Happy Birthday, Campus Crusade for Christ! Seventy years ago this month, Bill Bright had a life-changing encounter with God that led him and his wife, Vonette, to begin Campus Crusade for Christ on the campus of UCLA to reach college students with the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
What began at one university in 1951 has since spread to 10,036 universities in 190 countries to reach 8.1 billion people across 1,914 languages. From dorm rooms to boardrooms, and basketball courts to courts of public opinion, Campus Crusade’s vision is to reach every person with the love of God and the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ by helping to fulfill the Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20.
Over the years, Campus Crusade for Christ has ministered under different names in different countries, such as Agape in Europe, Great Commission Movement in parts of Africa, StudentImpact in Japan, and Cru in the United States.
Campus Crusade for Christ has faithfully focused on proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, coming alongside people seeking to become disciples of Christ to help them grow in their faith, and sending these disciples into God’s harvest (Matthew 9:36–38) to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with a lost world. Our mission statement sums this up as “win, build, and send Christ-centered multiplying disciples”.
“What the Lord entrusted to Bill Bright 70 years ago,” says Campus Crusade for Christ President Steve Sellers, “we continue to entrust to everyone around us: a passionate love for Jesus, a heart to share the good news of Jesus, and a commitment to build new disciples and send them out to help fulfill the Great Commission.”
Rochelle and I are grateful that the Lord has called us to serve with Cru for the past 38+ years. Because of your prayers and partnership with us in our ministry, students, neighbors, professors, athletes, parents, and others continue to be touched by the life-changing love of Jesus. Thank you so much. We could not do this without you.
See more history of Cru here: