We don't talk about that...

Over the last 30 years, there are many things we have done with Cru that we don’t write about in our monthly updates.  

Sometimes we are working with situations where security is a concern, or HR investigations that are confidential, or things in the ministry that are frankly not pretty.

But both of us feel that it’s those things that we don’t talk about that have been the most important work we’ve done.

I'm going to talk a little now...

• Earlier in our years with Cru (and sometimes still now) I reviewed applications for staff.  I loved reading how God brought people to Himself, how they were growing, and why they wanted to serve with Cru.  However, sometimes the growth was recent, and struggles with sin (pornography, sleeping with a girlfriend) were still a problem that would keep them from being in a place to minister to others.  Sometimes I'd be the first or only person to talk to the applicants about a struggle like that in their lives.  More than once I'd get a call back with thanks or a report about their growth.  Many times, after an initial "no" about joining Cru, they'd be back a year later having seen significant growth.

• Cru is a large organization with over 6,000 staff.  We try to provide training on workplace sensitivity because at times, behavior can be inappropriate, and we want people to know what to do about it.  I've had several instances where I've had to intervene in behavior that was causing problems or was absolutely wrong.  One time it was quite unintentional and resolved easily.  Two others resulted in the termination of the staff. 

• There have been several instances where marriages of our staff were in deep trouble.  We've been able to provide assistance, time and space to help them work through issues that were threatening their marriage and as a result, their ability to minister to others.  There have been some exciting success stories, and some sad endings as well.

• About 13 years ago one of our national staff was kidnapped in their home country.  It didn't last long...maybe 36 hours or so, but it was incredibly intense.  The staff member was drugged, beaten,  and threatened with death.  There a lot of confusion: ransom demands, increased demands, attempted, then aborted payment attempts, and ultimately a release after a very traumatic experience. He and his family required relocation and significant after care.  Frankly, for Dayna and I, it was something that took a while to get over after being so closely engaged with the resolution.

• During the Arab Spring, the middle east became unpredictable.  We had teams in locations where their security was becoming less sure.  Because teams almost never want to leave where they are ministering, we were involved in a lot of intense communication about how to make an evacuation decision and what trigger points we'd use to initiate an evacuation.  This period of time was a test of my organizational communication skills, and I was glad that in the end, decisions were made that allowed our teams to be safe and in some cases, relocated to places they could serve more effectively.

I could go on and on.  

Our feeling is that by stepping into these situations with professionalism, genuine care, and intentionality, we demonstrate God's character, kindness, love and even justice in a time that people really need to know we are with them.  It has been a privilege to enter into these difficult places in our staff's lives.

We don't often write home about these stories.  But your support enables us to be there and enter into the lives of staff when they need help the most.  Thank you for keeping us in a place to serve well.