by Steven Christoforou, Executive Director of FOCUS
Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly… (Acts 6:7)
Shortly before His glorious Ascension, the Lord gave us a command that we remember as the great Commision:
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you… (Matthew 28:19-20)
For a variety of historical and sociological reasons, we assume these words refer to preaching and teaching: to the communication of thoughts and ideas that intellectually convince people to become Christian.
The Church, we assume, will grow if we spread Christian ideas.
But the truth is a bit more nuanced…
In the Book of Acts, we read about how the Church grew following the Ascension; “the number of the disciples was multiplying” (Acts 6:1). Yet this growth encountered a challenge when the Apostles recognized that some of the widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
At that time, widows and orphans were particularly vulnerable–they couldn’t support themselves economically, lacked important legal rights, etc. That’s one reason why, in his Epistle, Saint James notes that “pure and undefiled religion” is “to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune” (James 1:27).
The early Church took this duty to serve seriously. In the Old Testament, for example, the Lord commands Israel that “there shall be no poor among you” (Deuteronomy 15:4). In the New Testament, the Lord explains that we will all be judged by whether or not we fed the hungry, clothed the naked etc (Matthew 25:31-46).
That’s because this service is sacramental. When we care for those in need, we make the Kingdom of Heaven manifest. We take invisible realities and make them visible as they break through into our fallen, broken world with a taste of the Life to come.
So when the widows weren’t being fed, something critical in the life of the Church was breaking down rather than breaking through.
Something invisible was not being made visible.
The Apostles continued to preach the same message with the same conviction, but this message lost its fullness when the Church community began to reflect the same divisions found in wider society. It became a moment of repentance and awakening—an opportunity to return to the heart of the Gospel through renewed commitment to Christian justice, love, and service.
Faced with this situation, the Apostles had a choice: should they stop preaching and teaching to focus on this ministry, or should they resign themselves to a certain imperfection in the Church’s care for the poor and vulnerable?
The Apostles denied this choice and realized that the Church could (and should) commit itself to both right words and right conduct. So they ordained the first deacons to oversee this “ministry of the tables” and ensure that the Church cared for all, especially the most vulnerable (Acts 6:5-6).
Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly…
Today, the number of people interested in the preaching and teaching of the Church seems to be increasing. Many communities are welcoming scores of new inquirers and catechumens. Glory to God!
Yet, for the Church to grow as it always has, its foundation must be more than just compelling words or widespread media. Growth comes when we make the Kingdom manifest—by recommitting to service, feeding the hungry, and clothing the naked. This is how the Church thrives and reveals Christ to the world.
To this end, we invite you to learn more about how FOCUS North America is carrying out this mission across the country—and how you can be part of it.
As an extension of Christ’s love, FOCUS brings together Orthodox Christians and community partners to see and serve Christ in our neighbor. FOCUS operates everything from homeless shelters and feeding programs to ministries that support expectant mothers and families.
Each ministry is an opportunity for the Church to come together, as a united Body, to serve our neighbors in need. Each ministry is a promise we make to our neighbors: if you are in need, you can come to us.
In just the last two years, the number of FOCUS Centers across the country has more than doubled to 11. By the end of this year, it’s possible that we’ll have tripled the number of FOCUS Centers since 2023, when only 5 were in operation.
This is fantastic growth, for which we glorify God. And there is still much more to be done: more cities that can sustain a pan-Orthodox FOCUS Center, more parishes that can begin their own initiatives where a pan-Orthodox ministry may not be possible, etc.
I hope you’ll be a part of this work, for the upbuilding of the Church across the country.
May God continue to bless our efforts and ensure that we continue to make the Lord’s Kingdom manifest in more places for more people.
Join us in making the Kingdom of Heaven visible—donate today to help FOCUS make the world a place where everyone experiences and shares the transformative love of Christ.
