FOCUS Alumni: Why Discipleship and Evangelization Matters Beyond Campus
Evangelization (reaching out to others to share the life of Jesus Christ), though often difficult on the college campus, is made easier by the fact that students’ schedules tend to be more open – with free time throughout the day and in the evenings. What’s more, FOCUS missionaries are committed to radical availability, dedicating their lives to full-time evangelization. So what happens when the method of incarnational evangelization (offering the gift of your time and presence to talk about matters of faith) is applied in the “real world”? Does discipleship work with people who are busy with careers and families? Olivia Stear is one FOCUS alumni who is a witness to the fruit of evangelization and discipleship beyond the college campus. She joined FOCUS staff in 2002 and served for seven years, five of those as an on-campus missionary. She is now married and busy with two young children, and she also finds time to lead two Bible studies, disciple four women, and continue to reach out to more women in her community. A few years ago Olivia moved from California to Lawrence, Kansas. As a stay-at-home mom, in an unfamiliar town, she started closing in on herself, and loneliness began to set in. She said she knew there were others like her searching for “a deeper community and desiring to be encouraged in their relationship with Jesus Christ.” Olivia began thinking about where she could go to meet other women. She realized that by pursuing activities she already likes to do – going to the gym or grocery store, for example – she could create a “campus” out of the places where she already spends her time. “If I just focus on going to the places that I like to go, then I would meet people just like me with similar interests – my age group, my state in life, and the things I love to do – which I did,” said Olivia. “The more time I spend in those places, the more people I meet, and the more I meet my affinity group where it’s at.”
After creating a list of the women God had put in her life, Olivia invited those women to a party at her house, and ultimately started two Bible studies with twelve of those women. Now, Olivia disciples four women who all began leading their own Bible studies this Lent. Olivia is showing these women how to reach their affinity groups and take advantage of opportunities for outreach by pursuing the interests they already have. “These families are desperately longing for relationships, friendships and community” Olivia explained. “They want discipleship. They want a small group setting where they can share, and be safe, and be held accountable.” Not only is Olivia introducing women to a relationship with Christ and teaching them how to do the same for others, she recognized that her own life and vocation has benefitted from her commitment to discipleship. “I’m leading the same life I always have – but I’m living a richer life now that I’ve started doing this. I’m excited to go to the gym instead of dreading it. I am more thoughtful when I go to the playground with my kids.” She says she uses these opportunities to meet more women and build relationships that could lead to Bible studies and discipleship. “I have a reason to get out more. I’m living the life I’ve always wanted to live as a mom.”
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Olivia began to build relationships with women – graduate students, young professionals and young mothers – who shared her interests. Last October she decided to be more intentional with those friendships. “I had kind of just done that win stage naturally and it was time for more,” she recalled. Olivia took advantage of the resources available on the 
