Presenting Our Partners: City in Focus

City in Focus is a Christian faith-based organization located in the heart of Vancouver. It was born 25 years ago with the vision of one chaplain who desired to care for the people of the city by connecting them to the Christian faith. Today, they exit to nurture the soul of Vancouver. The organization’s mission statement says it best:

Beyond the economic, political and social fabric there is another strand in the city – the spiritual. City in Focus exists to serve the spiritual needs of Vancouver through compassion, conversation and connection. We believe that this mission goes beyond boundaries of age, denomination, faith, gender, ethnic and social status. With that in mind, we care for soul of the city by reaching out and providing resources to the individual, the social group, the racial group and the age group. We develop relationships with business leaders and connect them with ministries serving the community of Vancouver.

Their vision is to network people with churches and non-profit organizations to facilitate group events and retreats that foster discussion on spiritual and social issues. They are a catalyst for inter-church connection and philanthropic collaboration. By joining the City of Vancouver with Christian ministries, they prepare change-makers to tackle social issues with complex needs and solutions.

The organization has a lot planned for the coming months. City in Focus will be hosting a breakfast in September on faith and politics with the MLA, MP and Senators. They will also be doing an event or Mental Health Month in BC on the topic of Trauma and Faith. City in Focus will continue to care for the soul of the city of Vancouver through 2017 and beyond.

As far as what drives City in Focus to do the work they do, it is “love of people, faith in a loving God, and a sense of purpose that again and again is affirmed by those we care for and serve,” says Tom Cooper, Executive Director of City in Focus.

“Anyone who lives or works in the province [of BC] who is interested in the pilgrimage of faith and trying to understand how faith and work and life intersect” can benefit from City in Focus’ work, says Cooper.