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100 Fold | EP 05 - Building a Faithful Legacy | Curtis and Michaelann Martin

100 Fold | Shalom World

Host Peter Karutz interviews Curtis and Michaelann Martin, the co-founders of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS). The couple shares their inspiring journey of faith, with Curtis starting as a prodigal son who found Christ while reading the Bible, leading him back to the Catholic Church and embracing a missionary calling. Meanwhile, Michaelann recounts her personal encounter with Jesus in an evangelical group during her time at a Protestant college. Both inspired by Pope Saint John Paul II's call to be soldiers for the Gospel and supported by Archbishop Chaput, they founded FOCUS in 1998, which has since grown exponentially, impacting thousands of college students through on-campus outreach, discipleship, and mission trips. Despite facing challenges and setbacks, Curtis and Michaelann remain dedicated to their mission, witnessing the importance of authentic Catholic family life along the way. They share how they've weathered difficulties, including miscarriages and raising a large family, with unshakable faith and trust in God's providence. Looking ahead, FOCUS aims to continue expanding its impact, hiring more than 200 new missionaries in the upcoming year alone, and encouraging others to join their mission in reaching young people and renewing the Church. Episode Breakdown: * 01:30 - Curtis and Michaelann Martin * 02:45 - Prodigal Son Rediscovers Christ * 04:30 - Michaelann's Encounter with Jesus * 06:15 - Inspiration from Pope Saint John Paul II * 08:30 - Founding of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) * 12:00 - FOCUS's Growth and Impact * 15:00 - Witnessing the Importance of Authentic Catholic Family Life * 16:30 - Overcoming Challenges with Faith  100Fold, hosted by Peter Karutz, is a series that unfolds inspiring, untold stories of ministry founders and leaders who gave their all, overcame setbacks, and continued in their journey to reap a hundredfold because of their commitment, zeal, their perseverance, and their love for the Lord and Church. Shalom World: https://www.shalomworld.org Support us: https://shalomworld.org/donate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shalomworldpodcasts/  FOCUS: https://focus.org/