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!

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.

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?

Greg and his team are really excited about the completion of a big project that’s been over a year in the making! Our publishing team did the perfect write-up and I’m reposting it here…

“The worldview of the average student grows increasingly irrational, abstract, and eclectic. And most of the time, they don’t even know it. This combination (non-biblical worldview plus lack of self-awareness) can be a huge barrier to the gospel. How can we overcome this obstacle in order to communicate the gospel clearly and effectively?

“Imagine a new evangelism tool: a deck of playing cards addressing the issue of worldview, turning this evangelism obstacle into an open door for the gospel. That is the beauty of Perspective.

“Perspective provides a disarming approach to a spiritual conversation, allowing others to share their perspective about five important topics: Nature of God, Human Nature, Meaning of Life, Identity of Jesus, and Source of Spiritual Truth. In each category, participants choose the card that best represents what they believe, and then they tell you why they believe it.

“Perspective allows you to come alongside others in their spiritual journey. And, as you ask questions and listen well, you’ll find an abundance of opportunities to talk about Jesus, share your perspective, and invite others to respond to the gospel.”

Imagine the thousands of conversations that will take place over a deck of Perspective cards! Your prayer and financial partnership has enabled Greg to contribute art direction and conceptual development to this exciting new tool that will point students to Christ. Thank you!!!

• Purchase a deck!
• perspectivecards.com

Family News

Ethan recently became a Cub Scout and he loves it! Here he is selling popcorn at WalMart to raise money for the pack. Greg also took him on his first scout campout and he had a blast launching soda bottle rockets, firing a giant sling shot and shooting targets on a Nerf gun range.

Prayer Requests

• We thank God for the two friends Hannah has made in her class. Thanks for praying. We’re thankful that she is not afraid and freely tells her friends at school about her relationship with the Lord. May God protect her sweet, faithful, honest, loving, God-fearing, hard-working heart.
• Kristie feels beyond herself between almost daily insurance fiascos and Ethan’ s ongoing home-therapies and homework. Please pray for her to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit and trust God. “I feel very frustrated and impatient. This is not from the Lord. The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. May God give me the strength to walk in his perfect design, desire and promises for me.”
• God has set before us several challenges. May He give us the ability to walk though them with an eternal perspective and our eyes focused on Him, not the circumstances.

Thank you for praying for our time at Student Venture’s National Staff Conference, Lift 2010. Over 200 Staff gathered near Asheville, North Carolina for six days of vision and team-building. We experienced our first long road trip with the kids and they were champs. We all loved listening to Adventures in Odyssey and The Chronicles of Narnia audio dramas. Plus, the view out the window was gorgeous; we don’t get to see mountains in Florida.

Kristie helped coordinate the kids camp for the Staff children so moms and dads could participate in the event. Much of our conference time focused on Student Venture’s three national priorities to reach every teenager for Christ — launching new ministries, multiplying established ministries and involving new people in ministry. About two-thirds of the Orlando National Office Team gathered for the pic below.

This is the first time we’ve brought Hannah and Ethan to a national conference and they loved it! Each day at breakfast and dinner Hannah asked, “Can we go to kid’s camp now?” We’re glad the kids enjoyed it so much while learning more about Jesus too!

New Staff report to Orlando

Greg is welcoming six new Staff (five of whom are in Orlando on a special one-year assignment). He’s been preparing their workspace and is eager to welcome them. One of them is a man with Korea Campus Crusade for Christ who will learn all he can from Greg’s team so he can build a similar multimedia team in his home country.

Family Stuff

• Hannah and Ethan began school August 23. Hannah loves school and homework and is a sweet girl to have in class. Ethan is less excited about school, but has a good time. He seems to have a great teacher and we appreciate her communication with us. Ethan made great strides over the summer and can now write! We are proud of his accomplishments!
• Please pray that God would continue to give us wisdom in helping Ethan succeed. Pray for his eyes to strengthen and that his auditory processing abilities would improve. Please pray that he would see himself as an image-bearer of God and that his struggles and frustrations would not cause anger in his heart. May he have a loving, tender desire to walk with the Lord all the days of his life
• We’re thankful for Hannah and Ethan’s friends outside of school. Please pray each of them would have one special friend at school too.

Thank you for your partnership in ministry with us!

Unstoppable and Unafraid is the theme for this summer’s student Getaway Conference. Based on Isaiah 6:1-8 — “Look. This coal has touched your lips. Gone your guilt, your sins wiped out.” And then I heard the voice of the Master: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” I spoke up, “I’ll go. Send me!” (The Message)

These six days are more than a conference, they are a time of equipping, training, and life-changing messages to prepare students to walk with God, explore Biblical truths and learn how to talk to friends about their personal faith. Over 600 students from east of the Mississippi gathered in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Youth speaker James White addressed the topics of Finishing after Failing and The Freedom we have in Christ. On the beach, students found ways of attracting attention. After doing crazy sand battles and tug-of-war, they took the initiative in the power of the Holy Spirit to share Christ, leaving the results to God.

Students were challenged to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Several students decided to go on a Student Venture International Spring or Summer mission project next year.

To hear the amazing speakers, student testimonies and fun music from 10th Avenue North, visit www.svorlando.com.

