” (Mark 10:21)

That verse kept circling through my mind, and I knew the Lord was calling me to something greater: to leave behind the aspects of my life that were preventing me from freely following Christ. After that conference, I decided to give a bigger yes to the Lord and began leading a Bible study for female athletes and led other women in discipleship. Ultimately, I said yes to becoming a missionary.

Your Impact

When I answered the call to join FOCUS, I made the decision to rely on the spiritual and financial support of mission partners. One of the many gifts of being a FOCUS missionary is that I get to invite so many more people, apart from the students at Howard into my mission through their support. If you are interested in partnering with me, please let me know of the best way to reach you and I will schedule an appointment. I’d be honored to share this mission with you.

Phone: 713-585-1520

Email: [email protected]

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