Had to post this just because it is worth watching!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
Campus Crusade changes name!
Many of you have probably heard that Campus Crusade for Christ has decided to change its name. Here is the official release!
5,000 Staff Renew Commitment to Mission: Proclaiming Jesus Christ
ORLANDO, Fla., July 22, 2011 – Staff members gathered in Ft. Collins, Colorado, this week for the biennial U.S. Staff Conference of Campus Crusade for Christ were introduced to a new name for the U.S. – Cru – and at the same time reaffirmed their commitment to proclaiming the name and love of Jesus Christ around the world. Since the mid-1990s Cru has been used as the organization’s name for many of our U.S. campus ministries, and is now used on the majority of our campuses.
The ministry also introduced a new logo, dominated by a cross above the name Cru. Steve Sellers, vice president for the U.S. explained that the inclusion of the symbol of the cross was critical to accepting the new name. “Just as our new name, Cru, visually points to the cross, everything we do as a ministry is intended to point others to the cross of Jesus Christ.”
“Anyone who knows anything about Campus Crusade for Christ knows we are passionate about one thing – connecting people to Jesus Christ,” noted president Steve Douglass. “In fact, we only exist for the purpose of helping people everywhere experience the transforming grace and forgiveness of the gospel through God’s Son, Jesus Christ.”
Steve Sellers, responding to a few media reports suggesting the ministry had changed its mission in the process of changing its name said “it is not our name that makes us a Christian organization – after all, a majority of well-known Christian organizations have nothing in their name identifying them as Christian. It is our mission which makes us Christian and our mission is a bold one, namely the fulfillment of Jesus Christ’s command to 'Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.’”
“Whether our ministry to Athletes, Athletes in Action, our ministry to families, FamilyLife, our JESUS film ministry or any of our 29 ministries, everything we do is intentionally designed to introduce people to the person of Jesus Christ. Consistent with Christ’s command, the JESUS film is the most translated film in history, resulting in well over 6 billion exposures to the gospel in 1,129 languages.”
The decision to expand the use of the name Cru from the campus ministries to the entire U.S. ministry is the result of a two-year study and process involving hundreds of staff members, thousands of interviews, and a list of 1,600 potential names. Sellers emphasized that the objective of the name is to “accomplish a greater level of effectiveness in ministry, and we believe Cru achieves that.” The transition to the new name will take place over the next year.
Campus Crusade for Christ is a worldwide, interdenominational Christian evangelism and discipleship organization, founded by Bill and Vonette Bright in 1951. Since its founding, Campus Crusade has become one of the largest Christian organizations in the world, served by more than 25,000 full and part-time team members in 191 countries around the world through 29 different ministries.
For more information, visit ccci.org
CAMPUS CRUSADE FOR CHRIST TO BECOME: Cru
5,000 Staff Renew Commitment to Mission: Proclaiming Jesus Christ
New Logo Points to the Cross
ORLANDO, Fla., July 22, 2011 – Staff members gathered in Ft. Collins, Colorado, this week for the biennial U.S. Staff Conference of Campus Crusade for Christ were introduced to a new name for the U.S. – Cru – and at the same time reaffirmed their commitment to proclaiming the name and love of Jesus Christ around the world. Since the mid-1990s Cru has been used as the organization’s name for many of our U.S. campus ministries, and is now used on the majority of our campuses.The ministry also introduced a new logo, dominated by a cross above the name Cru. Steve Sellers, vice president for the U.S. explained that the inclusion of the symbol of the cross was critical to accepting the new name. “Just as our new name, Cru, visually points to the cross, everything we do as a ministry is intended to point others to the cross of Jesus Christ.”
“Anyone who knows anything about Campus Crusade for Christ knows we are passionate about one thing – connecting people to Jesus Christ,” noted president Steve Douglass. “In fact, we only exist for the purpose of helping people everywhere experience the transforming grace and forgiveness of the gospel through God’s Son, Jesus Christ.”
Steve Sellers, responding to a few media reports suggesting the ministry had changed its mission in the process of changing its name said “it is not our name that makes us a Christian organization – after all, a majority of well-known Christian organizations have nothing in their name identifying them as Christian. It is our mission which makes us Christian and our mission is a bold one, namely the fulfillment of Jesus Christ’s command to 'Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.’”
