When you walk into an unfamiliar mall or shopping center and encounter the large illuminated map, what’s the first thing you look for? That red dot, that says “You are here.”

In a few weeks, Kristie and I will celebrate 19 years in ministry with Campus Crusade for Christ (soon to be Cru)! Wow, that sounds old. There is much to be thankful for. God has taken our meager offering and mustard seed faith and multiplied it to His glory and for His purposes. In February, I will graduate from a Cru leadership development track which was a terrific experience. It bolstered my confidence, affirmed my strengths and helped me navigate weaknesses. Already, there are hints of new possibilities for greater leadership in the ministry.

Over the last 19 years, He has provided financially in ways that defy explanation, yet I feel we are at a crossroads. We are about 40% toward our short-term goal of $1000 in new monthly financial support by the end of January. Our longer-term goal is three times that. Do we continue to persevere with inadequate funds or is God moving us into a new faith journey? We don’t know.

Ethan has a fantastic imagination I think a story is constantly unfolding in his mind. He continues to struggle in school. He takes a medication that does help him focus in class, but it’s not a good long-term solution. Kristie pours hours and hours into him and has for years. He often resists, compounding the problem. She’s weary! So, do we homeschool, have him repeat a grade, or just let some things slide, hoping it will all work out in the end? We really don’t know.

Where are we? Trusting God in the in-between. The map is not as clear as we would like. But we want to be open and ready as we lean into Him for each next right step.

Thanks for praying for our family and our ministry!

Time for what? It is time to pray, seek God’s face, cry out and listen to Him. On October 8–9, several hundred high school students from 10 cities across the nation gathered in Houston for a fast-paced weekend of prayer. One amazing thing God did was bring together the body of Christ to pull off the event. National youth speakers like Greg Speck and Sammy Tippit, as well as musicians, volunteered their time to serve. Churches in the Houston area provided homes for students and Chick-fil-A provided meals. The desire was to bring students to the foot of the cross and pray.

It was an amazing time for students as they entered into communion with God. Here are some highlights:

On the “graffiti praise wall” one student wrote, Thank you for being the Father I always wanted but never had. Some students wrote on rocks as they laid their burdens down on the altar. One rock said, I won’t find anyone that will ever love me for who I am except for God. Another student wrote, I am struggling with having a broken family. I worry about my life.

At many prayer stations, students were able to release sin, unforgiveness, worry, and fear and then be still before the Lord. Students wrote their fears on a card, attached it to a helium balloon, and released the balloon into the air.

One boy shared that he knew about prayer as a Christian but really didn’t know how to pray. This weekend changed that for him.

Please pray that that Lord would protect and provide for the students. Many may face discouragement and defeat from the enemy’s attack. Pray that they would continue to commune with God in prayer now that they are home. Pray for movements of prayer to spring up on their campuses. Pray for revival in their personal lives, at their schools, and in this nation.

Family Stuff

Please continue to pray that we would trust the Lord as we seek Him to provide. We are asking God to raise up up 10-15 new partners ($1,000 per month) by January 31, 2012. This is less than half of what we need to be adequately-funded.

Praising God for the 7 women He’s provided to join with Kristie in prayer as she leads the Mom’s in Touch prayer group for our local elementary school. This is a huge blessing!

To define this year in one word, “loss” comes to mind quickly — small losses and big losses beyond what seems normal. Emotionally, I (Kristie) prepare my heart for more. In it, God is showing me eucharisteo — life-filling gratitude — the practice of which is exercised in recording blessings, one by one. Everything is a blessing, the good and the bad. And yes, I will count all the losses as a blessing too. God is always good! I want to learn this more and for our family be characterized by this.

Thank you for praying. Thank you for giving to the Lord. You are an active part of reaching teenagers and college students with the gospel of Jesus Christ!

We’d like to introduce you to three new design team members! Greg is the Design Director for a Headquarters team called the Lab.

Libby | Senior Staff Member >>> A ten-year staff member, Libby started making cards for friends while assigned to the University of North Texas. One of those friends recognized her talent and suggested that she try graphic design. She started taking design classes and switched to a full-time design role in our Austin regional office. In her spare time, Libby likes to find old junk that can be renovated into something new and beautiful. She also enjoys drawing, photography, typing on a vintage typewriter, city life and a good meal with friends. In August, she transferred to Orlando so she could work in a bigger  creative team environment. “I’m looking forward to working with people who can mentor me and critique my work. Also, the office has a great coffee bar!”

