Here’s a look at what God has done (academic year 2022-2023) through partners like you in the U.S., around the world, and online:

Unforgettable Life Change

Cru’s vision is to invite students into the mission of winning others to Christ. Students are challenged to live missionally wherever God has placed them. Crystal, a student leader with Cru, had just finished a workout at the gym on campus when she ran into her friend Ellie. After catching up briefly, Crystal was able to transition the conversation to faith.  Ellie shared that her mom is a Christian but her dad isn’t, so she grew up always feeling confused and disconnected from God.

Crystal then shared a booklet created by Cru that explains the gospel in four simple points. After sincere discussion, Ellie made the decision to follow Jesus and prayed to receive Christ. Ellie was overjoyed and exclaimed “I’m never going to forget this moment. I’m calling my mom right now to tell her that I just prayed to receive Christ!” That moment was not only impactful for Ellie, but also for Crystal. As she shared her experience with others, Crystal would tell them, “That’s when it became clear to me that God had been using Cru to prepare me for moments like this.” That moment played a pivotal role in Crystal’s decision to join staff and commit more of her time to winning students to Christ.

Called and Equipped

After experiencing significant spiritual growth through a discipleship group in college, Benjamin was asked to consider serving as a Cru intern upon graduation. In the first weeks of his internship with students, he met Joel, a freshman ready and willing to share his faith but lacking the training and experience to do so. Over the next two years, Benjamin met regularly with Joel, building him up in his faith, equipping him to share the gospel, and lead his peers. Joel’s heart for evangelism grew as he began to catch the vision of reaching his campus with the message of Christ. As an upperclassman, Joel sought out several freshmen to begin discipleship relationships with and even reached out to his college’s baseball team. Through Joel’s intentionality and desire to see other students know Christ, eight men from the baseball team are now attending a weekly Cru Bible study. God used Benjamin to shape Joel’s life and he has continued to reach more students. Praise God for these young men and the generations of students they are impacting with the gospel!

Hearts Ready to Respond

After being trained and equipped in evangelism, students are encouraged to step out in faith and go on a summer mission trip. For a student named Drew, God brought him to North Myrtle Beach last summer. As he set out to share his faith along the beach, he saw a couple sitting alone and decided to initiate a conversation with them. It soon became evident to him that they did not have any spiritual background but were very interested to know what Drew believed. As he shared the gospel it was clear that they were ready to make a decision to follow Jesus. That very night, Drew had the opportunity to lead them both to the Lord! Drew left North Myrtle Beach with a deeper understanding of how God wants to work through him to bring more people to know Jesus. Drew’s story was just one that occurred on summer missions this past year. It is so encouraging to think about the innumerable ways that God is impacting the world by sending out Christ-following laborers from the campuses.