InFocus Ministries

Before Christ:

I was always searching for approval…growing up with two parents who loved me, but a Dad who struggled to show it to his wife and children. I was starving for his approval most of my childhood…therefore always looking to please him by succeeding…trying to be perfect at everything I did. I guess you could say I became an achievement junkie. All my peace and hope was sought in “circumstance”. What a rollercoaster ride it was. I worried so much about just everything. I was so dependent on the praise of others. On the outside, things may have looked okay because I did so “well” by the world’s standards, but inside I was empty, hurting and lonely.

How I met Christ:

I believe the most painful and shameful memory of my life is what drew me to my knees to accept Christ as my Lord and Savior. I went off to community college in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho on a basketball scholarship. There I met Vic, now my husband of almost 15 years. Unfortunately it is not a story you would want for any of your children…nor mine, but it is what it is and God has redeemed our lives. Vic was married and my coach. I was drawn to him, looking for that “male approval and encouragement” and the bottom-line is that this led to ripping a part a family.

After transferring to another community college,Vic divorcing his wife and relocating as well, I was offered a scholarship to Seattle Pacific University and much financial aide. As it seemed to be the only door open, I was on my way to a school that I was petrified to go to….I thought it was going to be “halo land” and I was so ashamed of what had happened with Vic that I thought for sure I would not fit in…I was in bondage and total fear. God blessed me with a roommate completely unlike me in any way in regards to interests, personality etc…and she had the Lord in her life. I kept waiting for her to get mad at me and tell me I was “bad” or hit me over the head with the Bible. However, she obviously knew I was blind and did not have the Savior….so she loved me with His love…gave me a Bible, underlined verses….and was available to talk, answer questions and build relationship.

That year, as Vic shared in his testimony, we both accepted Christ. I was surrounded by people who loved me…protected from any Pharisee-types and I wanted the Truth to be in my life. When I heard a pastor speak from Alabama…I wanted what he had and I said yes to Jesus. At that moment I began to experience the forgiveness of my sins and a freedom and joy filled my heart. I don’t know if I really had a clear understanding of everything it was to “be a Christian”, but I knew I needed forgiveness of my sins and I knew in my heart what the pastor was saying about God was true.

Since accepting Christ:

Vic and I married and moved to Friday Harbor after I graduated from college…actually, Vic already had a teaching job on the island. I just came to join him after completing school and getting married in July of ’92. For the first time we shared life together in a church as brand new Christians. It was very exciting and I was so grateful for this time in our lives. I would say that I still was depending a lot on emotions and feelings in my walk and I had not yet been discipled….or didn’t even know what that was.

After about 4 years into our marriage, we stopped putting Christ first and slowly isolation crept in…we backslid into carnality and the Bibles were getting dusty. I started experiencing disillusionment and second guessing our marriage. I opened the door to Satan to come in with all those “doubts”…you should have never gotten married…it wasn’t right in the first place…wouldn’t it just be easier to drop this…wouldn’t it be better with another man….ALL these lies straight from the pit of hell!

God used my sister-in-law to intervene, challenging my decision to leave, which Vic shares in his testimony. My step daughter also was used by God when I asked her how she was doing. She said, “my life feels like a soap opera…first everything happened with you and my Dad, but then you moved to Washington and things settled down again…and then you accepted Christ and things were different Mo, so no, I don’t understand why it can’t work”. She was 15 years old at the time.

God confronted me as I was drifting away from Him in outright rebellion…He confronted me with the light of His word and the conviction of His Holy Spirit and He used my sister-in-law and step-daughter to do this…and of course the prayers of MANY from Wa to Ca. I reached a point of complete brokenness and desired to come back home to God.

Our lives have not been the same since…that was almost 10 years ago. God has made beauty out of ashes in our lives…literally…and He offers this to anyone who will come and drink of the living water. My sister-law flew up to the island and started a nine week one-to-one discipleship with me…and Vic did this same thing with his brother. God used this to rock our world for Him, setting us on a firm foundation. Since this crisis, we have had a passion for marriage ministry and discipleship (we believe they go hand in hand…and also are open to discipling anyone..not just married couples).

We have been in small group men’s/women’s Bible studies with our church…but our greatest passion is small group marriage Bible studies and meeting couple to couple. We are passionate about the resurrection power of Jesus Christ in marriage.

Contact Us
Vic and Monique Woodward
P.O. Box 3092
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
360.378.8435
360.298.1138 cell