JP | Intern >>> JP,  or James Peter if he’s in big trouble with his mom, grew up in Chicago and graduated from the University of Iowa with a major in Cinema. As a student, he made a new video every week for the UI Cru ministry. Cru played a such vital role in his spiritual growth that he felt compelled to invest himself in the mission.”It seemed silly that I should not give back a year of my life. Working at Headquarters also helps me see Cru in the big picture.” JP is looking forward to the personal and professional growth that the internship program offers, but he’s also excited about a team environment with others who follow Christ. When asked what he misses about Chicago, he says “I love the seasons, it’s messing with me that I should be wearing a sweatshirt in September and it’s still so hot in Orlando!”

Micah | Intern >>> Micah is returning for a second year internship. He graduated from Highline Community College near Seattle, Washington with a Visual communications major. He grew leaps and bounds in his first year and has a humble, teachable heart. He likes the variety of projects that the Lab offers. He particularly enjoyed being able develop and integrate his illustration skills into his graphic design. So what motivated him to return for a second year? “I really like the LAB team. It’s a great place to grow as a designer while making a difference by doing work that contributes to the kingdom of God. In the year ahead, I hope to grow my design skills and grow in my relationship with the Lord.”

Family Stuff

As you may know, I’ve been working on expanding our financial support team this year. Progress has been slow and the reality is that we don’t have the funding we need to sustain us long-term in ministry. If God has a new chapter and a new journey for us, we want to be open and ready to follow. But for now, we are trusting Him in these areas. Will you pray with us?

• We have about a dozen new contacts in the Orlando area. Pray that we would find favor in their eyes and that God would lead many of them to partner financially with us and help us meet new people.
• As a milestone, we are asking God to raise up 10 new partners ($1,000 per month) by January 31, 2012. This is less than half of what we need to be adequately-funded.

Thank you for praying. Thank you for giving to the Lord. You are an active part of reaching teenagers and college students with the gospel of Jesus Christ!

We do have lots to celebrate. Greg and I will be married 18 years August 29. We celebrated 18 and-a-half years as staff members with Campus Crusade for Christ. And, along with 5,000 U.S. Staff at our biennial conference, we celebrated the 60th anniversary of the ministry founded by Bill and Vonette Bright.

We also celebrated the inauguration of a new name for Campus Crusade for Christ. In 2012, Campus Crusade for Christ will become Cru. Cru is not an abbreviation or acronym. It’s use began in the mid-1990s as the nickname for Campus Crusade on college campuses because the full name hindered their ability to reach every student. The decision and process to change the name was a prayerful one that spanned the last two years. At the conference, co-founder Vonette Bright shared with the staff that she and Bill knew the time would come for a name change.

Our mission to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to the four corners of the earth is unchanged and unwavering. Just in the last school year in our middle and high school ministry,194,000 students heard the gospel clearly presented and 12,600 of these students made decisions to follow Jesus.

Much has been said about our name change in the news media. There is more information online at http://www.ccci.org/cru that we hope you will explore. John Piper also posted an article at http://www.desiringgod.org that you may find insightful.

You might be excited about the change or you might have concerns. Either way, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly to ask questions and discuss your thoughts.

Through your prayer and financial support, you are part of reaching teenagers and college students with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you for giving to the Lord through our ministry!

Family Stuff

On the road trip to and from our staff conference, we stopped to see the Alamo, the Grand Canyon and other points of interest.

Hannah and Ethan started school this week at Waterford Elementary. Pray that Hannah would continue to be a light to her friends. She’s extended invitations to several of them to join us at church and we are watching for how God might be at work.

We met with the principal and finalized Ethan’s promotion to second grade. Kristie has concerns about his readiness, but the principal and teacher reassured us he’ll be fine, especially with the supplemental help the school (and Mom) provides. They are so caring and truly want what’s best for him. What a blessing!

Thousands of Staff members exit Moby Arena after a plenary seesion at the Campus Crusade for Christ 2011 U.S. Staff Conference

While studying for a Greek exam, Bill Bright was given a vision that he could be part of helping to fulfill the Great Commission. In 1951, he and his wife Vonette began a strategic ministry of reaching the students attending UCLA with the message of the gospel. This summer, we will celebrate 60 years of this vision being carried out throughout the world!

Kristie and I are in Ft. Collins, Colorado, where around 5,000 USA ministry staff are gathered on the campus of Colorado State University. We are worshipping the Lord together and aligning our vision as we lean in and listen for His voice. Please pray that God’s wisdom and direction would be poured out freely!

