Sirak's October Ministry Update! (Fall Retreat! 🍁)

My friends & team!

Wow... what an October ❤️ Fall retreat, Dallas College Alumni Night, FOCUS’s 30-year celebration... such a party. God is good.

I have a confession to make. As an adult homeowner, 2026 is the first year I’ve consistently watered my lawn. And for the first time, it’s green, full, and I’m genuinely proud of it.

I learned a lot along the way. Water early, before the sun comes up, so it soaks into the soil before the Texas heat burns it off. Don’t overwater. Stay consistent.

But honestly? There were weeks I wondered if any of it was making a difference. Are the weeds just winning? It’s Texas, this lawn is going to surrender to the heat and die anyway. And look around, Sirak... none of your neighbors are watering. There’s no HOA sending you mean emails. Why bother?

I entertained those thoughts. But I kept going, mostly because of a timed sprinkler a friend gifted me a few years ago. It made the consistency possible. (My water bill also went up, but that’s another story.)

So I watered, and watered, and watered. Now the weather’s cooling off, the work has slowed down, and I get to sit back and smile at what grew. The work isn’t done, of course. Summer 2027 is coming ❤️

Last Wednesday felt a lot like that.

At Wednesday Night FOCUS, we hosted our first-ever Dallas College FOCUS Alumni Night (photos below!). More than 25 alumni came back to celebrate what God did in their lives as students here. We worshiped and prayed together, and our older alumni (the “uncs”) prayed over our current students. I loved every minute of it.

Standing in that room, I thought about my lawn. Years of watering the soil of Dallas College: early mornings, faithful weeks, seasons where I wondered if it mattered. Paul says one plants, another waters, but God gives the growth (1 Cor. 3:6). On Wednesday, I got to stand back and see some of that growth.

And here’s the thing: you’ve been my sprinkler. Your prayers and support are what keep the watering consistent, week after week, year after year. I’m so grateful.

Enjoy the photos below and be encouraged. Your support is making a way for students at Dallas College to receive and respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

CJ (left) and Casey (right) - reading scripture together before our WNF meeting! 

Jessica, Nahom, and Alex all led group games together at Fall Retreat - they did an awesome job & this was my favorite year of group games! ❤️

Alex did an amazing job leading our group games at fall retreat - him & Nahom have been blessings on our team as FOCUS apprentices! 

1,000% grateful for all of these students that God has brought to our Dallas FOCUS ministry! 

(obligatory silly pic)

Someone yelled "throw up the 'W'!" (for WNF i'm assuming?) - and we complied ❤️

We had a meaningful group-sharing time @ fall retreat where the students responded to: "What is something currently in your life that you sense God inviting you to loosen your grip on?" the solidarity was powerful and the students connected powerfully with one another! 

Our Dallas FOCUS Alumni Night was such a special night! Grateful for all of the students & alum who showed up! 

It just don't get better... :) 

Happy Halloween! 🎃

Thank you for your support and for believing in me! We're 3 months away from winter retreat - I recently applied for a 'student travel fund' hosted by Dallas College. Please pray that we would be approved for this fund to help our students pay for winter retreat! 

I'll talk to you soon! 

Your brother & campus missionary,

Sirak 

"It's Too Good to Be True!"

This semester, our ministry has been walking through the Gospel together, week by week. And I want to be honest with you: for most of my life, I assumed I already knew what the Gospel was. Maybe I did, to a degree. But it hadn't really sunk into my heart, or even my nervous system, in a way that felt personal.

Don't get me wrong, I love a good idea. Concepts, parables, abstractions, anything that gets me thinking and pondering life. But the Gospel that has started taking root in me lately isn't one I can just think about and check off. It's one I keep coming back to, re-clarifying and re-applying as I go.

Here's how I've been telling it:

1. God is Love & Life.
2. God created you in Him.
3. The Devil and man brought death into life.
4. Man needed God to heal him.
5. To save His children, God brought death to death.
6. God brought man back into Himself.
7. God freely restores you if you freely choose Him.

Take a minute with that. How does it feel when you read it? Is there one number that resonates more than the others? Have you ever unpacked it line by line?

For me, I've spent most of my life camped out on #4. Sin, pain, trauma, and emotional wounds made me deeply aware of how much I need God. But my version of the Gospel didn't have a true starting point or a destination. It never reminded me where I came from or where I'm headed.

And that matters. Yes, we know we need Jesus. But if our identity isn't rooted in who we were created to be, in the One who created us, and in how that fits into the cosmic story God is writing, then our Gospel might be only a partial one. Or worse, a false one.

