Merry Christmas 2022!

 Our 2022 Christmas Family Update

This year people in our family started college, finished college, became empty nesters, and the girls (minus Cara) took a trip to Prince Edward Island.

Catelin, Barrett, Dayna, Macy, Luke, Aubrey, Bowen, Perry, Zeke, Cara, Titus

Macy is a freshman at the University of Florida and has made lots of friends, in enjoying classes, and has joined the Club Softball team.

Luke finished his PhD from UVA in Materials Science and is now working at Northrup Grumman in Melbourne, FL, one hour away.  He has already joined a baseball league!

Aubrey and Catelin love their sister!

Aubrey is working at Cru in compensation and recruiting and has picked up more responsibility as her boss has taken time away.  She loves to travel and has a busy social life.

Cara & Perry Johnson are in Irvine, CA.  Perry works at UCI and Cara has been home full time since Bowen was born.  Zeke (4), Titus (3), and Bowen (1) are so cute!  We visit them as much as we can.

Catelin has a new position with the Talent Development team at Orlando Health and lives just dow the street.  She enjoys her team.

Dayna loves volunteering two days a week at Shepherd's Hope as a nurse and served as a nurse at Cru22, Cru's staff conference this past summer.

Barrett had a great weekend in Ohio this fall taking in a Buckeye game with his friends Don and Mike.  He is still leading Cru's HQ renovation, which he thought would be done last June!

June 2022

Thank you for all you do.

This story illustrates why we serve with Cru.

"Solomon dd not have money for transportation, so he went to the roadside to ask if a good Samaritan could help him get to university.  This is how he stopped Monique, who agreed to carry him on her motorcycle for the ten-minute ride.

A day before, Monique had prayed, asking God to give her an opportunity to share the gospel with anyone she would meet on the road.  When she gave Solomon a ride, she said to herself, "This is the opportunity I requested from God."  She asked Solomon, "how is your relationship with God?"  Solomon said that he was from God and was willing to know more.

He told Monique, "It was God who sent you to me.  Yesterday I was talking with friends and we said to each other if we were to die, we would all go to hell."  When they arrived at the university, Monique gave him her family's address so they could continue the conversation later.

The next day, Solomon knocked on the door at 7 a.m., saying without hesitation, "I need Jesus in my life."  Monique shared with him and Solomon prayed and received Christ as his personal Savior.  He decided to go to church the following Sunday and committed to talking about Jesus with his friends."

Monique knew how to  share the gospel, and was praying for opportunities to share.  All we do with Cru is to support these kinds of encounters.  I have been struck time and time again how significant the work we do is to help Monique and so many others be equipped  to introduce people like Solomon to Jesus.

Thank you for partnering with us.  It is our honor to work with you to see people know God.

Like you, we have been impacted by inflation and other increased like insurance.  Will you consider a special gift at the end of this year to help supply the additional support we need next year?  Many people like to make additional gifts in December, and it would e a great blessing if the Lord leads you to help with a special gift.

You can give online here, by calling 888-278-7233, or by mailing a check to our home address:  4126 Stonewall Drive, Orlando, FL  32812

Thank you for being a part of what we do with your support ad prayers.  We can't express how much we appreciate your partnership with us.  Please let us know how we can pray for you!

With love and thanks,

It's an amazing view from here

Hi from Orlando, where we await another tropical storm!  

Dayna just returned from a visit to California to visit the grandkids (and Cara and Perry) and had a great visit.  They are growing up fast and we have to grab every chance we get to be with them!

Over the last few weeks, we have been able to see a bit more of the ways Cru is reaching people with the love of God.

Right now, I'm hearing about Unto disaster relief trips with college students in Kentucky (flooding) and Florida (hurricane).  These trips open doors for our campus ministries to involve students they may not normally reach, as well as opportunities to share the gospel at those locations

Students from the University of Kentucky Cru

Last week I walked through the new Jesus Film tour at Lake Hart and learned about this NewLifeBox Kit.

Here's how it works:

"The NewLifeBox Kit allows people to access digital Bibles and other gospel-centric media on their cell phones without relying on power outlets or existing wireless connections.  The kit includes a pocket-sized, batter powered Wi-Fi device and plenty of resources, like films and other gospel materials.

Believers can turn on the NewLifeBox hotspot device in a central location, allowing nearby people to discover its Wi-Fi signal.  When someone accesses the NewLifeBox Kit's media content in a public place, administrators can see who joins the network, creating opportunities for new conversations about Christ.  This also offers an easy way to copy media onto microSD cards, enabling people to carry media that presents the gospel with them wherever they go."

We have been on staff with Cru for almost 37 years now, and continue to be amazed at how we are innovating to introduce the love of God to the world.

The work we are doing now is supporting the ability for ministries like The Jesus Film and Unto to  collaborate and work together.  By creating a culture that fosters collaboration and innovation, we can better accomplish the varied ways we work to fulfill the Great Commission.  It is pretty cool.

