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This summer, FOCUS Phoenix has encountered neighbors facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives—eviction, homelessness, serious injury, and the very real danger of Arizona’s extreme heat.
Again and again, they have turned to the Church looking for help.
And through the generosity of FOCUS Phoenix donors, volunteers, Orthodox parishes, and community partners, we have been blessed to respond.
“Thank You for Being the Hands and Feet of Christ”
One of those neighbors was Ada.
Ada is a college graduate who overcame immense adversity before immigrating to the United States from Nigeria to pursue her education. Because of her current visa status, she has been unable to secure full-time employment and found herself just 48 hours away from receiving an eviction notice.
Without help, she faced losing her home and being forced into the unforgiving heat of an Arizona summer.
Ada was referred to FOCUS Phoenix through a local Orthodox parish. Within 24 hours of receiving her request for help, FOCUS Phoenix was able to cover the cost needed to keep a roof over her head through the generosity of our donors.
When we asked Ada if there was anything she wanted to say to the people who made that assistance possible, she responded through tears of joy:
“Thank you all for being the hands and feet of Christ.”
And when asked what she would tell someone facing a situation like her own, she shared the motto she has carried with her since childhood in Nigeria:
“Never give up!”
The Orthodox Church: A House of Refuge
Ada’s experience was not an isolated one.
Recently, two other people in desperate need of help walked into the nearest church they could find. By the grace of God, they found themselves at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral and were connected with FOCUS Phoenix Center Director Christopher Lopez.
The first, whom we will call P. to protect his privacy, was suffering from first-degree burns covering his extremities following an accident several months earlier.
As a father and the sole provider for his family, P. was overwhelmed and unsure where to begin.
While fighting back tears, his request was simple:
Could somebody help him fill his refrigerator with groceries for his family?
FOCUS Phoenix provided him with boxes of food to ensure his family would have plenty to eat and began working with his property manager to help him avoid eviction.
His story is a reminder that the Church is meant to be more than a place of worship and fellowship.
It should also be a place where someone knows they can turn when they need help, love, and healing.
Finding Help in 114-Degree Heat
Then there was C.
C. had just been evicted and was experiencing homelessness for the first time in her life. For six months, she had trusted someone else to pay her rent on her behalf, only to discover that the money had been kept and the bills had never been paid.
Suddenly, she had nowhere to go.
C. remembered seeing a FOCUS Phoenix outreach event at the church and decided to take a chance. She walked into the FOCUS office through nearly unbearable 114-degree summer heat, understandably distraught and unsure what to do next.
FOCUS Phoenix staff helped her regain a little hope, secured a stable room for the week, and began working with community nonprofit partners to find a more permanent housing solution.
In Phoenix, this kind of response can be especially urgent.
When temperatures climb well above 100 degrees, losing housing or lacking access to basic necessities isn’t simply uncomfortable. It can become dangerous very quickly.
Dignity in the Small Things
Not every need FOCUS Phoenix encounters is as dramatic as an impending eviction.
Sometimes dignity is restored through something as simple as a new pair of shoes or the chance to choose your own clothing.
At FOCUS Phoenix’s Saturday Fellowship, a mobile clothing rack known affectionately as Katsenes Closet gives guests the opportunity to shop for clothing they need.
The goal is not simply to hand someone a shirt.
It is to offer the kind of dignified experience many of us take for granted—the ability to look through clothing, choose something you like, and be greeted with warmth rather than suspicion.
Through this simple act of hospitality, FOCUS Phoenix hopes to remind every guest that they are a living icon, made in the image of Christ and worthy of love and dignity.
Becoming Family Through Service
FOCUS Phoenix continues to grow the ways it can respond to the needs it encounters.
Through partnerships and dedicated volunteers, that has included food, hygiene supplies, clothing, shoes, rental assistance, housing support, and even bicycles.
Volunteer Evan Alexon has helped develop the FOCUS Phoenix Bike Program, refurbishing donated adult bicycles and giving them new life for guests at Saturday Fellowship and the Hope Church Shower Program. FOCUS Phoenix has also partnered with Bob’s Bikes to help provide refurbished bicycles to children in need.
Each resource matters.
But the heart of the ministry is relationship.
When volunteers serve week after week, they become more than members of a team. Friendships form among those serving and those being served.
Providing essential items is part of the work. Building bonds with our brothers and sisters in Christ is just as important.
That is what FOCUS Phoenix hopes the Church can be for anyone who walks through its doors:
A place to go when you need help.
A place to be welcomed with dignity.
A place to find hope.
A house of refuge.