Many of our students at Dallas College FOCUS grew up in and out of church communities, and at best they've heard a partial Gospel. So this year, with the help of the Holy Spirit and to the best of our ability, we're unpacking the whole story so they can see just how beautiful it is. It really is too good to be true. (And somehow, it is.)

We're almost at the halfway point of the semester and, as we go into fall retreat (in a couple of week), we are hoping to unpack sin in a way where students can truly see: God isn't mad at you. He loves you and is crazy about you. He loves you so much that He wants to go into the (your) mess with you ❤️

Would you pray for us? Pray as we walk through this with our students, and that we'd discern the next steps for them and help them walk in faith.

Thank you for your support and for believing in this mission. We couldn't do it without you.

Sloan & Anaya ❤️

Anaya did such a great job at her first haircut! 

Thank you for your support! Our Richland FOCUS students say thank you & we love you!

Wednesday nights have been a blast! We feel so grateful for the space we have & those who show up each week have been attentive and playful every week we gather! Let's gooo! 

A picture of me & the fellas this year. These guys have been a consistent & faithful group to show up to our men's Bible study each week. 

Moses! We've been meeting up and studying the Bible with one another. He was the student testimony for this month! Moses has been a faithful friend to me and a consistent part of our ministry - grateful for him! 

Wednesday nights have been a blast! Each week, we've been gathering to connect, share about life, and worship together. The feel of our ministry, this year, is so much more...authentic. The students who show up truly want to be themselves and be a space for others to encounter Christ! Thank you, Lord! 

Becca did a great job preaching last week at WNF - she has become a powerful force in our ministry as she loves & connects with the women in our ministry!

Anaya says this cool weather deserves a thumbs-up! 

Casey Hopper preached last week and did a great job! He's been a huge blessing to our Dallas FOCUS team ❤️

A sweet picture from one of our early WNF's of the school year. Our students, from early on, were open & excited to worship together and connect with Jesus together!

This year has 100% been a blast! Thank you for your support and for believing in our mission to love & bless the students of our ministry. 

Please pray for our fall retreat coming up in a couple of weeks. Pray that our students would be open to encounter The Gospel that weekend! 

Your brother & campus missionary,

Sirak 

A Real Life Interview w/ A Student! 👨🏾‍🎓 📚

My friends & team!

Why does it feel like I blink and…BAM - it's Friday again? ❤️

Okay, this is a special blog post today. 

I wanted to share with you a very special conversation I had with Meech. Meech is a Dallas College FOCUS student who has recently transferred to The University of North Texas after being a part of our Richland FOCUS ministry for the last 2.5 years.

I had the privilege of getting to know Meech, studying the Bible with him, and becoming good friends with Meech. Meech has a special place in my heart as a student who made real life changes during his time at Richland. 

We hung out a few weeks ago and he was reflecting on how God had moved so powerfully in his life during his time at Richland. I felt led & asked him (on the spot) if it would be cool if I asked him a few questions, recorded his responses, and shared it with my support team (y'all!) - he said: “Absolutely!”

So - check out the interview below - be encouraged - this is what your support is going toward. 

Thank you for believing in me and our mission to love college students. Let's goooo!!!

(read interview w/ Meech - below!)

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Sirak: What has Richland FOCUS meant to you during your time as a student?

Meech: It's been a place where I can have friends. It's been a place where I can learn more about myself, and who I am through God. It's also been a place where I can find godly friends & put myself in the right direction, with community. A place where I can be vulnerable, explore places where I fall short, and realize I'm not alone. God's there with me. There's people here going through the same thing, and God's bringing them through - He's gonna bring me through it too.

Sirak: Your season at Richland is closing and a new one's opening at UNT. Looking back, what has God done in your heart through Richland FOCUS?

Meech: God has given me hope for tomorrow. I can't even lie - I came to FOCUS at one of my lowest lows. I didn't know where to look, but I knew God was the place to go for my troubles, and that's how I found y'all. Shout out Cole.

It's allowed me to forgive myself for all the mistakes I've made in the past, all the wrong I've done to myself or other people. Those people I've wronged have forgiven me, and I've forgiven myself. It's allowed me to walk into a new life in Him, free of shame. I still feel guilt about things when I sin, but not to the point where I completely shut myself off anymore. I feel like there's nothing I can't work through with God.

That's why I feel hope for tomorrow - I've been through 100% of my bad days. I know it's not going to get easier, but I know God's going to be there and get me through it.

Sirak: As you transition to UNT - what's your hope for the students walking onto Dallas College campuses who won't meet FOCUS until winter retreat or something like that?

