The Jesus Film, a Cru Resource, has been translated into over 1100 languages and been shown to billions of people around the world. The film has become a foundational tool in planting new churches in the remotest places on earth. What if we could take all these language translations and re-interpret the film’s dated visual look to reach the You-Tube generation?

It’s called My Last Day. It’s an innovative way to reach a new generation of seekers. The genre is called animé (Japanese animation). Our colleagues on The Jesus Film Project team worked with respected animé artists in Japan to create a nine minute short film about the crucifixion of Jesus. Animé is known for tackling difficult themes which sometimes include graphic violence.

Warning: this film contains realistic depictions of the ancient Roman form of execution called crucifixion. The intended audience is teenagers and older.

For more resources, visit www.mylastdaymovie.com. The site makes it easy to share the film on Facebook or your blog in 29 languages! You can also download it for your iPad or smart phone.

Big Break Update

Last month we asked you to pray for the Big Break outreach conference for college students in Panama City Beach, Florida. Many students were trained to share their faith in Christ. As a result, when the students hit the beach, 14,317 were able to initiate conversations abot spiritual things. There were 5,758 conversations where the gospel message was shared resulting in 420 choosing to follow Christ! Another 1,282 people made the wonderful discovery of the spirit-filled life as students shared the Satisfied booklet with them. Seeds have been planted. Pray for the hearts of many to be good soil which bear Kingdom fruit.

Family Stuff

Greg is traveling May 1–10. We are praying he will meet many families and individuals who will share in our passion of reaching young people for Christ and join our ministry team prayerfully and financially. Pray too, for Kristie as she manages the kids alone during these 10 days.

We are seeking 30-60 prayer warriors to pray with us during the month of May. If you would like to pray for us, visit www.signupgenius.com to select a specific day and time.

Thank you for your partnership to reach students with the good news of Jesus!

In September 1984, I met a compassionate, red-headed woman who taught algebra. Originally, I was on the road to nowhere when it came to numbers. Mrs. Stough believed in me and met me every day for over a month at lunch. A love for math was ignited!

By the middle of my freshman year, I was one of the top Algebra students. My geometry math teacher nominated me as Los Alamitos High School Student of the Month, and I was selected. I loved school and I knew I wanted to teach high school math as a career!

I applied for and was awarded a $20,000 college scholarship. That may not seem like much now, but it more than covered four years at UC Irvine.

Time to fast forward. My college years were ones of spiritual growth. I weekly volunteered in my church’s middle and high school youth groups. While immersing myself in numbers at UCI, I loved my weekly, on campus discipleship group, where I was nurtured, pruned and challenged in my walk with Christ. Here I first learned to share my faith. My heart continued beating for young people, but now, not only for their math skills, but also for their heart for God.

One day a friend shared with me what her younger brother was doing on his high school campus. It sounded much like our campus ministry at UCI. Wow! Over the past few years, I was considering more how I could do campus youth ministry full time.

I continued tutoring math eight hours a week and taking math courses. I had two opportunities to work in the math department at LAHS, and at a nearby middle school. How surreal it was sitting on my teacher’s pedestal teaching a course I had taken four years prior. I loved teaching math, but discovered I never got to address issues of the heart with students.

Wanting to know more about high school campus ministry, I learned more, visited campuses, prayed, and talked to others. Eventually, I saw God’s hand in my life as He graciously gave me a heart for young people and a desire to teach and instruct. He showed me the power of people in my life. He equipped me in ministry. And, He used my youth pastors to call me into ministry. All the pieces were fitting into a beautiful mosaic.

After much prayer and mental battle, I returned the $20,000 scholarship with interest and finished my fourth year at UCI. I was uncertain I could fulfill the post-grad teaching commitment the scholarship required.

Was I crazy? Possibly. God doesn’t call us to the pretty and perfect. We are often called to the unknown. About this time, God gave me a verse. Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will make your paths straight.”

I’m glad I listened to His voice and followed!

Family Stuff

• Pray for our family as we desire to live out the message of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Pray that Greg and I would rejoice in the both the good and bad and that Hannah and Ethan would see and follow. We all encounter “trials of various kinds.” Please pray that we would handle them graciously, with loving spirits and joy in our hearts. This could be so transforming.
  Pray for Kristie and the kids as Greg travels for a week.
• On weekdays, the hours of 4-6 p.m. have become very difficult for Ethan as he “crashes” from his medication. The experience can be very disruptive. We are in our final steps of getting ready to begin a new therapy for him — Neuro/bio feedback. Prayerfully this will enable us to completely eliminate his medication and the side-effects. (The educational benefits don’t outweigh the side-effects). Please pray God’s provision for us to begin the therapy.

Thank you for your partnership to reach teenagers and college students with the good news of Jesus!

I learned of a new opportunity to go on a summer mission with Campus Crusade for Christ. At that time, the Crusade staff put a big emphasis on summer missions and I was asked to seriously consider going. If I said “yes”, I would have been raising and paying money to go rather than earning money for my senior college year. I was torn between two productive, yet very different ways to live out my summer.

So I decided to take a Saturday to fast and pray and seek wisdom from God. I filled a jug of water and went to a quiet place in the park on campus. I had never fasted before and wasn’t even sure if I was doing it right. I poured out my heart to Him and released all the anxious thoughts I had about the decision. Sometime during that day, I submitted to follow God’s leading whatever and wherever that might be.

To the disappointment of the Crusade staff, I decided not to go on the summer mission. Looking back, it seems like an easy decision as the job was clearly the avenue of God’s good provision.

I did not realize it at the time, but that day He planted a seed that germinated and grew into a desire to be a part of reaching lost students for Christ. I did go on a short-term mission the following year and then joined the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ where I serve in the arena of graphic arts.

This month, Kristie and I celebrate 19 years of our ministry calling. I find my heart in a familiar place, leaning in to Jesus to follow His leading whatever and wherever that might be.

Thank you for your partnership with us to take the good news of Jesus to people who need new life in Him!

Family Stuff

We’re thankful for your continued prayer for Ethan’s progress in school and wisdom for what next steps to take.

Coming Up: Big Break

Every spring, thousands of college students flock to Panama City Beach, Florida to party. What better place to make Christ known?

Big Break is a Cru spring break conference for students that offers the training and experience to share the gospel back on their college campuses.

The morning sessions provide practical training on sharing the gospel. The afternoons offer the opportunity to practice sharing the gospel in Panama City Beach. The evening sessions provide worship, opportunities to share their afternoon experiences, and biblical teaching. Optional seminars are offered throughout the week on such topics as apologetics, Web evangelism, and worldviews.

Greg’s team is finalizing the design and layout of the conference materials. Please pray that Christ will be boldly proclaimed (Acts 28:31) throughout the month of March!

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!

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!

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 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.

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.

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.