We're Back!!!!

Let Us Grow Up

"You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God's word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food... Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong." Hebrews 5:12–14 (NLT)

How Have You Grown This Year?

Summer has a way of inviting us to slow down. It's a season for vacations, family gatherings, outdoor fun, and finally tackling those projects we've been putting off. It's also a wonderful time to rest and recharge. Now, here we are in August. Before we know it, summer will be behind us. Schools will reopen, vacations will end, and our calendars will once again fill with work, school, church, and community activities. As we prepare for a new season, I'd like to ask you one simple question:

How have you grown so far this year?

Growth isn't measured simply by the number of birthdays we've celebrated. While another birthday reminds us that time keeps moving forward, true growth is measured by maturity.

Last month I celebrated another birthday and found myself reflecting on God's faithfulness. Every year of my life has been sustained by His grace. If it had not been for the Lord, I know I would not be where I am today. Can someone say, Amen?

Growing Older Isn't the Same as Growing Up

The writer of Hebrews challenges believers with a difficult truth. They had been followers of Christ long enough that they should have been teaching others, yet they still needed someone to teach them the basics of God's Word. That passage causes us to pause and ask ourselves:

Am I simply growing older, or am I growing spiritually?

God desires much more than adding years to our lives. He desires that we mature in our faith, learning to recognize right from wrong, trusting Him more deeply, and becoming examples who encourage and strengthen others.

The Word of God Helps Us Grow

Life isn't easy. Many people are carrying financial pressures, family concerns, health challenges, emotional struggles, or uncertainty about the future.

I don't pretend to have all the answers to life's "why" questions. But I know the One who does.

God's Word continues to encourage us, strengthen us, guide us, and renew us. However, we can only benefit from God's promises if we spend time reading, studying, and applying His Word to our daily lives. The more time we spend with Him, the more we begin to think, live, and love like Christ.

You're Invited to Grow With Us

This fall, FOCUSED Ministries will relaunch our monthly Family Conference Series, and I would love to personally invite you to join us. These gatherings are designed for youth, parents, caregivers, and anyone seeking practical, biblical wisdom for everyday life.

We are unapologetically faith-based because we believe the Bible is God's inspired Word and offers enduring truth, hope, and wisdom. At the same time, we welcome everyone with love, respect, and compassion, regardless of their faith background or life experiences. Our teaching centers on four areas of growth:

Spiritual Growth — Your Salvation

"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

Social-Emotional Growth — Your Heart

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Proverbs 4:23

Career & Vocation — Your Purpose

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord... Jeremiah 29:11

Health & Wellness — Your Temple

"Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit... Therefore glorify God in your body."
1 Corinthians 6:19–20

More Than Attending—Let's Grow Together

Whether you've attended before or this will be your first time, you are welcome. Our desire is to walk alongside you as you discover, or continue discovering, God's purpose for your life.

Hebrews 5 reminds us that spiritual maturity isn't measured only by what we know. It is revealed by how we live.

Mature believers don't simply receive God's blessings. They invest their time, talents, prayers, and resources to help others grow in Christ as well. If you're interested in partnering with FOCUSED Ministries, we'd love to hear from you.

Partner With Us

If our weekly prayers, FOCUSED Prayers Devotional, Family Conferences, or other outreach efforts have encouraged you, would you prayerfully consider supporting FOCUSED Ministries?

As we prepare for our Back-to-School 2026 Family Giving Campaign, your generosity helps us continue encouraging, mentoring, equipping, and serving youth and families both within and beyond our community.

Visit our website to make a one-time gift or become a monthly supporter. If you're unable to give financially, we completely understand. You can still make a tremendous impact by praying for FOCUSED Ministries, the youth and families we serve, our faithful donors, and the volunteers who make this work possible. We believe God hears and answers prayer. You can also support us by sharing our ministry with your family, friends, church, and community. Every conversation, every prayer, and every shared post helps us reach someone who may need hope, encouragement, and the love of Christ.

If your church, school, or organization is looking for practical, faith-based workshops or conferences, we'd be honored to come and serve your community. Together, by God's grace, we can continue helping youth and families discover and live out their God-given purpose.

Thank You

To our faithful donors, volunteers, prayer partners, and supporters:  Thank you.

Your generosity, prayers, and encouragement have sustained this ministry over the years. Ministry is not always easy, but God has been faithful every step of the way.

As Scripture reminds us:

"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ..." 2 Corinthians 2:14 (KJV)

May we continue to grow—not only in years—but in faith, wisdom, love, and obedience to Jesus Christ.

God bless you.