Meech: That they lean into community, and that FOCUS veterans can be a place they lean on - that the community itself is a place people can feel vulnerable and share hardships. These last couple of cores I went to with Moses and Ricardo, I was glad they were talking about things that really hurt. It hurt to hear some of their sadder stories, but at the beginning of the year, I don't think I would've heard them talk about things like this.

I don't want to say jump into vulnerability right off the bat - but whenever an opportunity to be vulnerable presents itself, don't run away from it. Get into it. Because in those moments, that's where you experience true spiritual growth. I've had to grow in some really uncomfortable ways, and it's made me a better man than I was.

Sirak: What has God gifted you with through your time at Richland FOCUS that you want to bring to the ministry at UNT FOCUS?

Meech: A revelation that I really try my best to be there for people - to be friends with everyone, to make sure no one feels left out, to foster a good community attitude. I hope I can bring that to Denton - make sure nobody gets lost in the crowd, because I know it's going to be different up there.

I also want to help foster a community of men who aren't afraid of feeling their feelings - who aren't afraid to go ask a girl out, to tell someone “hey, what you did made me feel this way,” to tell their parents “I don't like what you're telling me to do, I'd rather do this with my life.” I want that group of men to be vulnerable, assertive, strong-willed, strong-minded men of God - and I hope I can lead by example in that.

Sirak: Richland's a lot smaller than UNT FOCUS - about 30 people compared to 250. How are you going to make sure you don't get lost in the crowd?

Meech: One way is really sticking to my values. We had a great conversation maybe a year ago about how if you don't know what you value, you'll put up with almost anything. So knowing my values, knowing the life I want for myself in my relationship with God - when you know what you value, making choices is actually easy.

It's not just succumbing to gossip, or whatever's in the status quo at Denton that might be just as bad as at Richland. It's going to be harder, but I want to be someone who leads by example - someone people see and think, “Meech doesn't gossip. Meech doesn't do that. He doesn't buy into how everyone else thinks.” He's just a light.

Sirak: Looking back three years ago, when you walked into Richland FOCUS - who was Jesus to you then, and who is Jesus to you now?

Meech: Back then, Jesus was like a “get out of jail free” card - someone I'd call whenever I was down on my luck, kind of like calling my mom for $100 when I needed it. I only really talked to Him in times of need. I didn't picture the relationship as two-way - just Him giving me things and me thanking Him every once in a while.

Now I see God as the divine creator of my life - the hand that guides me everywhere I go. Without Him, I wouldn't even be able to say these things I'm saying right now. The world would've taken me under so quick, but God has remained so faithful. He lets me mess up. He lets me come back. He lets me mess up again, and He lets me come back again. He's helped me become a better person, a better Christian, a better friend, a better son, a better brother - hopefully a better boyfriend, husband, and father someday.

Jesus is honestly my main man. My blueprint. I didn't even know I could strive to be like Jesus until a conversation we had before Sitcom - I looked at some scripture after that and thought, man, Jesus is like… I love that, bro.

(end of interview) 

Thank you for believing in the work we do on campus! I hope that this glimpse of Meech's story encourages & enriches your heart. These are real students with real stories and Meech's story is just one of many that will be changed forever thanks to your support & partnership with us ❤️

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Here is a photo of our Dallas College theme this year: "The River Is Coming"! - (see previous blog post for context & why we chose this theme!) 

We got to help with the NSO (New Student Orientations) - this summer! We're so grateful to work with Dallas College and the wonderful organizations that set up this opportunity to meet incoming freshmen! 

Picture of me (left) and Meech (right) - grateful for this guy! Please pray for him as he transitions to UNT and settles into the campus in Denton! 

Anaya had her 1st day of pre-school! August was wild! 

❤️ 👍🏾

We loved getting to meet all of the incoming freshmen to Richland College - this was our first summer doing the incoming freshman orientations and they were a huge success! 

👍🏾

We recently had to sell the recliner that we used since Anaya's birth as her rocker. So many sweet memories were made in that chair :) - We didn't even notice it happening but Anaya outgrew that rocker quick! 

This year we got up early and set up our table/canopy on campus (around 7:30am) - everyday the first week of school. We are still learning what the students need & resonate with at Dallas College. Please pray for us as we discern how to meet new students & invite them into our club ❤️

I don't know if y'all have ever met Becca - (behind table) - but, she is a PRO when meeting new students at our FOCUS tables. When you meet hundreds of new students day to day...it really becomes a craft to have the same conversation over & over in an authentic way...Becca has mastered the craft!
 

