3 million and counting: Focus' visitors center celebrates a milestone

The Wiersma family of Westminster stopped by the Focus on the Family Visitors Center on Wednesday, and got a warm welcome.
A really warm welcome.

After the family signed in, Focus employees -- including president and CEO Jim Daly - streamed toward them from all directions carrying balloons and wearing big smiles. Turns out, John and Lisa Wiersma, their three children and a nephew pushed the 15-year-old center past the 3-million-visitors mark.

After receiving six CDs of Focus' "Adventures in Odyssey" show - a favorite of Wiersmas' children- the family had lunch with Daly and senior vice president of operations Kent Kiefer.

The Wiersmas talked to Daly about family matters and the different ways God acts in people's lives.

"What a neat and special man," Lisa Wiersma said of Daly.

The Wiersmas came to the area to visit Focus on the Family and relatives in Manitou Springs. The couple are frequent listeners of James Dobson's "Focus on the Family" radio show and have participated in the Truth Project, a DVD-based group curriculum created by Focus that instructs about living from a biblical perspective.

Since its relocation to Colorado Springs from California in 1991, Focus has drawn visitors from around the world and is one of the big tourist draws in town. Terry Sullivan, president and CEO of Experience Colorado Springs at Pikes Peak, said Focus receives between 250,000 and 300,000 visitors a year. By contrast, the Convention & Visitors Bureau  downtown barely draws 50,000 annually, he said.

After lunch, the Wiersma family spent the afternoon enjoying the Visitors Center sites, such as the Discovery Emporium, sets from Adventures in Odyssey and a play area with a three-story slide.

"This is such a great place," Lisa Wiersma said.
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