The FOCUS class has been ministering to college and career students for more than a year now. This class is designed to help transition teenagers from high school to adults with careers, with a stop at college along the way for some.

Some of the founding FOCUS class members have joined the military. Josh Bledsoe is stationed at an Army base in Colorado. Adam Renander is just beginning his Air Force training in Texas.
 

Other founding members of the FOCUS class are studying at colleges far from home. Amber and Ashley Witt are students at Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, Florida. Matt Bacon, also in Florida, is nearing completion of his flight training. Fallyn Love will begin attending Bob Jones University in Greensville. South Carolina, in January.

Don't begin to think that everyone has left the FOCUS class. Some have actually come back. Marissa Bear, a student at Northland, is continuing her graduate studies from home. Dakota Witt has returned from his trip across America to live at home. He works a full-time job fixing computers. Justin Smith is still a student at UMKC.

There has even been some new blood added to the FOCUS class. Jason Smith and Annette Lundquist joined after graduating from high school. Jason is going to school at Long-view Community College to become a mechanic. Annette is studying at Blue River Community College. Amber Sisson also is a brand-new member, as is Dane Brumagin. Dane is attending UMKC and plays on the basketball team.

As you can see, some have come, some have gone, and some will be back soon. Though some personnel has changed, the FOCUS on serving God. has not.

The FOCUS class has done many fun things in the past year.

•  The Float Trip. Twice we have traveled to the thriving metropolis of Eminence, Missouri, to canoe the Jacks Fork River and the Current River. There is nothing quite like the camaraderie around a campfire: swatting mosquitoes while singing songs, eating food that fell off the rack and into the flames, or bracing for the blast of explosive water bottles. But this is ail just a prelude to the main event. The trip down the river is crawling with ruthless sea pirates eager to flip unsuspecting (or defenseless) canoes. "Capture the floating-away-items" is a favorite game. The mountain climb shortly before reaching camp is another highlight. And of course, members of the FOCUS class are officially inducted by diving off a 20-foot rock into the watery depths below.

•  The All-Nighter. This is another annual event. On a Friday during the summer, the FOCUS class sacrifices a night's sleep for a night of fun. Games like basketball, volleyball and dodgeball are played for hours on end. To test everyone's true endurance, a feature movie is watched, usually between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. The coffee is really flowing as eyes begin to close and yawns begin to deepen. Some cheat and catch a few zzz's. The vast majority of Saturday is spent at home, asleep in bed. There is a reason we only do this once a year!

•  Sports & Recreation. The FOCUS class loves to play sports, especially basketball and volleyball. This summer, the class went bike riding. Just this month, we went bowling until the early hours of the morning. The FOCUS class loves exercise; after all, we have to burn off all of the coffee and cookies.

• The Christmas Cantata. Last Christmas, the FOCUS class provided the drama for the New Hope Christmas Cantata. The FOCUS class was also well-represented in the choir. The message of salvation shone through the story that was adapted to today's events.

•  Children's programs. The FOCUS class has provided skits and volunteers for Vacation Bible School and the Fall Festival. The FOCUS class is also active in the bus ministry and in children's church.

As you can see, we stay pretty busy. We enjoy the great Christian fellowship that the FOCUS class provides.