Fr David Lowell, Orthodox Action of Volunteer Director of Orthodoxy’s newest charitable organization, FOCUS North America, brings the group’s message to Holy Trinity Cathedral in San Francisco on Saint Thomas Sunday. The vision of FOCUS (Fellowship of Orthodox Christians United to Serve) North America is to establish a network of Orthodox Christian social action ministries and volunteers throughout North America working to alleviate the suffering of impoverished or marginalized persons of any age, race, or creed. To accomplish this mission FOCUS North America will:

1. EDUCATE: Raise the education and awareness level of faith communities with regard to the need for personal and community involvement in domestic social action.

2. SUPPORT: Support existing Orthodox Christian social action agencies. This will include, but is not limited to, training, coordination, and funding.

3. INITIATE: Help to initiate the creation, and nurture the healthy growth and funding, of new locally-based and national Orthodox Christian social action programs and their leaders.

4. COLLABORATE: Facilitate networking and sharing of expertise and resources among Orthodox Christian social programs, and cultivate and coordinate a domestic volunteer network.

Fr David is well versed in social action in Christ’s name. In addition to being the Associate Priest of Holy Trinity, he has been the Executive Director of Raphael House, San Francisco’s oldest and most successful shelter for at risk families, for almost twenty years and personally involved in social work for nearly forty years.

Metropolitan Jonah sent a letter to each OCA parish encouraging our support of this new organization. To find out more about FOCUS North America and how you can be a part of their mission, visit their website www.FocusNorthAmerica.org.