About Us

FOCUS NORTH AMERICA

Mission, Vision, and Values

Mission

As an expression of Christ’s love, FOCUS exists to serve the poor by bringing together Orthodox Christian churches and community partners to provide Food, Occupation, Clothing, Understanding, and Shelter and other assistance to address the needs of local communities.

Vision

We envision world where everyone experiences and shares the transformative love of Christ.

Values

The Fellowship of Orthodox Christians United to Serve, an Orthodox Christian nonprofit, works to address the ultimate cause of poverty in the world: disconnection from Christ and disconnection from one another. It does this by providing people with opportunities to serve alongside and discover their kinship with others while addressing needs in their local communities.

 

FOCUS promises to…

provide Orthodox Christians with opportunities to serve and connect with people from their local communities

prepare Orthodox Christians for these service opportunities

ensure the physical, emotional, and spiritual safety of its clients and volunteers to the best of its abilities

be transparent and honest with stakeholders 

abide with people in a willing, kind, and loving way

treat everyone with dignity and respect

understand and address the unique needs that exist in local communities as it is able

Our Slogan: 

“Creating a more beautiful Detroit from inside out.” 

The short motto that holds great meaning and leads our ethos and guiding principals for ministry. We believe that the transformation of the heart, soul, mind, and body create a domino effect, moving to a more beautiful self, family, neighborhood, city, country, and world. Whether it is through enacting small change, or large, we believe that if done with love and intention, that this is what matters. We believe that it is both those who serve and those who are served that are transformed by authentic relationship. 

Our Leadership

Center Director

Adam Murphy, M.A., M.Div.

After receiving his M.A. of Theology and Ministry from Boston College (’18) and Masters of Divinity from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (’19), Adam took the lead as director of FOCUS Detroit.

Advisory Board

Angela Seaborn-Latchney  – Board Chair

Anne Randall 

Paula Kalevas 

Chrysia Carson 

Marika Pehlivanidis 

Christina Guirguis 

Chris Manos

Diane Michalakis 

Robert Neda 

Haitham Fakhouri

Abraham Newhouse

Jason Kehdi 

Sonya Kassis

Paul Stavropoulos

John Avdoulos

Our Partner Organizations

Oasis of Hope Christian Church 

Greenfield Union Elementary-Middle School

Commonwealth Community Development Charter School 

The Council of Orthodox Christian Churches of Metropolitan Detroit