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“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1)

Last week, FOCUS Staff and Board Members gathered in Houston for a few days of meetings and fellowship.

On Thursday afternoon, we crammed into the little conference room at the office of FOCUS Houston, a ministry that serves expectant mothers and families. I want to stress that it’s a relatively small room because we brought a lot of people together: our Executive Team, 13 Center Directors, and 3 additional National Office staff.

But as I looked out on everyone sitting knee-to-knee in tight rows of folding chairs, I felt a surge of joy.

Because I was privileged to spend a few days with close to 20 faithful, good-hearted, creative, energetic ministry leaders; people who inspire the faithful in cities across the country to unite in service that restores dignity, transforms lives, and builds community.

Just a few years ago, there were only 5 FOCUS Centers in operation. In fact, there were more former FOCUS Centers (which had shut down or somehow spun off) than active ones.

There was a genuine concern about the ministry and its future.

But, no matter the difficulty, we are not called to hide our lights under baskets (Matthew 5:15). FOCUS saw the impact of the ministry in the 5 cities with FOCUS Centers and decided more was needed.

In fact, more had to be done. Because how could we, as Orthodox Christians, claim to be the true Church and steward the fullness of the faith and yet not have a major philanthropic presence in every corner of the country?

So we got to work.

And that work started, fittingly enough, in Houston in 2023.

After a few months of intense work, we launched FOCUS Houston late that year (along with FOCUS Cincinnati). In just a few months, the ministry went from 5 to 7 FOCUS Centers.

And that was just the beginning. Because in 2024, we added 4 more FOCUS Centers. Then 2 more in 2025. And just this past Saturday, the FOCUS Board of Directors designated 4 new FOCUS Centers, bringing our total to 17.

There are now 17 cities across the United States where Orthodox Christians are gathering to make Christ’s love visible by sharing meals, clothing, and shelter. Most importantly of all, we are making that love visible through face-to-face encounters where people can gather to be seen, heard, and known.

As I looked around that small, cramped room in Houston, I saw almost 20 leaders who were making the vision of this ministry a reality. Because every person in that room envisions a Church known for love in action–where serving the poor reveals the living presence of Christ to the world.

That presence is revealed in meals, coats, and beds. It is revealed in fellowship and community, when we gather as brothers and sisters who are all equally sons and daughters of the Living God.

I’m grateful to the FOCUS staff, volunteers, and donors who are helping us make Christ’s love visible by uniting Orthodox Christians to serve the poor. The energy and faith in that little room represented a growing movement of the faithful across the country who, city by city, are united in service.

I hope you will share that joy and join us to keep the movement going.