FOCUS is six covenant churches, four faith affiliates, and two faith partners, doing together what we cannot do alone. United in a common calling to respond to our neighbor's needs in the city of Albany and beyond, as God's servant people in a broken and hurting world.
spring/summer 2018
The Board of Dirctors of the FOCUS Churches of Albany is pleased to introduce the Rev. Renee Hollinshed as our Interim Executive Director.
Rev. Renee recently moved 3,500 miles from Seattle to Albany where she was called as a part-time pastor to the Sojourner Truth AME Zion Church. In her spare time here, Rev. Renee came
with her husband, Randolph, to FOCUS as a volunteer in the Breakfast Club where their gifts for justice and service were quickly put to work!
Most recently, Rev. Renee lived and worked in Seattle, Washington. For most of her career, Rev. Renee was a respected Paralegal, working for various law firms, law schools and judges. In this capacity, she worked closely with an attorney who convinced her that her heart was to serve. So Rev. Renee became an active member of the University Rotary Club in Seattle helping to write grants and working on behalf of the homeless there. She also helped to raise money for those in need of clean water in Africa and equipment for the disabled in the Philippines. While in Seattle, Rev. Renee also pursued a Masters degree in Psychology and began work as a Mental Health Clinician. In 2016, she became the Alumni Director for the same organization she had worked for as a Clinician.
In addition to her husband of 30 years, Rev. Renee has three children, 6 adopted children and 10 grandchildren. The children have all left the nest, so Rev. Renee and her husband enjoy the freedom of living (and traveling) in their RV, now located in nearby Catskill. She loves the freedom of this lifestyle and is humbled by the favor of God in her life.
Are You Called to Volunteer? Here are several volunteer opportunities at FOCUS: Contact Belinda for more information or to sign up now for any of these: belindaq@focuschurches.net/518-443-0460
· CURRENT: Sandwich Maker on Mondays 10-11 am.
· CURRENT: FOCUS is in great need of pro bono assistance with Microsoft Access/SQL programming to update and improve our MSAccess data base. If you have deep
knowledge of Access and think you can help,
please contact Judy Henningson at 518-443-0460.
· JUNE/GARDENING IN A BUCKET
Volunteers sought for this fun community project for youth scheduled for weekdays throughout the month of June.
Most recently, Rev. Renee lived and worked in Seattle, Washington. For most of her career, Rev. Renee was a respected Paralegal, working for various law firms, law schools and judges. In this capacity, she worked closely with an attorney who convinced her that her heart was to serve. So Rev. Renee became an active member of the University Rotary Club in Seattle helping to write grants and working on behalf of the homeless there. She also helped to raise money for those in need of clean water in Africa and equipment for the disabled in the Philippines. While in Seattle, Rev. Renee also pursued a Masters degree in Psychology and began work as a Mental Health Clinician. In 2016, she became the Alumni Director for the same organization she had worked for as a Clinician.