New Name, Same Mission

The announcement was made last week and word spread around the globe within seconds. Our ministry was even “trending” on Twitter Tuesday night. After a great deal of prayer, study, research, and creative problem solving we landed on a new name for our 60 year old ministry. Campus Crusade for Christ will become Cru. The bottom line is that a new name will help us more effectively take the gospel of Jesus Christ to people who do not know or follow Him. To explore questions and answers to our process and the changing of our name, visit www.ccci.org.

This generation of college and high school students is more media oriented than ever. Yet people with the creative talent to use media to communicate the gospel to students is rare in vocational ministry.

So when God calls people with creative talent and skills to Campus Crusade for Christ, it’s a special thing! Because there are so few of us spread around the country on various assignments, often we experience isolation.

In April, over 30 of us gathered in Orlando at the Campus Crusade for Christ World Headquarters for a special 3-day mini-conference to meet and spur each other on.

Greg taught the group about a workflow that has helped his team move a project from an idea into a finished product. We also heard from a former Campus Crusade Staff member who is now a consultant and a professor at the Art Institute of Chicago. He shared design problem-solving strategies used in the industry.

“[Greg] has already created this type of environment for our team and it makes me feel more open and willing to share thoughts and ideas.”
— Amanda, conference participant responding to Greg’s message

Many of us had never met the other designers and filmmakers working on other regional U.S. teams. The guild was an exciting opportunity to showcase our work and encourage each other.

Family Stuff

• Praise God for an encouraging meeting with our principal and teacher and how they have Ethan’s best interest at heart. I sense that God has us exactly where He wants us to be for this season.
• As the school year comes to an end, we are preparing for a month of “home summer school.” Pray for joyful hearts for Ethan and Kristie as they work (partially on the road as we travel). Ask God to build into our hearts and character, molding us more and more into His image each day. Pray that we would be responsive to His work in us.
• Pray with us that God would continue to supply our needs as we trust Him to provide for our summer conference expenses and our ongoing ministry. Pray He would raise up new friends to partner with us.

Erin couldn’t help but listen in. This was was supposed to be a group training seminar on how to share the gospel, but a girl in the seat in front of her was weeping. Erin was at the Florida Fastbreak, one of nine regional conference events for high school students hosted by Student Venture.

Daniel, a college student volunteer, quietly came over to see what was wrong. The girl’s name was Sandra, and although she had a church background, she had never understood that God so deeply loved her that He sent Jesus to pay the penalty for every wrong thing she ever said, thought or did through His death on the cross.

She was overwhelmed.

Stacey, a teacher-volunteer, leaned in and asked Erin if Sandra was ok. Erin responded, “I’m just listening to what they’re saying. I’m in the same boat as this girl!” On the last night of the conference, both Erin and Sandra made the decision to place their faith in Christ as their Savior and Lord.

Isn’t it amazing how God arranges people, places and times for people to hear about His great love and grace? At the Florida FastBreak conference, 21 students became followers of Jesus.

Through your prayer and financial support, you are part of reaching middle school, high school and college students with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you for giving to the Lord through our ministry!

Family Stuff…

• Praise God for the faithful partners He has given us. We are so thankful for you!
• We are thankful to God that Ethan is to the point where he’s learning basketball with the YMCA developmental league. It is so fun to see him playing with other kids. He’s definitely not a “star” in the world’s eyes, but he’s out there working hard and we’re thrilled to see him bouncing a ball.
• Please pray for several neighbors and parents from school who Kristie has begun spiritual conversations with. God is at work in these ladies hearts!
• Please pray for the 10 or so women Kristie is giving the “Story of Jesus for Children” — The Jesus Film — to this week. All of these women are on a spiritual journey and I’m praying this will help each of them and their families discover Truth.

Panama City Beach, Florida is the stateside gathering place for college students on spring break. Thousands will flock to the sugary white sandy beaches to party day and night throughout the month of March.

Going to where lost people are is in Campus Crusade for Christ’s DNA. So in the midst of this party atmosphere is Big Break, a one-week mission experience that gathers students from colleges and universities from all over the country. Students spend the week growing in their walks with God, exploring biblical truths and learning how to talk to their friends about their faith. Each day, students hit the beach and share the gospel with other students.

Greg’s team created all the “Get Salty” (Matthew 5:13-16) theme graphics and materials for the four one-week events. Please pray that the love and truth of Jesus will be boldly proclaimed each week! In one day alone, students had 1,787 spiritual conversations and shared the gospel 542 times. Twenty-seven people placed their faith in Jesus!

This is the graphic look that is applied to all the conference materials, signage and video. In case you’re wondering, that’s a salt-shaker in the fish’s mouth!

