The International Ministry is also known as FOCUS (Friendship Ministry to International Students, Scholars & their Families).
As one of the intellectual and educational centers of the world, Boston is blessed to welcome tens of thousands of international scholars each year to its colleges, universities and research hospitals.
FOCUS offers friendship and faith-based service and opportunities to international students, scholars and their families. The ministry comprises a network of interrelated activities that began at Park Street Church more than 30 years ago.
FOCUS serves current and future leaders in various fields who have come to Boston for study and research. We offer a wide variety of fellowship, social and learning opportunities, regardless of religious background or church affiliation. Our events provide fun and helpful ways of developing cross-cultural friendships, enriching both internationals and their stateside hosts.
While FOCUS works specifically with Boston-area international students and scholars, our wider Ministry to Internationals also works to respond to émigrés' unique spiritual challenges when seeking to establish a new life in the US, or when joining the community of faith in Boston and at Park Street. We particularly enjoy offering arenas of Christian service which utilize internationals' specific gifts and unique backgrounds. Over 60 countries are currently represented at Park Street. The Ministry to Internationals promotes the diverse and cosmopolitan character of our church - in order that we might increasingly become a "house of prayer for all nations".
