Growth of FOCUS shows spiritual multiplication at work, say leaders

Published: 2005-01-21

DENVER (CNS) -- Seven years ago, just 25 college students attended the first Fellowship of Catholic University Students conference. This year, more than 1,500 college students from across the country attended the group's Jan. 14-16 student leadership conference in Denver. Leaders of the organization, known as FOCUS, say the growth of the conference reflects one of its core principles -- spiritual multiplication -- at work. "The goal is simply to go out and reach a handful of people, two or three, and have a deep impact on their life," founder Curtis Martin said about the organization's efforts to teach student leaders to teach Scripture. "Through them, one becomes two, two becomes six, six becomes 12 ... and we begin to increase our numbers." The Fellowship of Catholic University Students, which has its headquarters in Greeley, began at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., in 1998. Now it has chapters on 26 campuses in 13 states.

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