In our annual rhythm of evangelism and discipleship, Cru accelerates the sending work to another level in the summer! We’d like to share with you some snapshots from this summer’s missions and the people who took steps of faith to go into God’s harvest, both here in the US and around the world. These highlights are from a wide variety of Cru’s ministries.
Athletes and Coaches
We are so excited that Athletes in Action has sent a team of 80 people from 23 countries to minister at the Paris Olympics! These staff are reaching out to the athletes, coaches, federation leaders and national Olympic committee people. Many athletes are being encouraged in their faith or are hearing the Gospel in Paris, and our staff will follow up on these relationships for years to come in their own countries.
College Students
The Campus Ministry sent more than 1600 students to participate in summer missions at 105 locations in the U.S and internationally. Of those, 29 trips went to key locations as part of the Open Window Partnership (North Africa, Middle East, Central Asia, SE Asia). We are eager to hear what God has done in the hearts of those who went as well as what He did through them to plant seeds of faith in those they befriended and shared the Gospel with.
Professors and Faculty
The Faculty Commons Ministry of Cru sent out many professors on mission. These professors reached other professors in Slovakia, Ecuador, Cuba, Costa Rica, Brazil and Japan. We know that as God touches the hearts of these men and women they can influence their students to believe in the Lord Jesus and receive His love for them.
Middle School and High School Students
Cru High School led students in many cities through summer programs of discipleship, weekly outreaches and fun activities. In Los Angeles and Estes Park, hundreds of students attended “Getaway” training conferences. In addition, 72 students went abroad to Central Asia, Panama, Hungary, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
Communities
City, Cru’s diverse community ministry, had a variety of summer strategies including a church planting training for the Ethiopian diaspora community, the premier of a gospel-infused original play in Chicago, discipleship training for recent college grads in Nashville, and the launch of Metro Area teams designed to spark local community movements.
Families
FamilyLife mission trips headed out to the Dominican Republic and Havana, Cuba, to bring clean water and the gospel with Filter of Hope! Many local churches partnered with FamilyLife staff and used FamilyLife Bible study materials to teach parents and families and encourage them to love and serve in their communities.
Oral Communities
StoryRunners, Cru’s ministry to language groups that don’t have a written language, ran a Central Florida Summer Mission that trained U.S. college students to use storytelling in evangelism and Bible study back on their campuses this fall. Another event trained church movement leaders from five French-speaking African countries in how to use storytelling to plant churches. Some of the trainees cannot read but have planted churches of 30-50 attendees using these methods.
Compassionate Outreach
Unto, Cru’s humanitarian arm, sent students and volunteers to dig wells in Zambia, staff an eyeglass clinic in Guatemala, serve a women’s health clinic in Colombia and work with refugees in Greece. Each initiative was designed to help fulfill the Great Commandment and Great Commission in launching spiritual movements together with local Cru teams.
Would you join us in thanking God for the breadth of opportunity He has provided? Please ask the Holy Spirit to work in the lives of all who shared the gospel and those who heard the Good News. Thanks so much for sharing in all this outreach with us as we continue to send workers into the Lord’s harvest!