This year’s Student Stories speak to the impact of our FOCUS missionaries, who work alongside Fr. Nick to reach all Catholics at Hope College. The mission of FOCUS is “to know Christ Jesus and fulfill his Great Commission.” Through Bible studies, conferences, and community building events, FOCUS invites college students into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and his Church, inspiring and equipping them for a lifetime of Christ-centered evangelization, discipleship, and friendship in which they lead others to do the same.
Gavin Livingston
Hope College student and FOCUS Bible study participant
Up until five months ago, I did not know that FOCUS existed. That is because I did not know much about anything affiliated with Catholicism. When I went to my first Bible study, I did not know what to expect. I was taken aback by how much community there was between a group of guys who likely did not know one another. Over time, I came to realize that this Bible study was heavily influenced by encountering Jesus through deep diving into the Word and reflecting on it, being impacted by the community through getting to know others, and taking away lessons from this Bible study that I will remember for the rest of my life.
Encountering our Lord Jesus Christ in a Bible study can take many forms. For me, one way I encountered Jesus was getting the topic question on my first day. The question was, “Who do you say that I am?” Growing up, I always heard about Jesus dying for our sins, but I never knew why. I was allowed to study Jesus a couple of years ago, and haven’t looked back since, but I guess I never gave this question any thought. However, once we finished our Bible study and talked about this question, it hit me. Jesus is Lord. I knew that before, but after seeing Jesus work through the lives of the people involved in my Bible study, something about the word “Lord” really resonated with me. It allowed me to encounter Jesus personally and seek growth in his love.
Community in a Bible study was essential for me because it showed me that I’m not alone in my journey to knowing and loving our Lord. When we, as a group, went over specific questions and topics relating to Jesus, I would love to hear everyone pitch their answers or ideas, because it allowed me to learn more about Jesus and be with a group of people who share the same ideas and answers to questions.
Finally, one lesson that was formative for me was seeing a visualization of man and God separated by sin, and realizing that the ultimate bridge from man to God was the work done on the cross. I learn really well when I’m given a visual representation of something, and this study did just that. Since I was allowed to see this image, I have gained a clearer understanding of the work done on the cross.
Overall, a Bible study can teach someone many things that will help them go through life. For me, it was discovering who Jesus said he was, being surrounded by community, and finally visualizing a bridge between us and God.
