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Some people in this situation might feel, "I only got 300, so I failed. I didn't do everything that Bill hoped I'd do." But I learned in working closely with him over the years that he wasn't upset that you didn't do the 500. He knew that if we were challenged to bring 500, but only recruited 300, well, that's a lot more than 100. It took me a few years to understand that.

Bill is the man who has most influenced my life in another way—his incredibly close walk with the Lord. I have been with him in every kind of situation for 41 years, and with Bill Bright what you see is what you get. I've also known other Christian leaders for whom that's not always the case.

When I was 25 or 26, Bill was going on some really important trip, and I needed to talk to him, so I took him to the airport. I had to pick him up in a place I wasn't familiar with, and I got lost.

Bill could have jumped all over me for making him late, but I noticed that he did not seem bothered or upset—even though this now meant he was going to have to fly across the country all night. When I let him off, he just said, "I guess the Lord has somebody he wants me to share with on another plane. We'll see what happens."

WHILE BILLY GRAHAM is gifted at speaking to hundreds of thousands all at one time, Bill Bright's gift was speaking to hundreds of thousands one at a time. As the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, Bill created the largest Christian ministry in the world, yet his real legacy is the millions of people he either personally or corporately led to faith in Jesus Christ.

Bill Bright's little booklet The Four Spiritual Laws is the most widely distributed religious pamphlet in history. It has been printed in at least 200 languages and read by an estimated 2.5 billion people.

Now add Bill's role as producer of the Jesus film, a feature-length documentary on the life of Christ, which has been viewed by more than 5.1 billion people speaking 800 different languages in 234 countries, and you can begin to see just how large a shadow this humble man cast across the entire second half of the 20th century.

I first met Bill in Seoul in 1974 while serving as a short-term student missionary. When I returned to California to finish college, I'd often drive to his Arrowhead Springs headquarters to gain wisdom from this spiritual giant. Over the years, our conversations were pivotal in my development as a leader, and I will deeply miss his counsel and friendship.

Bill believed in a big God, so he had big dreams and took big risks. God honored that faith over and over again. His vision extended to Saddleback Church. In the early years, Bill proved to be one of the few Christian leaders who understood our strategy for reaching the unchurched, so he continually encouraged my wife, Kay, and me when others criticized us.

Bill also taught me that simple tools change the world. Millions of people now have faith in Christ because of tools he developed such as The Four Spiritual Laws, the Jesus film, The Spirit-filled Life booklet, and The Ten Transferable Concepts curriculum. My own passion for creating the purpose-driven life and church tools came from his example.

Copyright © 2003 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Previous Christianity Today coverage of Bright includes:

Evangelicals lose three pioneers | Remembering Bill Bright, Paul Brand, and Larry Burkett. (Aug. 11, 2003)

Weblog: Campus Crusade for Christ Founder Bill Bright Dies at 81 | Former "happy pagan" went on to form one of the largest and most efficient parachurch ministries in the world. (July 21, 2003)

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October 2003, Vol. 47, No. 10