Elizabeth Connelly

“‘Don’t be afraid of yourselves! Don’t be afraid of all that you are, in your human reality, where God pitches his tent to dwell with you. God is incarnation. God’s new name is Emmanuel, God with us: God with your reality. Open yourself to it without fear.'” -Interior Freedom by Jacques Philippe, p 134

SUPPORT Elizabeth

Where I serve

I spent my first two years with FOCUS at Indiana University in Bloomington.

My husband, Brennan (https://focus.org/missionaries/brennan-lizzy-connelly/) and I now live in Rolla, Missouri–he serves as a missionary at the University of Missouri Science and Technology. This is where I have served the past three years and where I will continue to serve graduate students.

My current role with FOCUS is with the Freedom Project, an initiative serving missionaries and students in their healing journeys. Our team is dedicated to helping men and women strive for chastity, sobriety and excellence; we encourage and support them to prioritize care of themselves as a human person, body and soul composite, in the midst of busy campus life. I work remotely and care for women, in particular, regardless of their location.

My Story

Having misunderstood love for many years prior to my conversion, I was an easy target for counterfeit connection. My sophomore year of college, I made the decision to let Jesus into my life. I really wanted him to be at the center of my being right away, but I quickly learned that heart surgery takes time.

By the time I decided to be a missionary with FOCUS, my heart was still in the operating room. Over three years on campus, when I moved to Rolla, it became clear that it was time to dive into my own story: go to counseling, attend a support group and bring my spiritual director into the areas I was struggling.

I have never felt more humbled and more alive.

Missionaries oftentimes neglect the depths of their own true needs, and I am the first among sinners. Life on campus is full of opportunities to spend time caring for other people, which is good, necessary and even helpful for healing. But not when it is excessive or out of line priorities-wise.

My role with the Freedom Project is to help women who, like me, love to serve and often forget their own hearts along the way. I am a missionary to missionaries, and nothing brings me more joy.

Your Impact

My husband and I rely on faithful supporters who generously make our mission through FOCUS a part of their tithe to the Church. If you would like to hear more about this, we’d love to open a conversation with you. What are you passionate about tithing to?

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

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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