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FOCUS North America is grateful to be taking meaningful steps toward establishing new Centers in two communities—each grounded in prayer, collaboration, and local leadership. This winter, Orthodox Christians from across the country came together to officially launch the Exploratory Committee process in both the DMV and San Diego areas, marking an important first step in discerning how FOCUS can best serve neighbors in need in these regions.

On January 31, approximately 55 people from 16 parishes gathered at Ss. Peter and Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church in Potomac, Maryland for a Kickoff Meeting to begin the Exploratory Committee process for a future FOCUS DMV Center. Just days earlier, on January 25, around 90 people from 6 parishes gathered at St. John of Damascus Orthodox Church in Poway, California to launch the same process for a new FOCUS San Diego Center. These gatherings reflected a shared desire across parishes to respond together to local needs through coordinated, pan-Orthodox service.

The Exploratory Committee is formed from Kickoff Meeting attendees and other local volunteers and meets twice per month via Zoom. Committee members provide guidance, strategic input, and early support as a new Center takes shape. While membership may expand at any time, the goal is to gather at least two dozen volunteers from local pan-Orthodox parishes who are committed to prayerfully and practically discerning the path forward alongside FOCUS.

Together, the Exploratory Committee works through three foundational questions that guide every new Center:

  1. What are we doing?
  2. Where are we doing it?
  3. How are we going to pay for it?

These questions help ensure that each FOCUS Center is rooted in the real needs of the local community, sustainable over time, and supported by strong partnerships with parishes, donors, and volunteers.

Anyone interested in joining the Exploratory Committee in the DMV or San Diego—or in learning more about starting an Exploratory Committee in their own city—is encouraged to contact Steven Christoforou. As these efforts move forward, we ask for your prayers—for wisdom, unity, and clarity—as together we seek to make Christ’s love visible in new communities.