Thank you for investing in us, our work, and in Cru.

With love and thanks,

We survived Hurricane Ian

 Last night Hurricane Ian's track went about 35 miles further south than expected, which really helped with the winds we experienced.  But, Orlando experienced a record amount of rain over 24 hours.

Aubrey is without power, but we kept our power through the night.

We took a walk this morning and tried to enjoy the adventure.  We realize that many people are experiencing lots of damage and we pray for a quick recovery.

Post storm walk

A torn up fence

Two downed trees

A tree covering a driveway

A big branch down

Brexit actually enjoyed the
wind and rain after being shut in!

Lake Conway was as deep as we've ever seen it.  We visited two Lake Lots near our house.

Good changes

We missed it by 3 days.

Macy was scheduled to move into the University of Florida on Friday, August 19, meaning we would, after 35 years, be empty nesters. 

However, Luke, having just finished his PhD, moved home on Tuesday the 16th.  We got that close.

We are, of course, thrilled for Luke and for Macy, and glad to have Luke home.  We took a pontoon boat ride on our local lake to celebrate them both.

Macy is doing well at UF and is making friends.  She has joined the softball club team and enjoying her classes.

Yesterday Luke accepted an offer to work in Melbourne, Florida for Northrup Grumman as an engineer!  There will be some time for him for a pre-employment process, so we get to have him home for a while we think.

We are really happy for both of them and these big transitions.

With Cru, We are helping our teams change the Cru culture so we can be more effective working together.

Bill Bright, the co-founder of Cru, was an entrepreneur, and he attracted other entrepreneurs to help reach every person with the gospel.  This helped Cru expand into many different audiences.  But it also led to the staff and ministries working in silos that led to duplication of effort and resources that at times hindered our effectiveness.

Our Lake Hart headquarters here in Orlando, houses 9 field ministries, 7 departments, and our global leadership.  Even though we share the same facilities, these entities worked rather independently and often created their own resource solutions and cultures.  

The changes we are making at Lake Hart involve what may seem like simple changes, but help change the culture of how we work.  Some examples:

• We stopped charging departments and ministries rent, removing the sense of "property ownership" and boundaries.  We all share the whole campus.
• We have reduced the number of printers from over 225 to 25, and have centralized the maintenance and supplies for them.
• Instead of each department providing office supplies and coffee, we provide them centrally.  (We removed a LOT of Keurigs)
• Departments used to own meeting rooms that at times had different technology.  Now all rooms are available to everyone and have the same tech.  (Also, we tripled the number of meeting rooms)
• The shredding box company had about 6 different contracts with different departments!  Now we have one.
• The campus is developing a cohesive look for the first time.

While I was in Milwaukee this summer I made some "explainer" videos about some of these simple changes:

All of these changes allow Cru to be better stewards of our facilities and reduce the costs.  And this frees up departments and ministries to focus on the mission, not office management.  And they support a more collaborative and innovative culture to increase our ability to fulfill the mission of Cru.  

The space is much more welcoming to our staff and partners.  Some of our field staff from Indiana visited the new Lake Hart for the first time this week and said, 

"This is the first time we've felt welcome at our headquarters.  It feels like this is all of our headquarters now."

If you are ever in Orlando, we would love to show you around the Lake Hart campus.

Thank you for investing in us, in Cru, and the Great Commission.

With love,

If you are still following this page and still want more, check out Cru Storylines for all kinds of stories of God at work.  

Cru22

 

We have arrived in Milwaukee for Cru’s staff conference.  Over 5,000 staff and children will be together for a week and we arrived a week early to prepare.  It is our first staff conference away from Colorado in our 36 years with Cru, so this is a change for all of us.

Dayna is serving as the nurse for Kids Camp, the elementary school aged children.  She’s also training the counselors in health safety, including CPR, Epi Pens, etc.  I’ll be attending the “Legacy Track” for older staff for two days prior to the staff conference.  I do not like that I am attending the “Legacy Track” for older staff.

We appreciate your prayers for this time. Pray for Dayna, and many of our staff who are working hard during these two weeks.  It is tiring, when many could do  with some refreshment!  

Pray also for Cru as a whole.  This is the first time in 3 years we have gathered together due to covid (which is still a threat to disrupt).  Over those three years the stress of covid, and other issues within Cru have caused some staff to feel discouraged, tired and in need of renewed vision, to see God at work, and some good fellowship together. 

We are thankful for your partnership and support to allow us to serve with Cru for over 36 years.  Just typing that sentence is humbling.  God has used you to provide all that we have needed  so we can invest in the Great Commission.  Thank you. 

We hope you have a good summer including time with family and time for rest. 

With love and thanks, 

We had a great visit with our three grandsons, and their parents.  We had a blow up pool, bounce house, swings, canoes, and lots of Luke’s old matchbox cars to entertain them.  

It was wonderful to have them here.  Tiring, but wonderful.

After they left we spent two days with Macy at her UF Preview Weekend, which was also tiring, but exciting!

