Website: https://www.focus.org/
FOCUS is a Catholic collegiate outreach whose mission is to share the hope and joy of the gospel to college and university students. Trained in Church teaching, prayer, sacred Scripture, evangelization and discipleship, FOCUS missionaries encounter students in friendship where they are, inviting them into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and accompanying them as they pursue lives of virtue and excellence. Through Bible studies, outreach events, mission trips and one-on-one discipleship, missionaries inspire and build up students in the faith, sending them out to spread the good news and to live out the Great Commission: Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations (Mt. 28:19).
Where I serve
God has called me to move from the Golden State of California to serve college students at Columbia University in the Big Apple of New York City!
You’ll typically find me learning to swing/salsa dance, playing spikeball, leading bible studies, praying with students, or exploring the city.
I have a pretty cool story about how Jesus has changed my life. I like to call it “My Crazy, Adventure, Love Story with Christ.” I think you should
hear it sometime! Come find me and I’d love to share it with you. 🙂
“So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.”
1 Thessalonians 2:8
My Story
After I graduated college with my bachelor’s degree in accounting at Cal Poly Pomona, I worked for an accounting firm in downtown Los Angeles where I started to identify my self worth more by what was on my resume and the amount on my paycheck. I had placed God outside of my life by taking the steering wheel away from Him and following the selfish, worldly desires. Soon, my world was turned upside down when a long-term relationship ended and a close relative passed away. I found myself feeling empty and dissatisfied with the work I was doing and fell into a downward spiral.
After this prodigal son phase in my life, I finally came back to Christ and let Him take the wheel. I found the Lord tugging at my heart to pursue ministry work and be open to the priesthood. After much resistance, I finally caved in and decided to quit my job in accounting. It’s been a constant struggle to say “yes” to the Lord but it led me to meet virtuous people that I am glad to call my friends. A few of these new friends are FOCUS missionaries where I was able to share my passion for Christ with college students. The missionary life is the perfect place God has called me to serve college students, grow closer in my faith, and be formed through FOCUS’ training (Institute of Priestly Formation).
As a missionary, my greatest desire is to lead all students to Christ. My life has been transformed by Jesus and I want nothing more than to bring this joy to others and introduce them to the life-changing message of the Gospel. In His ministry on earth, Jesus humbled Himself to meet us on our level, taking on our humanity, and spent most of His time investing deeply in a few. I look to Jesus’ own example to find the best method of reaching the world. I’ve been constantly amazed by the different souls I’ve encountered on campus.
Your Impact
When I answered the call to join FOCUS, I made the decision to rely on the spiritual and financial support of mission partners to help me through this mission. I’ve been blessed with the most amazing people who have journeyed with me as I serve on campus. If you are interested in partnering with me, please let me know of the best way to reach you and I will schedule an appointment. I’d be honored to share this mission with you.
My email is gelton.morada@focus.org
“Some give by going to the missions, some by giving to the missions. Without both there are no missions.” -St. Therese of Lisieux, Patroness of Missions