“Whether our ministry to Athletes, Athletes in Action, our ministry to families, FamilyLife, our JESUS film ministry or any of our 29 ministries, everything we do is intentionally designed to introduce people to the person of Jesus Christ. Consistent with Christ’s command, the JESUS film is the most translated film in history, resulting in well over 6 billion exposures to the gospel in 1,129 languages.”
The decision to expand the use of the name Cru from the campus ministries to the entire U.S. ministry is the result of a two-year study and process involving hundreds of staff members, thousands of interviews, and a list of 1,600 potential names. Sellers emphasized that the objective of the name is to “accomplish a greater level of effectiveness in ministry, and we believe Cru achieves that.” The transition to the new name will take place over the next year.
Campus Crusade for Christ is a worldwide, interdenominational Christian evangelism and discipleship organization, founded by Bill and Vonette Bright in 1951. Since its founding, Campus Crusade has become one of the largest Christian organizations in the world, served by more than 25,000 full and part-time team members in 191 countries around the world through 29 different ministries.
For more information, visit ccci.org
Saturday, July 9, 2011
The Field is ripe for the harvest!
I "Rob" just got home from Iowa. I had the opportunity to talk with people about AIA Wrestling & our ministry with them! I had so many great conversations & God orchestrated experiences during my time there, so I couldn’t pass up the chance to share them with you!I recently read an article where Iowa wrestler, Matt McDonough, talks about the wrestling culture in the state of Iowa. He says, “If you grow up in Iowa, you almost certainly know at least something about wrestling. !similar to" how you don't need to have farmed to be familiar with the crop cycles. Wrestling is just part of life around you.” So as you can probably guess, I was eager to meet with coaches, wrestlers, & anyone who wanted to talk wrestling! What I didn’t know was how God would amaze me with all He had planned.
The University of Iowa is the county’s most storied program. The Iowa Hawkeyes, under Dan Gable’s tenure as coach, won an unprecedented 21 straight Big 10 titles and 15 out of 21 NCAA titles including 9 straight. One surprise God had for me was a ticket to Coach Gable’s retirement banquet !and to think I would have totally missed it had I gone the week earlier, as planned". The opening prayer was lead by former Hawkeye Brooks Simpson now a pastor in the Iowa City Area. I was once again reminded of the amazing number of wrestlers who have a relationship with Jesus & how God is at work in & through wrestling!
While in Iowa, I was also able to take in two practices at UI. The first day Head Coach Tom Brands started the practice telling the wrestlers about a famous old “best seller” !Bible" that he had been reading that day. He included a few of the lessons that he had been
learning from reading it. The second workout I was able to watch, he gathered his wrestlers around him before practice and asked if anyone knew what the “best seller” he was referring to was. One wrestler responded that it sounded like the Bible. “You’re Right!” Coach Brands said. He went on to explain how the Bible talks about “if you have faith as small as mustard seed you can move mountains! Now lets go have a dang good practice!”
After practice, I asked him if I could talk to a few wrestlers and he said, “Talk to all of them if you’d like!” What an open door! I went to dinner with Ryan Morningstar and his girlfriend Sarah. Ryan is currently ranked 4th on the USA Olympic Ladder. In 2010 he helped lead Iowa to the NCAA title. That year he su#ered a devastating knee injury & amazed many by wrestling on a torn MCL and PCL, finishing 7th in the country. Ryan didn’t let his injuries define him or discourage him. In talking with him, he said he knew his faith would carry him through. Not only his faith in his training but his faith in the Lord. Many people would be bitter about being injured & not being able to finish their career on top, but not Ryan. The next year a teammate of his also severely injured his knee. His teammate was given an 8 month recovery. Ryan saw this as a great chance to invite his teammate to church & Iowa’s AIA Bible study. During this time his teammate committed his life to Christ. His recovery time miraculously was cut in half & he openly gives God the credit!
It is exciting to see the next generation of wrestlers strong in their faith and competing for the Lord! Please pray for Ryan and the others as they compete to represent the United States at the World Championships.
On my way out of Iowa I had the chance to stop by WIN Magazine the ‘Sports Illustrated’ of wrestling, to talk with their editor. I found out he is also a believer! Through this trip God has a!rmed, inspired, encouraged, & energized me!
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