Seeing Our Neighbors Clearly – Rev. Matthews’ Story

How connection, dignity, and hope take root through FOCUS

A Place Where Faith and Community Meet

For Rev. Jeffrey Matthews, FOCUS is more than just an organization. It’s a place where faith, community, and daily life connect in meaningful ways.

Rev. Mathews is a retired United Methodist pastor who served Trinity United Methodist Church in Albany from 2008 to 2021. Trinity was one of the founding member churches of FOCUS, and through his years of ministry there, Rev. Mathews came to know FOCUS not only as a partner in outreach but as a living expression of what it means to be a good neighbor.

“I had always heard of FOCUS,” he recalls. “But it wasn’t until I was at Trinity that I really understood what it was about, and got excited about being involved.”

Like many clergy in FOCUS member churches, Rev. Mathews’ involvement began as part of his role as pastor. Over time, that involvement evolved and he served on committees, joined the board, and for his final four years before retirement, served as board president. What kept him engaged was not just the work itself, but the spirit behind it.

More Than Outreach: Getting to Know Our Neighbors

“One of the things I have really appreciated about FOCUS is that it’s not only an outreach to the community,” he says. “It gives people from the churches the opportunity to get to know their neighbors in the community, people we might never really know otherwise.”

People often talk about FOCUS programs like the Breakfast Club and Food Pantry by listing the services they offer. For Rev. Mathews, the real impact is in the relationships these programs create. In these shared spaces, people who might never meet otherwise can talk and start to see each other in new ways.

“FOCUS gives people the chance to really see their neighbors, not just pass them on the street,” he says.

A Supportive Place For Volunteers

That chance is important not just for guests but also for volunteers. Rev. Mathews knows that starting this kind of work can feel intimidating for some. He believes FOCUS creates a supportive place where people can learn and grow together.

“It’s a safe space,” he says. “People are not doing this by themselves. They’re together, and that makes it possible to encounter one another with a little more openness and trust.”

Leading with Dignity and Trust

Dignity is at the center of that trust. Rev. Mathews talks about the difference between helping with humility and helping with judgment. Too often, people who get help are made to feel small or unworthy. FOCUS aims to do things differently.

“It’s not just, ‘Come here and receive our charity,’” he says. “It’s, ‘Come here and be our neighbor.’”

A Christmas Morning Moment

One moment stands out for Rev. Mathews. On Christmas morning, he volunteered at the Breakfast Club so regular volunteers could be home for the holiday. While talking with guests, he met a man who brought his two young children.

“I remember just sitting with them and talking about Christmas,” he says. “It didn’t need to be anything big. I just wanted it to feel like we were welcome in each other’s presence.”

For Rev. Mathews, that quiet moment of connection is what FOCUS does best. It makes space where people can feel seen, welcomed, and valued, even when times are hard.

Growing and Adapting with the Community

Over the years, Rev. Mathews has seen FOCUS change as the community’s needs have changed. It started with street ministry, then added programs like the food pantry and breakfast program, and built partnerships with other faiths and groups. He sees FOCUS as an organization that listens, adapts, and stays true to its purpose.

If FOCUS were no longer part of the Capital Region, he believes something essential would be lost.

“It would be a good neighbor missing,” he says. “A kind and caring presence in the community.”

A Hope Shared with Others

When asked what he hopes his own giving and volunteering have contributed, his answer is simple and hopeful.

“I hope my giving and volunteering make a neighbor’s life a little easier, a little more meaningful, and a little more hopeful.”

For Rev. Mathews, that hope is at the heart of FOCUS. It is a place where people come together, not to fix everything, but to do what they can. They serve and are served. They get to know each other as neighbors. In doing this, they help build a more caring and connected community for everyone.