August update and a few other nuggets

I always love hearing our president, Steve Douglass' updates of what God's doing around the world.  He's sort of 'in the loop' in ways that most of us aren't because of the other ministry leaders he gets to interact with on a regular basis.  Its just so encouraging and such good perspective to hear of the Lord's immense workings.  You can hear his whole talk with video from our staff conference, but I'll just share a few stories that struck me.

• from Southeast Asia: a group of students were challenged to form 'missional teams' to reach more campuses.  Christine, from the Philippines, started a team.  They trusted God and visited seven campuses near their own to start Cru movements.  Soon the 7 campuses became 40.  Just a few years later, there were new ministries on over 100 campuses. These movements are all student-led and are now sending to surrounding countries where over 500 students have launched 200 movements. 
• from Ethiopia: the country is less than 1% Christian.  The in-country ministry hoped to hold a training conference for students.  They bathed the event in prayer and 2600 students were sent to the conference. During their time, two of the students were arrested for sharing their faith in the streets. While in prison, they took the opportunity to follow the apostle Paul's example and shared the gospel with over 1100 inmates, seeing dozens place their faith in Christ. They were eventually released by the government to stop the spread of the gospel in the prison.
• from Bolivia: An idea called 'dinners for friends' was developed to share with top leaders in Santa Cruz. Since the strategy's inception, over 5,000 of these meetings have been held and 100s of leaders in Bolivia have come to know Christ.
• finally, an update from the world over: Six years ago, a group of ministry leaders were evaluating the task of completing the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20). As they researched people groups and shared resources from their respective ministries, they found that there were 639 unengaged people groups (meaning absolutely no awareness of Christ or Christian presence).  In the past six years, as these organizations have worked together, 4000 missionaries have been sent to minister to these groups and 80% of them have now been 'engaged' with the message of Christ.  What a great work God is doing!

As I mentioned above, to hear all of the updates, you can check out Dr. Douglass' talk on Significance.  I know I missed a few details as I could hardly write fast enough to get everything down!  May you be encouraged by the work of our Sovereign God in the world!

 

Just for you!

Pres. Steve Douglass encouraging staff
in our mission and vision.

Some of the videos from our U.S. Staff Conference in July were recently posted for public viewing.  Check out Francis Chan's messages (that Matt refers to in our monthly update) and hear from our Vice President Steve Sellers on the name change. You can also view our 60th anniversary celebration, hear from Vonette Bright, our president, Steve Douglass; as well as hearing messages from our other main speakers, Renee Rochester and David Platt. The Lord ministered to us greatly through these speakers and we pray He will do the same for you!

Here's the link: http://www.ccci.org/csu/index.htm

60 years!

We're still in Fort Collins, CO participating in our U.S. national staff conference.  2011 marks Campus Crusade's 60th anniversary and last night we had the privilege of taking a look back at how it all got started. One of the first people to come to Christ through Campus Crusade was a special guest at our main session. She shared about how Vonette Bright (co-founder of CCC) had met with her after an outreach event at her sorority at UCLA and shared the gospel with her.  She remembered precisely the day in December 1952 that she had come to know Christ.  She went on to spend 20+ years working with her husband as a medical missionary in Brazil with the Presbyterian church.  I had tears in my eyes as I thought of the legacy Vonette had begun in Nancy's life...and that each of us can begin in a life when we trust the Spirit to speak the good news of the gospel through us.

They also introduced the new staff who joined with Campus Crusade this summer and last summer.  It was incredible to see them streaming onto the stage and down the aisles of Moby Arena at Colorado State.  Such a joy to welcome the 'new' generation of staff into the ministry and to think on all that God has in store for them as they trust Him.

Finally, I just wanted to share a bit more about the name change.  Check out this link to see short video clips sharing the heart behind our name change from our president, Steve Douglass; Vonette Bright, co-founder of CCC; Steve Sellers, VP of the ministry in North America & Oceania; and Mark Gauthier, executive director of the U.S. campus ministry.

Matt and I are excited about the doors that will be opened due to changing our name to Cru.  Every campus we've worked on in the U.S. has been using Cru as a name for years due to the connotations associated with the word 'crusade'. We're also hopeful that the name Cru will open doors to spiritual conversations as we get to define its meaning through how we live our lives and share about Christ and our ministry.  Know that nothing about our mission or doctrinal statement has changed.  As a campus ministry we are as committed as ever to reaching students with the good news of Christ and seeking to do our part to fulfill the Great Commission that Christ set before us in Matthew 28.

We're grateful for your partnership as we take this important step forward!

An update from our National Staff conference...

Just wanted you to be some of the first to know that Campus Crusade for Christ has officially begun the process of changing our name to Cru.  Here's the media press release with more details.... You can also check out this website about the name change

Please join us in prayer as our organization takes this important step forward!

4th of July fun

We got to spend the 4th of July celebrating with the Odland family in Alexandria, MN.  On the 5th we also got to celebrate Matt's grandparent's 60th anniversary.  We had a family photo shoot in honor of the occasion.

Matt's grandparents are seated in front, surrounded by three generations that can be traced back to them.  It was neat to celebrate their 60 year commitment to each other and to appreciate the model they've set for our own marriage....just 57 1/2 years to go!
                                                         
The photographer also took a few shots of Matt and I alone so we could remember what 7 1/2 months pregnant looked like ;)   Check out www.lisahurlenphotography.blogspot.com for more pictures.

Today we start childbirth classes in preparation for our little baby's arrival in 2 months and Sunday we head to Colorado for two weeks for Campus Crusade's national staff conference.  We'll keep you updated as the conference progresses!

 

God never hurries

Our pastor shared an excerpt from A.W. Tozer's book, The Knowledge of the Holy, in church a few weeks back.  The quote stuck with me and today I looked it up to ponder a bit more deeply as Matt and I headed out to Panera to spend a half day with the Lord. I'll put the entire excerpt below for your reading pleasure...along with some emphasis added on the parts that especially stood out to me.


from Knowledge of the Holy, by A.W. Tozer:

Because God's nature is infinite, everything that flows out of it is infinite also. We poor human creatures are constantly being frustrated by limitations imposed upon us from without and within. The days of the years of our lives are few, and swifter than a weaver's shuttle. Life is a short and fevered rehearsal for a concert we cannot stay to give. Just when we appear to have attained some proficiency, we are forced to lay our instruments down. There is simply not time enough to think, to become, to perform what the constitution of our natures indicates we are capable of.

How completely satisfying to turn from our limitations to a God who has none.

Eternal years lie in His heart. For Him time does not pass, it remains; and those who are in Christ share with Him all the riches of limitless time and endless years. God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which He must work. Only to know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves. For those out of Christ, time is a devouring beast; before the sons of the new creation time crouches and purrs and licks their hands. The foe of the old human race becomes the friend of the new, and the stars in their courses fight for the man God delights to honor. This we may learn from the divine infinitude.

June/July update

postcard update!  enjoy. ;)

June 30, 2011

Greetings! We hope you’re enjoying your summer! From July 17-28, we’ll be staying in the dorms of Colorado State University, in Fort Collins, CO, while attending Campus Crusade’s national staff conference. We’re excited for the opportunity to reconnect with friends and gain vision as we hear from our leadership and other prominent pastors. This year brings added celebration as Campus Crusade recognizes its 60th anniversary as a ministry. Please pray for safe travel & refreshment for us and the other 6,000 staff who will be in attendance.

We’ll have more stories to share with you about the conference in August.  Until then, enjoy the sun!

Blessings!  Matt & Kristin :)