A Sense of Belonging...

Hey there Ladies!!

Everybody wants to belong...wants to be a part of something...something...anything that affirms who they are...Makes them feel...special, loved, unique, accepted, comfortable, needed.

You may not be the loud one with the purple hair, but be the soft-spoken one with hair in a bun. You may not be into basketball, video games, or Hip-Hop music but really love ballet, the theater, and classical music.

You see, we tend to gravitate to the people we feel most comfortable with. The Black kids to the Black kids...the athlete to the athletes...the White kids to the White kids...the punk-rocker to the punk-rockers...and so on and so on and so on, but that's just the way it is. Yes, we do mingle and interact with other people groups all of the time, but those relationships are...different from our relationships with those who are like us. The language is different. The topics of conversation are different. The comfort levels are different. The experiences are different. 

I'm saying all of this to say, although we are all different, we're the same. Not only did God create us to be unique and season the Earth, He also created us to season each other's lives. 

So go ahead and be the salt! 

Be blessed of the Lord!

Dr. Baker

God's Glorious Summer

The summer months are upon us.  Vacations, outdoor activities, barbeques, gardening, family reunions, and long walks -- all signs of the season and blessings we too often take for granted.  

God is constantly reminding us of His presence and His sovereignty. The changing of the seasons is an example of this.  Even in Chicago where day to day weather can be unpredictable, we can always count on spring giving way to summer before moving into fall and then winter. Each year we can count on this cycle created by God and the various joys associated with each part of the year.  What makes summer special to you? Where in summer do you see the presence of God?  His blessings?  His sovereignty? Whether it is a trip to the farmer’s market, fresh flowers, or the mild temperatures, give God glory for His creation.  Acknowledge Him as the creator with all-encompassing authority. Thank Him for keeping His promises.  Rejoice in His gifts!

“He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills.”  Psalm 147:8

"You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas, and all that is them.  You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you. Nehemiah 9:6

“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” Genesis 8:22

Sorry we missed you!!

Sorry we missed you last month. As life has it, had a lot going on, but we're back!

So, what happens when life isn't like we imagined? Things don't go the way you planned or the way you wanted. Hurts come. Disappointments happen. Friends you trusted let you down. Parents are not the perfect people you envisioned.

Well, such is life, isn't it? In all of this, and then some, God is faithful! When it seems like He isn't faithful, you've got to know that He is! Often, our faith in life waivers because of these things. Where is God? We don't see Him. We don't feel Him. We don't hear Him. So, what do you do?

In scripture, both in the Old and the New Testaments, it is written that He will not leave us! But WE have to do something, too!

Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you (Deuteronomy 31:6 MSG) and

Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,” we can boldly quote, God is there, ready to help; I’m fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me (Hebrew 13:5 MSG)?

We've said before that the life of the Christian is a walk of faith. Not something you wanted to hear, huh? Well, it is! Lay aside your doubts - TRUST GOD. Don't worry about the things you cannot do anything about - TRUST GOD. He IS there! Call Him and He will answer.

Let us hear from you - what do you do when you don't hear from God? What do you tell your fam and friends?

Stay FOCUSED!
tjb

 

Stand Up!

True Christians please stand up! Those who are seeking God with their whole hearts, please speak out! Soldiers for Christ who are not ashamed of the Gospel, show your face! Where is your voice?  In a world with so many competing messages, contradictory, and downright hostile toward our God, we cannot be timid in our faith. The Word calls us to proclaim with boldness and without shame. 

Acts 28:30-31 New International Version (NIV)

For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!

Romans 1:16 King James Version (KJV)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

Don’t make the mistake of being content to just blend in as a “good” person.  Let’s support one another and hold one another accountable in Christian love that we may glorify God and lift up the name of Jesus with our whole being and without hesitation, countering the world’s messages that are destroying our youth. 



Tricia L. Murray
Executive Director

Longing...

     What is your heart longing for? Have you noticed that many, many people nowadays do NOT have a longing for God?? Huh...what happened to all of the hungry people? Hungry for God. Hungry for His presence. Hungry for His word. We just don't see that as much nowadays. Many have forgotten God, but I want to tell you that God is still God! Here are some passages from scripture to remind us that He is STILL strong, a protector, always with us, and is in control:

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you (2 Thessalonians 3:3).

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV).

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10 NIV).

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? (Romans 8:31).

Lord, help us stay FOCUSED on You! Join the conversation!! Share your comments, questions, insight...

Stay informed by visiting our home page at focused-ministries.org
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 Staying FOCUSED!
tjb








 

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