National Staff Conference

This summer I joined 6,000 other US Staff at our bi-annual National Staff Conference. It was a great time to gather together and celebrate our 60 year anniversary! I feel so blessed to be a part of an organization who's focus is continually on Christ and seeing others come to know Him.

The other big news at our conference was the CCC name change. Beginning in early 2012, we will be Cru Global. This change reflects the feedback of thousands of students, donors, non-Christians, Christians, etc. "Crusade" was becoming a barrier to sharing the gospel with students here and internationally. "Campus" no longer represents our scoop as a ministry--as we now also work with high school students, post-grads, athletes, homeless and inner cities, and all those overseas that view 'The Jesus Film'. After through research and surveys, we landed on the name CRU. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

Jessica's Experience in Santa Monica

Jessica is going to be a senior at UCSD and our first Greek leader in Chi Omega! I wrote about her in my last newsletter (see link on the right), but here is a re-cap from her about all God did in her life this summer!

"There are so many times where I just sit and am so utterly blown away by my God.

I thought today of how reaching down to us is probably a similar experience as to us reaching down into toilet water. Him in all His perfection and glory and sovereignty chooses to reach down to these people who let sin run rampant and destroy this beautiful world that He created and yet He looks on us with love?

One of the best nights of my life was Monday night. I love the moments that are so insanely characteristic of God that we just look to Him and laugh. How he takes our precious 'plans' and reeks havoc in a way that blows our mind. Listening to a gay atheist start weeping as he sang "How He Loves" caused God's redeeming power to literally cripple me. He breaks the chains that everyone else gives up on. No one has been created for anything or anyone other than our Father. And we can sit here and say that as many times as we want, but do we believe it? until we get smacked in the face with the fact that maybe the one who we thought could never grasp God's love understands it more than us all. in this moment, right now. as he is leaning on God's children crying out to our Father. and yet we stand there unmoved by Him. paralyzed in our chairs. paralyzed by our thoughts of what others think of us. freedom in worship, not only in singing but in daily actions, in thought, in simply being able to experience life in a way that screams of your knowledge of your Father, is the most beautiful freedom. we may look crazy, but isn't that what people in love are supposed to look like?

Sitting with my roomies at our last discipleship today was one of the weirdest things of my life. I think it blows me away how much God is willing to answer if we just simply ask. You want to know how to pray? Let's talk. You want to know what it means to rely on me? Let's start peeling away. And the crazy part is how much He holds our hand through it all. He guards our hearts when we can't. in a way that we can't comprehend. He isn't afraid to reach into the toilet water. He meets us where we are. and finds joy in it. in us.

I prayed with a girl to accept Christ on Sunday for the first time. (!!!!!!!!!!!) It was the most insanely beautiful thing of my life. I will never feel adequate to do God's work. And yet at the same time, it was at that moment I realized that this is what I was truly made to do. There is no greater joy. No more insanely ecstatic mixture of emotions than praying with someone and leading them into the arms of our God. Pray for Daisy :)

So tonight is my last night of this trip. I am staying in Santa Monica for two more weeks to continue working at Quiksilver with one of my best friends here. So be praying for that place please, God's not done using us there yet :)"

Thank you for praying for Jessica! I'm excited to see all God does in and through her this year at UCSD!