Family Stuff

• Ethan’s extended EEG came back normal which means he is not experiencing absence seizures. This is good news, but we’re no less puzzled about what’s going on with our little guy. Please pray for continued wisdom and discernment for what the next steps should be.



• Greg was one of 22 people at Campus Crusade for Christ’s headquarters selected for a special one-year leadership development track. Please pray that he will be open, humble and ready for what God has for him on this journey!

Through your prayer and financial support, you are part of reaching middle school, high school and college students with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you for giving to the Lord through our ministry!

Clusters of teenagers came tumbling into the quiet church youth room from the gym. With them came noise and energy that brought the room to life. Settling them down, Danny, the youth pastor announced that there was a special guest speaker as part of the Cypress Church’s missions week emphasis.

Three time zones away at our home in Orlando, Kristie skimmed her notes a final time as she prepared to speak about God’s passion for lost people. Then, like a scene out of Star Trek, Kristie’s face flashed live up on the screen in the youth room via internet video chat!

Kristie engaged with the group right away asking rapid fire questions that had the room buzzing. A camera gave her a view of the audience of middle and high schoolers. The kids had fun walking up to the camera to answer questions. Kristie went on to teach about God’s love and passion for those who are spiritually lost from Jesus’s parables of the lost sheep, lost coin and lost son in Luke 15.

She also cast a vision for reaching their campuses for Christ.

“My prayer is that there is a unique application for them wherever each student is in their spiritual journey. Perhaps a student understands God’s great love for them in a new way, or perhaps God is calling one or two of them to leave a spiritual legacy on their campuses. I’d love to coach them in leading an outreach at their schools.”

The session ended with prayer for spiritually lost friends God placed on their hearts and minds. As a tangible reminder to pray, they wrote their friends names on smooth stones.

Through your prayer and financial support, you are part of reaching middle school, high school and college students with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you for giving to the Lord through our ministry!

Family News

Remembrance: In January, Greg’s grandmother, Corinne Wight, passed away unexpectedly. Her home-going is bitter-sweet as we will miss her presence but know she is with the Lord. Please remember our family as we grieve the loss of our dear mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and sister.

• February 21, Ethan will undergo a 24–48 hour EEG at Arnold Palmer Children’s hospital in Orlando. The EEG could detect momentary seizure activity which is difficult to catch. Something is going on with our little guy, and affecting his ability to learn, remember and function independently. Would you ask the Lord to reveal any activity if it exists? Pray too, as he and Kristie are in a little room, and on a bed for up to 48 hours, that they will have fun and not go crazy!
• Ethan learned to ride a two-wheeler bike! Greg worked so hard with him before his California trip. It requires so many skills that come hard for him: balance, reaction time, eye coordination and muscle strength. Celebrate with us!

NOTE: Our March email mistakenly linked to this post. Click here to read our March Ministry Update.

What does every winning team need to succeed? Motivation is among the essential ingredients. Delivering a motivational talk is a way Staff and volunteers the can serve a high school coach, opening doors to share the grace and truth of Jesus Christ with the team. Marty and Jael Boeschling, Staff in San Diego, write about a recent example.

A few weeks ago, Marty had the opportunity to speak in front of almost all the freshman football team. Those who chose to stay heard about the “Ingredients of a Champion: Desire, Discipline, and Dedication”. Marty shared with them how they could use those three ingredients not only on the field, but also in the classroom, their relationships, and in all of life.

Then the players heard from the starting quarterback of the Varsity team as he shared how Student Venture has helped him develop in those areas as well.

Marty then invited the players to attend a follow-up pizza party a few days later. There, he shared with the players openly about how they have the opportunity to become a true champion — in a relationship with God that is only through Jesus Christ.

Ben, a student whose heart was recaptured by God through a serious motorcycle accident, also shared his testimony with the players, and two of the players indicated that they prayed to receive Christ that night. Since then, Marty has begun a bible study with many of these players.

Through your prayer and financial support, you are part of reaching middle school, high school and college students with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you for giving to the Lord through our ministry!

Family News

In December, we rode the West Orange Trail, a rails to trails recreational path in Orlando. From the trail head, we rode to the 10 mile marker and back. Hannah rode the whole way while Ethan, who is just learning to ride a two-wheeler, rode first-class in a bike trailer.

• Greg will be in Orange County later this month (Jan. 23–30) to participate in Cypress Church’s missions week. His cell # is 321-278-9350 if you would like to connect with him.
• I want our family to be one marked by joy in all things. Too often, starting with me (Greg), attitudes in our family are shaped by our immediate circumstances, be they good or bad, rather than the eternal perspective that God is good and works all things together for our good. Would you pray for us in this regard?