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November 23, 2009
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Home > 2003 > July (Web-only)Christianity Today, July (Web-only), 2003  |   |  
CT Classic: Campus Crusade Into All the World
Bill Bright leads a spiritual revolution




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Mexico. Fifty Crusade "action groups" of college students are functioning weekly on campuses. At least 2,000 reportedly received Christ during a "campus invasion" at the 110,000student National University in Mexico City, and nearly that many registered decisions in a similar outreach at the 65,000-student National Polytechnic University where Christian students were allowed to speak in 220 classroom meetings.

France. The Forerunners, a traveling Crusade music group, opened the way at a university in Orleans. Half of the large audience asked for follow-up interviews, and "discovery groups" were formed in all six residence halls.

Colombia. Crusade's activists are under attack by Communists, but leaders expect to have 2,000 students in weekly meetings in Cali soon.

Brazil. During a leadership institute workers practiced their new methodology on campuses and beaches and from door-to-door, and reported that half of those they spoke with made decisions.

Indonesia. In a high school class on religion in Djakarta, a Crusade-trained student wielded his "Four Spiritual Laws" booklet (it's in dozens of languages) and all 112 of his classmates said they wanted to accept Christ.

Pakistan. Leader Kundan Massey says there is "tremendous fruit" just now among Moslems and Hindus (workers make them renounce other gods), and that many educated persons are turning to Christ. The liberal-oriented West Pakistan Christian Council representing more than 500 churches has asked him to conduct schools of evangelism for all its pastors, and these are under way. An Anglican priest led his congregation through the Four Laws at a Sunday worship service and dozens of members walked forward to pray to receive Christ. Similar happenings—and accounts of personal renewal—were reported by other clergymen.

Finland. New staffer Lassi Kontula, a divinity student, says there are more young Christians in his land than ever -"and they are more active than ever before." There has been opposition from Communists, but 150 Crusade action groups continue to hold forth on every campus in Helsinki.

To complement the ministry abroad, Crusade three years ago launched a ministry to reach the 150,000 international students in this country. "These are the cream of the crop, the future leaders of their countries," explained Massey. "Yet 80 per cent return to their lands without hearing the Gospel here." Indeed, until now more of them have probably returned as Communists than as Christians, say many observers.

About fifty Crusade staffers have enlisted so far to work with international students. Meanwhile, Crusade's lay contacts are being urged to open their homes to touring internationals. Bright and other leaders are convinced that nationals must bear the prime responsibility for reaching their respective nations with the Gospel.

Amid the blessings are some headaches too. Crusade's current budget is about $2 million. An administrative aide says that must be hiked next year to $5 million in order to keep abreast of goals—and to $200 million by 1980. So far staffers have had to raise their own support (ranging from $285 monthly for a single rookie to about $950 for a veteran with four children, with housing and auto allowances extra), but the Arrowhead Springs property still carries a hefty mortgage, there is plenty of overhead, and the foreign work must be staked until it is self-supporting (Australia and Canada have reached that status; Korea is nearing it). Yet Bright believes God will continue to supply all needs.

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