Family Stuff

• Greg and Hannah are ministering in the Dominican Republic June 26 through July 2. Because this is so far outside her life experience, Hannah is a bit nervous about the trip. Pray for safe journeys and good health.
• We continue to go round and round with insurance regarding one of Ethan’s therapies. We hear, “yes” and then, “no”. This is a huge emotional drain on Kristie who is exercising all due diligence in pursuing the process.
• Pray for wisdom regarding Ethan’s schooling. Praying through what will be best for him next year and waiting for the Lord’s leading. In the meantime, doing much school work over the summer.

After donning stylish hair nets and a thourough application of hand sanitizer, our group of volunteers took their places. Moments later, the line of tables covered with bins of rice, dried vegetables and seasonings became an efficient food packaging assembly line for Haiti relief.

As the relief and development aid arm of Campus Crusade for Christ International, the ministry of Global Aid Network spans the globe helping to meet physical needs in areas of poverty and despair and providing hope through evangelistic outreach. At the CCC Headquarters, our family participated in packaging 103,999 meals in one afternoon!

Family Stuff

• Greg and Hannah’s short-term mission to the Dominican Republic with our church is fully funded! We will be in country June 26 through July 1.
• We *think* we have the situation resolved with our insurace to cover one of Ethan’s therapies.

Going into high school is different for everyone. Most are worried about their grades, but a few are mostly thinking about alcohol and drugs. And I was part of that few.

You never heard about grades or teachers when I spoke about high school, all you heard about was the parties and who got the most wasted.

Most people think it’s cool to drink and smoke, but they only think that because they don’t know how else to have fun. Well, my fun for the fall semester was Student Venture with my friends and people who actually cared about my future. Going into high school I didn’t think that Student Venture could make that big of a difference, but it truly did. I have made a lot of new friends and grown even closer to my old friends.

But Student Venture has changed my relationship drastically with one person — God. I didn’t really have a connection with him before Student Venture, but now I have gotten closer and closer to him and I have fallen more and more in love with him. Student Venture has taught me many things, but if I had to pick the most important thing that it has changed, it is that when I can’t depend on anyone else, God is always there and he always will be. There is truly only one person I can be myself around and that is God.

Before Student Venture I had never opened a Bible, but now I have found my favorite verse, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me.” John 14:1

— Makenzie

Makenzie’s story was passed on to us from the SV Atlanta team. Your prayer and financial support is helping to reach teens like Makenzie all across the country and around the world! Thank you!

Family Stuff

• We are still praying for wisdom and timing for a 2 ½ day EEG (brain wave scan) for Ethan to check for absence seizure activity. The test requires him to stay at the hospital for the duration.
• We are still in the appeal process with our health insurance for coverage of local OT for Ethan. (therapy to develop fine motor skills). We’re only covered for a therapist who is “in-network” but too far away to be practical. He has been out of OT for five weeks.
• We are thankful to see slow but steady progress with Ethan’s vision therapy.
• Greg and Hannah are preparing for a short-term mission to Barahona, Dominican Republic in June with our local church. This is an exciting opportunity for Greg and Hannah to love and serve orphaned and destitute children together. Please pray that Hannah will grow in her heart for the lost, that God will provide the funds to cover the trip, and that the fruit of the Spirit would radiate from them as they prepare and go.

Ever since Caleb, a high-school sophomore in Jacksonville, Florida, went to FastBreak, he has been reading his Bible every night. He deeply wants to be a man that God can use on his campus and in his family.

Recently, when Caleb’s 25-year-old sister, Alexis, was visiting from Georgia, she stepped in his room at 11:30 on a Saturday night and found Caleb reading his Bible. She had questions about what he was reading, which led to a great conversation. Caleb found himself saying to Alexis, “the words in the Bible aren’t going to make much sense if you don’t first become a Christian.” He had a Knowing God Personally booklet by his bed and said, “Let me show you something.” As he read the booklet to her, page by page, God opened her eyes and her heart to what Jesus said in the Bible. Alexis prayed to receive Christ with her little brother that Saturday night and began the most meaningful relationship she will ever experience in her life.

This experience has encouraged Caleb in his walk with God and he shared about it to all his friends at a Student Venture meeting. Caleb’s heart’s desire is to be a man that God can use for His glory, and because of Student Venture he has the faith and the tools to make that happen.

Family Stuff

• So grateful for our daughter, Hannah, who turns 8 on March 18th. What a delight she is. She is growing into a precious little girl with a sweet heart for the Lord. It is wonderful to see her be herself among public school friends and share her heart for the Lord without realizing that many people would be trembling to say what she says.
• Praying for wisdom and timing for a 2.5 day EEG (brain wave scan) for Ethan. We’re trying to catch absence seizure activity. These are tricky to catch. Logistics of this testing seems quite challenging, along with being confined to a bed for 2 days.
• Praising God that our insurance will cover 30 sessions for Ethan’s Vision Therapy. Please pray his eyes will learn to work together. He is seeing double, not only with both eyes, but in his up-close single eye vision. Pray that God would use this therapy to work though many struggles we are dealing with.
• Pray for perseverance, as we need to get Ethan back in OT (therapy to develop fine motor skills). There are always many insurance battles to fight and it can become very overwhelming and defeating. Pray too, that Kristie can be a creative and loving OT in the meantime. We are praying that Ethan would be able to write clearly by this July 2010.