Our Fist Wednesday Night FOCUS! The first week, we had around 25 students - last week we had around 35 students :) Please pray for us as we go week-to-week and continue unpacking the Gospel with our students! 

Grateful for all of these students being a part of our ministry so far this year! 

We had an after-event @ Sonic and our students showed up! So many awesome friendships are being built in our ministry! 

Thank you for your support and for believing in us! This was a bit of a longer post today so I hope you at least read Meech's interview! 

God bless you & please don't hesitate to let me know if you need prayer for anything going on in your life! 

Love y'all - will talk to you soon :) 

Your brother & campus missionary,

Sirak 

The River Is Coming... 💦

I wanted to share with you all a story.

In 2021, as campuses begun to open (post-lockdown), a student in our ministry text messaged me and said: "Pastor Sirak, God gave me a dream last night and He wanted me to share it with you. Can we meet today so I can share my dream with you?" 

"Most definitely," I said. 

When we met, he shared with me (I am paraphrasing & working from memory - but the basic structure is still the same): 

"In my dream last night, God showed me the image of a flowing river. It was a river that had animals and wildlife of all kind(s) coming to drink and enjoy the refreshing water that sprung from it. God wanted me to tell you that the River is coming to Dallas College." 

"Awesome!" I said ✌🏾

The student continued... "God also wanted me to let you know that there will be years ahead of digging up dirt, pulling up weeds, and excavating the soil in order to make way for the River. When the river shows up, no one ever says, 'Hey, where did this river come from?' - they simply enjoy the water and life that springs from the river. There are difficult years coming ahead, Sirak, but God wants you to stay firm and hang in there. Do not give up and do not lose hope. The River is coming..." 

I remember then asking him: "And God wanted you to tell me this?" - "Yes," he quickly replied, "God said to tell you this as soon as possible." 

It has been around 5 years since my conversation with this student and in those 5 years I can definitely say that there have been seasons of digging up dirty, pulling up weeds, and excavating the soil - but what has kept me moving forward in moments of difficulty are those haunting (but beautiful) words: The river is coming...

I share this experience with you all because this upcoming year at Dallas College will feel very different. We have a new team, a bigger team, new welcome-week strategies, and a lot of moving parts to help us reach the students of Dallas College. 

I do want to share, however: Even if we still have 20 more years of "pulling up weeds" - that is still valuable work and meaningful ministry. God is, after all, the ultimate gardener and he prepares the way and "...Goes ahead of you..." (Isaiah 45:2) - so - maybe God loves pulling up weeds & excavating the soil to make a way for...the River 👍🏾 🤷🏾‍♂️

I'm so pumped for this year! 

Thank you for your ministry support & for believing in our mission to love college students. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! 

See some photos below for my July update! 

Our 2026-27 Dallas College FOCUS team! from left to right: me (Sirak), Becca, Alex, Jessica, Casey, Lailah, and Nahom. 

I had the privilege of speaking at our FOCUS staff commitments ceremony. We had several FOCUS pastors re-committing to serve on the college campus and it was a special night.  

Becca's mom snapped a picture of us praying together! I'm so so pumped to be on this team! 

Stian (College College Pastor) and I got to speak to a group of students at our Activate Conference. This conference is for group of students who are hoping to learn & engage more with the practicals and "how-to's" of ministry once the year begins. It was so fun & encouraging to get to connect with these students. 

Happy birthday, Anaya! (she turned 3!) 

Our 2026-27 FOCUS Pastors (all of us - across all of our campuses) - we had a great staff retreat and feel energized and prepare for the school year! 

Another picture of staff retreat! 

2026 Summer FOCUS was such a blast. The students we have coming up through our ministries are excited, full of energy, and passionated about Jesus! Please pray for them as we connect with a new group of students this fall. 

Dallas College has hosted a number of freshman student orientation(s). We've been able to connect with new students this summer - please pray for us as we go into the year with an excited group of students to connect with ❤️

Dallas FOCUS retreat staff team pic #1

Dallas FOCUS retreat staff team pic #2

Last but not least...Anaya turned 3! ❤️

When Anaya was born, there were several parents who told me: Enjoy it! It goes by quick... - I'm just now beginning to feel what they meant by that. 

She is no longer a baby...she's a little girl now. I feel so blessed. She loves to play, go on walks, ride her mini-bike, and eat Ice Cream! lol. I feel so blessed to have the life I have - thank you for your support and for believing in our mission to love college students. God is just getting started! "The River is Coming!" 

Let's gooo!

Your brother & campus missionary,

Sirak