You get to enjoy our pictures :).

Being a part of it all

 

Last week Rick Warren visited Cru's Headquarters at Lake Hart.  He is leading Finishing the Task, a collaborative effort to find every unengaged, unreached people group in the world and connect them with a church or ministry that will commit to sending to that group.  In his presentation, he said, "there has never been an evangelistic tool as effective as The Jesus Film."  

On June 1, we opened Wings A and B at our Lake Hart campus.  These wings will house the Jesus Film Project neighborhood.  Here is the ribbon cutting.

Josh Newell, the director and ribbon cutter recently shared some reports illustrating Rick's quote.  Take a few minutes to watch these. I know you will be encouraged.

Malee's Story is a four and one half minute reenactment of a true story of life change from the country of Cambodia.  Through an ad on Facebook, Malee found hope and freedom.

A Time to Plant is a 2 minute video on the power of God displayed to a community through the prayers of a Jesus Film Team.

You are a part of these stories.  Through your partnership with our ministry you are investing in the effectiveness of this ministry.  In the last few years Dayna and I helped with Rick Warren's transition to leading Finishing the Task, helped coach the Jesus Film Project leadership team in succession strategies, and have been helping prepare the Jesus Film Project office and studio space through our Transforming Lake Hart Project.  I think it's all pretty amazing.

Give thanks to God for how he is using this ministry, and your investment in the Great Commission.

We are so thankful for your investment in our lives and ministry.

With love,

 

P.S.  Tonight Cara, Perry, Zeke, Titus and Bowen arrive for a 2 week Grandkid Fest!  We are so excited.  I borrowed a bounce house and we have the canoe ready for some rides!

Crisis management is about making ministry happen

 For 10 years I served as Cru's Global Crisis Manager.  For the last several months I've been helping Unto work through the changes Cru made to our Crisis Management system due to COVID, and to navigate the permissions required to enter and exit some countries.  After a lengthy moratorium on international travel, many doors are opening for renewed ministry travel.  

As you may know, Cru has ministries in almost every country of the world, and we have a large number of Ukrainian staff (click to read about ministry in Ukraine before the war).  I heard recently that we still have 77 Ukrainian staff still living in Ukraine.  Some of them are serving in the military in defense of their country.  Please pray for these staff and all that Cru is doing to assist them in this difficult crisis.

Unto is working with our European ministries to bring humanitarian relief to refugees, and when possible, to those inside the country.  We just worked through permissions for 4 of our U.S. staff to travel and explore how we can best come alongside those impacted by the war in Ukraine.

In May we will conduct a training for all Unto staff that travel to the toughest places on earth to help them prepare for situations that may threaten them or their ministry.  With the proper preparation and communication, we can release staff to serve in many locations that are in the most need.  Crisis management is about identifying and mitigating both the probability and impact of a crisis, and doing a thorough job gives Cru leadership confidence in allowing trips to continue.

Thank you for supporting our ministry with Cru.  The ways we are able to assist teams like Unto give lift to all they do.  And we've been able to come alongside ministries like StoryRunners, The Jesus Film Project, and our Global Vice President's teams in different ways, all in the last few months.

We are grateful for the privilege of partnering with you.

With love and thanks,

Still hanging around...

 Yes, we are still here.  I'm sorry I haven't written lately.  We have been pretty busy with Cru and I keep forgetting to set aside time to write.

First, I want you to see this 5 minute video that is on Cru's LinkedIn page.  Our daughter Aubrey put together a series of interviews with Cru staff to share about their calling. I helped get them set up with a studio and green screen and I was the first one to be interviewed...their guinea pig. There are others that are very encouraging also. You have my official encouragement to follow Cru on LinkedIn.  Aubrey will thank you!

My Cru Calling

I have been helping Unto work out their crisis management process with all of their staff that travel internationally.  Covid has led countries to establish many different rules for entry and exit, so that is a big learning curve for them.  We are also training each traveling staff in the crisis management process so that they are equipped to support each other in case there is an incident.

Speaking of Unto, they are working with Campus Crusade for Christ's humanitarian arms, GAiN in Europe to respond to the Ukrainian crisis.  You can read about that here.

I'm also helping StoryRunners, Athletes in Action, The Jesus Film Project, and others with different engagements.

But most of my time is taken up by the Transformation of our headquarters.  Soon, the second phase of our project will be complete, and 1/2 of the campus will be ready to use.  One quarter of the campus is under construction, and the last 1/4 of the campus is in the pre-design phase with lots of interviews and workshops to help us know how to design.  Included in this last phase is an updated board room, which will be a collaboration and learning center, where the board will meet three times per year.

Take a look at a short video of the new space one of our staff made:

The President of Power To Change, Cru's Canadian ministry, met with me and we will talk with his team because they are currently building a new headquarters and he would like to implement a more mobile and hybrid workspace for their 150 HQ staff.

Thank you for your faithful and generous partnership with us.  We are honored by your investment in our lives and ministry.