For our weekly chapel here at Focus, we had the privilege of having journalist and acclaimed author of the book Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling, Andy Crouch come in and speak to us. He was even gracious enough to come be with us on his birthday! The thought-provoking message he delivered about culture in our world today and the role it plays in our story with God, really helped me view culture in a different way, as it is what I make of the world, rather than something negative that the world pushes upon me.

Along with the chapel, my Focus One class alone was able to have a private Q&A session with Andy, where we could pick his brain and hear his heart on various topics. A big part of his passion is that Christians ought to be true image bearers of God, which he talks about in the video clip above. This whole theme of image bearing, which he emphasized throughout his entire talk, has really been opening my eyes to the importance of reflecting Christ in my life with genuine authenticity. God made me different than any other person on this planet, and He wants me to show the world His love in ways that are specifically unique to me.

Having Andy here was an awesome blessing. His fatherly teaching style was laid back, yet powerful in its own way. I was really able to learn from him and am glad, as a Focus student, to have had the opportunity of this experience.

-Allison Lopac, Focus One Student

Our entire staff and student body leaves tomorrow morning for South Padre Island for Focal Point. Focal Point is our week-long retreat for our students and staff to get away from all of our normal responsibilities and obligations to spend time simply focusing on God. We strategically schedule it right at the halfway point in our year to take time reflect on what God’s done so far, and also to set the course for the rest of the year.

We would love it if you would take time to pray for us this week. Pray that God would speak to each of us. Pray that he would begin to reveal His dreams for the students lives. Pray that the staff and students would come back refreshed and focused. We are excited for what God has in store for us!

-Steve Cochran, Student Life Pastor

This past week, my class had the great opportunity of having Chris Seay as one of our exclusive guest speakers here at Focus One. He had a great message and we had a great discussion with him during our Q&A session that left a huge impact, with a ton for us to process.

One thing that spoke to me the most, was when he was talking about unconditional love. How if we as individuals could go to our daily lives, with our friends and families, and create environments of unconditional love. We have to have grace that when others fail us, or don’t live up to our expectations, we still love them. Giving the people in our life the freedom to fail. It shows them that we love them no matter what, and that just might make all the difference in their life. It could be the difference between someone who isn’t afraid to take risks and goes out and tries great things, verses someone who is afraid to make mistakes so they play it safe and never live out their life calling. I want to be the kind of person who empowers the people in my life to live out all that God has in store for them.

Having Chris here really challenged my way of thinking, and I’m trying to learn to apply this and love my friends, my family, and even myself with that same unconditional love that God showed us.

-Isaias De La Mora, Focus One Student

Join us this Sunday at 10:15a at Rockford First for a powerful service to start off the New Year! If you’d like more information about Rockford First feel free to visit rockfordfirst.com

Join us at Rockford First, Saturday, December 17 at 7:00pm for a special Christmas concert featuring nationally known worship leader, Kari Jobe. Doors open at 6pm and admission is totally free, so be sure to invite your friends and family for a night of worship and music at Rockford First.

There are so many things that people cherish in life, and this place is becoming one of those things for me. It’s crazy to think how much I’ve grown, and its only been three months! Focus One is allowing me to zoom in on the things I always shied away from. Even my thoughts and the way I think has been changing. I’m starting to think less about my own wants and desires and learning to focus more on what God’s desires.

My prayer time is becoming so much more intense and real. Before I came here I never liked prayer and when I did pray I couldn’t sit still for more then ten minutes. Now, I am so anxious for the day to start because that means a time of prayer. I see prayer in a different light because instead of talking just to talk I have learned the importance of silence and listening. I’m learning that prayer is not just a monologue of myself but a real conversation with God. Knowing that I can have a conversation with God throughout my day makes it easier for me to have peace even when things get hard because I know God is right there comforting me.

Along with that I have realized the true importance of companionship and opening up to others. God created me to have friendships and without that life is not whole or as God planned. So now little by little I am warming up to the idea of companionship and for the first time I have an accountability partner to keep me in check. And not only that but I am turning away from a spirit of fear but courage, power, and ultimately truth. Seeing how I have changed in three months makes me so excited for the rest of the year to be able to absorb more, grow more, and become more of a person that resembles the characteristics of God himself.

-Fallyn Lara, Focus One Students