Sticker Shock with Charities!

Recently, as I [Pete] was checking a myriad of tweets (I'm a very sporadic Twitter user), I came across a link to "The 50 Largest US charities ranked by total income" which included Campus Crusade for Christ. To say the least, I was intrigued how we'd stack up!


According to this report (download the PDF here), Campus Crusade ranks #30th in terms of total income but more significantly we are the ONLY charity where compensation of highest paid official is less than $100,000! In fact, the next lowest was close to twice Campus Crusade's highest paid staff member -- hint: that's not us :-) !!

Ok, so comparison can be a bad thing, as it can lead to either jealousy or self-righteousness, but I believe there is a place for a report like this as both the workers and the donors have a right to know how their gifts are used... it's part of stewardship!

We are blessed to work for a ministry where financial accountability and stewardship is a core value! Please know that your generosity is going directly to fund this work. We are humbled to serve like this and we praise God for you in Christ Jesus.

Thank you so much for your faithful and generous support of our ministry and family!

With love,
Pete and Carra

Reverse Trick-or-Treat (Growing a Bible Study)

This is Amber and Caroline.  They (along with Nicole - not pictured) lead a Bible study at UNC Greensboro.  I know, they are wearing Clemson and Carolina t-shirts, but they really go to UNCG :-)

Since the beginning of the semester, they have been leading a freshman girls Bible study in one of the parlors of a freshman dorm.  Last month (sorry so late a post) they decided that the whole Bible study (11 girls) would go around the dorm on Halloween and bring candy to anyone who was in their rooms.  They met lots of new girls and invited them to the Bible study.

The next week two girls they met during the "reverse trick-or-treat" outreach came to the Bible study.  In addition to that, another girl randomly passed the parlor and said, "This is a huge study group."  Amber and Caroline said, "actually this is a Bible study, want to join us?"  And she did.  And all three girls are still coming regularly.

What makes this extra neat is the timing in the semester.  Most Bible studies are established by September and very few new people begin coming after that.  As the semester gets busier and students are becoming more involved in their established groups - seeing that kind of increase is really, really rare.  But God is definitely at work on this campus!  Thanks for praying!

On the campus, for the campus,

Pete and Carra

A Great Conversation

In the photo are Amber and Mary, student leaders who I (Carra) have the privilege of mentoring each week.  Amber is on the left, Mary on the right.  They are students at UNCG and women who have a passion for growing closer to Christ.  I love watching God work in their lives!

So last week I was beginning our weekly mentoring time with Mary.  Within minutes, she excitedly said, "I had a great conversation with an atheist today!"  I had to hear the details.  She and a random guy happened to be walking the same way back from campus last week.  From a question of "so what are you listening to on your ipod?" to "so are you religious?" Mary shared that though he may see her as "religious,"  she doesn't define herself that way.  She described her walk with Christ as a relationship - not a religion.  I was really pleased with how she handled the conversation.  Here are a couple of quotes:

Mary asked, "So do you believe in absolute truth?"
He replied, "It depends."

Later on a bit, she asked, "Do you think there is such a thing as right and wrong?"
He replied, "Sometimes."

She hadn't seen this guy before so there's not a good way to plan future conversations.  However he met a Christian young lady who knew her faith and how to articulate it.  And.... you never know their paths might meet going across campus again.

On the campus, for the campus,

Fall Retreat Praises

This was the most attended Fall Retreat in the Triad's history!  We had over 150 students from UNC Greensboro, High Point University, Greensboro College, Wake Forest and Guilford Technical Community College!

The weather was perfect ~ The speaker was challenging ~ Students were glad they came.

Fall Retreat is so key for building connection and momentum.  Without the shared experiences offered by Fall Retreat, many students become disconnected from the movement and often fall off from the ministry. As you can see, we had a "Down at the Barn" party on Saturday night.  After a weekend of being challenged spiritually and having fun - they're bonding!

On the campus, for the campus,

I want more...

It has been a busy week on all the campuses. Hundreds of students have been contacted (and hundreds have attended the first main meeting). Bible studies have begun this week on most of the campuses.

When Pete and I were at Clemson University, the small group Bible study was a huge part of our growth. The large group meetings provide momentum and solid teaching but the Bible studies are where students really discover Biblical community.

When I went to my first Bible study, I remember there was a girl who asked for prayer for her first date, and another who talked about how much she wanted to live just like Jesus and struggled with doing that. It was the first time I saw my peers honestly and outwardly desiring a close walk with Jesus. It made me want more.

We are praying that in all these small group Bible studies - there will be young people who see their leaders (fellow college students) and their walks with Christ and also say, "if this is what being a real follower of Christ is like, I want more..."

On the campus, for the campus,

A Critical Time

It feels like everyone is vying for the minds and hearts of college students.

For us, it’s not about whether they get involved in Cru – it’s about the people they are and who they will be when they leave this very short time in college. Will they pursue knowing God while in college? Will they be more in love with Christ when they graduate? Statistically, most will not.

• Dawson MacAlister, national youth ministry specialist, remarked that 90% of youth active in high school church programs drop out of church by the time they are sophomores on college.
  
• In a report to the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, T.C. Pinkney observed that 70% of teenagers involved in church youth groups stop attending church within two years of their high school graduation.

Barna, George, Revolution (Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, IL, 2005), p. 48-49 Pinkney, T.C., Remarks to the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, Nashville, Tennessee, September 18, 2001.

Please pray for new students we meet through the outreaches. We literally have hundreds of contacts. Pray that the students who are interested in discussing what it means to follow Christ or joining a Bible study would connect with our Cru students (or other solid campus ministries).

On the campus, for the campus,

Six-year old's perspective

Last night we spent about three hours having dinner and conducting training with our Bible study leaders. They were preparing to help give away over 500 water bottles, Bibles, tote bags, etc. to new students in exchange for a brief survey on their spiritual interests.

During most of this time, our girls camped out in the back of the room watching videos on the portable DVD player and eating yummy "student food." Occasionally Gracie would come up to the meeting part, crawl up on one of our laps and listen in to the training and student responses.

Towards the end of the meeting- the groups (each Bible study has 2 to 3 leaders) gathered together to pray for the outreach and that God would fill their studies with new students.

This morning Pete was talking to Gracie about the day. He asked, "What was your favorite part of the meeting last night?" (amongst the typical answer "the videos," we got an sweet unexpected response).

Gracie replied, "I liked listening to the students pray."