We are so excited to tell you about our US Staff Conference in Fort Collins, Colorado this summer!

As we gather with over 5,000 fellow missionaries and hear from our leadership, we know God will broaden our perspective for the world, equip us to be more effective in our ministry roles (through new tools like EveryStudent.info & the Perspective Cards App) and enable us to go forth to bear even more fruit. This 10-day ministry training trip costs us about $250 per day including transportation, conference fees, meals and lodging.

Would yoy give a special gift (by clicking here) to help us attend this missionary training? A gift of any amount is helpful, so please take some time to pray and see what God puts on your heart. Whether you are able to give at this time or not, please know how much we appreciate your prayers and support.

You can follow along with us as well as listen/watch archived sessions from last conference at Cru15.Cru.org.

Thank you so much for your vital role with us in sending lifetime laborers like Chad around the world with the love of Christ!

Students who go on one of our 200+ mission trips come back changed forever, saying it was the best experience with God in their lives.  But only about 5% of our students get to go, while the rest live and work at home often falling away from their walk with God without the thriving community they had on campus.

That’s why I’ve been a part of creating this online mission trip that takes them through daily devotions and weekly faith step challenges using apps, social media, etc.  Every Sunday night, they all gather in a web conf (from as far as Iceland) to share what God’s been doing in their lives and to hear from our top speakers!

Please pray for these students, and the impact they can have for the kingdom!  You can get a sneak peak into what they’re up to THIS WEEK through the schedule below, and ANYONE can sign up (for free now) at cru.org/SummerConnect.

Your Walk with God: June 7th – 13th

Sunday Night LIVE

 

Darryl Smith encouraged us to courageously take the gospel to the world in light of God’s promises, presence and power. We trained you in the My Cru App and Platform. Miss SNL this week? No worries subscribe to our YouTube channel see what you missed.

 

Small Group Discussion/Individual Study Options

• SNL Breakout Discussion – Darryl Smith
• The Finishers – Discussion Guide
• The Compass – Position in Christ (Participant)
• The Compass – Position in Christ (Leader’s Guide)

 

WEEKLY Opportunities & Training

My Cru

• Need help connecting to My Cru. Text “Summer” to 85005 then Start Here with this tutorial.
• Spiritual Pathways – Daily Devotional
• Daily Step of Faith

 

Watch

• Don’t Hold Your Breath from Rick James on Vimeo. (15:58)

 

Listen

• Bible – Ends or Means by Tim Keller (1:11:24)

Read

• The Finisher’s – Ch 15 “Fuel the Fire“
• How to Have a Quiet Time*
• Walking in the Spirit
• What to look for in a Missional Church

 

Questions or have feedback?

My Cru – Training.Development@cru.org, Sunday Night Live – SummerConnect@cru.org,

Coaching or Encouragement – SummerConnect@cru.org

In March, 6-million people turn Panama City Beach, FL into the “Spring Break Capital of the World.”  The police chief responded to a recent shooting saying, “drunk students with drugs and guns is a recipe for disaster.”  Cru is bringing hope.

This year, almost 3,000 students and staff shared with 5,202 vacationers and saw 508 give their lives to Jesus on the spot.  When they weren’t out on the beach sharing, our students were growing in their faith through seminars and packing 125,000 meals for “Feeding Children Everywhere.”  See this video.

     One of my students who was impacted by the trip was Gabriel, who teamed up with Bowling Green University to come and share his faith on the beach.  He was blown away by just how dark things were spiritually.  In frustration, he prayed that God would use him before taking a break from the beach to have lunch.  Then some partying students nearby engaged him in conversation (who happened to also be from Bowling Green).  These students were still hurting from a shooting that had happened on their own campus, and God used Gabe to minister to them.  Gabe really experienced God’s goodness & faithfulness!

My goal is to see Cru partner with churches and students, to see the gospel advanced until everyone knows that they can have a loving relationship with their Creator! An image of that came together this month at an Easter festival in the field behind our local community college.

GO Church coordinated with students from high school and college to help set up and run 10 inflatables and carnival rides.  I got to lead a team of Cru missionaries who spoke one-on-one with visitors and shared the gospel as well as opportunities to plug into God’s mission around the world.  Karen’s gifts kicked into high-gear as she loved on people and got to really connect with them.  I was even able to use my recent training on reaching folks with an Indian background—Cecil and Lu, from a Hindu family, seemed to really appreciate our conversation.

In the end, the pastor’s outreach team shared the gospel and around 30 people made decisions for Christ and my team sought them out for follow-up.  Please pray that Easter draws many to Him!

 

One of those who asked about a personal relationship with God at our latest event is Deepal (name changed).  When we met her, she had only been in the US for 10 days and said the conversation she had with us was “Very positive, unlike any God talks I’ve been to.”  When I asked her about it, she said the only encounters with Christians she’d witnessed were fierce debates.  But the time we took to listen to her and other students fanned a flame in her heart to hear more.

Deepal has come to 3 of our events now, and brought 2 of her friends this last time as well.  Knowing most international students never even see the inside of an American home, we’ve made efforts to reach out to her and even introduce her to our neighbors (who are from her country).

This morning, my neighbor told me that she has been hanging out with Deepal and is taking her to their church this Sunday.  Pray for Deepal as she is excited to learn!  To reach internationals students, visit  BridgesInternational.com.

I had no idea what was going to happen.

I had arranged a great opportunity for the students to engage with someone who has been out ther e in the industry and whose walk with God has carried him through it all, but would they come?  Full of nerves as I interviewed him, Bob confessed that he felt more comfortable at gunpoint in South America than in front of a crowd.  Would he deliver?  Students are often so cold to Christianity.  Would they respond?

As I walked into the highly secured facility, I was pleased to discover that the school had heard about our event and had even advertised it themselves, offering professional credit to any who attended the entire presentation!  Bob shared his need to do something meaningful, which resonated deeply with the packed room, and students lined up to hear more.

Of the 50+ in the room, 25 signed up to go deeper and 15 said they’d like to learn how to have a personal relationship with God.  Please pray as we follow up with each of them individually!

Over 1,000 students from around the Mid-Atlantic region attended our winter conference called RADIATE 2014: Anchored.

• 24 put their faith in Christ!
• 105 committed to spending at least a year in full-time ministry!
• 220 committed to going on a summer mission opportunity with Cru!
• 741 signed a pledge of surrender which can be found here.

One student impacted was Zach, who had drifted over the summer.  Plagued by fears and doubts, he called himself an agnostic and was resentful toward God.  Through Cru, Zach came back into fellowship with Him and even joined a city outreach during the Christmas conference.  He challenged a young atheist, “do you think it’s possible that there is a God?”  The man even agreed to hear Zach’s gospel booklet.  Zach explains, “you just have to show up, just say ‘I’m willing to share,’ and God takes care of the rest.”

Pray for Zach and view the main talks here.