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!