A Bit About US
Campus Crusade for Christ began as a Christian student organization on the campus of UCLA in 1951. That year, Bill Bright and his wife, Vonette, leased a home near the campus and began telling students how they could know Jesus Christ personally. This ministry to the collegiate world spread rapidly as students on campuses across the country responded to hearing about Jesus Christ.
Others began asking for the same ministry training staff members and students were receiving through Campus Crusade. As a result, evangelistic outreaches developed among laymen, high school students, military personnel, athletes, international students, and through mass-media campaigns.
We present the simple message of love and forgiveness in Jesus Christ in an intelligent, sensitive, and effective manner through such evangelistic tools as the "Four Spiritual Laws" booklet and through contemporary uses of literature, radio, television, film, music, and other methods.
As men and women come to know Christ personally, they are taught how to experience a consistent and abundant Christian life. Then, through carefully planned follow-up programs, they learn how to follow Christ and become equipped to teach others what they have learned.
Our American staff now numbers more then 3,800 full-time and associate members. International staff members, representing 96 percent of the world's population, serve in virtually every major country and protectorate.
Experienced executives and graduates of some of the nation's leading business schools help direct the operations and overall planning from the World Headquarters.
Campus Crusade History
Campus Crusade for Christ was founded by Bill and Vonette Bright at UCLA in 1951. One year later, Bill Bright wrote The Four Spiritual Laws - likely the most widely distributed religious booklet in history, with approximately 2.5 billion printed to date.
By 1960, Campus Crusade was established on 40 campuses in the United States and in two other countries. During the 1960's the ministry began conducting international Christmas conferences and summer mission projects.
In 1983, a major event called KC'83 was held in Kansas City that drew 17,000 college students. Almost a decade later, in 1991, Campus Crusade relocated its headquarters from California to Orlando , FL.
US News & World Report rated Campus Crusade as the top religious charity in the United States in 1995. Money magazine ranked the ministry as the most "efficient" religious ministry in the U.S. in 1996.
By the year 2000, Campus Crusade for Christ International , the parent organization for the college ministry, had more than 24,000 full time staff members, and more than 500,000 trained volunteers serving in 191 countries. Founder Bill Bright passed the leadership torch to new president Steve Douglass, formerly executive vice president and director of U.S. Ministries in 2001.
What is Campus Crusade for Christ?
Campus Crusade for Christ is an interdenominational Christian organization. We work in cooperation with many local churches to aid the spiritual development of young men and women. Traditional, Christian beliefs are the core of the Campus Crusade for Christ movement. We hold to the essential claims of the Christian heritage including the birth, life, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
What does Campus Crusade for Christ believe?
The sole basis of our beliefs is the Bible, God's infallible written Word, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. We believe that it was uniquely, verbally and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, and that it was written without error (inerrant) in the original manuscripts. It is the supreme and final authority in all matters on which it speaks. We accept those areas of doctrinal teaching on which, historically, there has been general agreement among all true Christians. Because of the specialized calling of our movement, we desire to allow for freedom of conviction on other doctrinal matters, provided that any interpretation is based upon the Bible alone, and that no such interpretation shall become an issue which hinders the ministry to which God has called us.
How was Campus Crusade for Christ started?
When Bill and Vonette Bright founded Campus Crusade for Christ at the University of California , Los Angeles in 1951, the underlying concept was to "win the campus today and change the world tomorrow." By 1960, Campus Crusade had spread to 40 campuses in the United States and two other countries. Bill Bright began establishing a wide range of other ministries to reach various segments of the world. Today Campus Crusade serves as a network of more than 1000 growing movements on university campuses in the United States and approximately 220 campuses overseas. Campus Crusade's goal is to take the gospel to the 60 million university students in the world. Beyond that, nearly 70 ministries were created under the Campus Crusade umbrella.
Why does Campus Crusade for Christ exist?
Students often find themselves in an environment that is tearing away at their moral and spiritual stability. The campus environment exposes young people to many new ideas and worldviews. For this reason, Campus Crusade for Christ is present on hundreds of our country's college and university campuses, high schools and middle schools. We serve as a spiritual resource to students, providing information, training, relationships, opportunities and environments that are conducive to spiritual growth. Imagine the changes the world would see if every student had an opportunity to hear and respond to the gospel every year. Our goal is to see as many students go from a place of unbelief to a place of belief in God. We want to see students embrace the purpose, love and forgiveness that God offers them in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
What is your relationship to the local church?
Campus Crusade for Christ considers itself an arm of the Christian church with a focus in areas like evangelism and discipleship. We work closely with pastors and churches throughout the United States and in every country where we have ministry activities. Our statement of faith clearly maintains our belief in the deity of Christ, and in the authority and reliability of the Bible.
What does Campus Crusade for Christ do on campus?
We serve as a spiritual resource to students, providing information, training, relationships, opportunities and environments that are conducive to spiritual growth. Our goal is to turn lost students into Christ-centered laborers and we are committed to reaching every student with the gospel. To do so, staff members meet with students to answer questions, help them grow and develop their own ministry. Typically once a week, a large meeting is organized to unite everyone involved and offer opportunities to attract new people. The meeting can include drama, music and a speaker. Campus Crusade also sponsors outreach activities on campus to help all students to understand what it means to have a personal relationship with Christ. The goal is to help students understand the meaning and purpose that God has for life and help them to grow in a faith that will enhance every area of their lives and give them a desire to share the gospel with others in the world.
How is Campus Crusade for Christ funded?
Campus Crusade for Christ is a non-profit organization supported by donations from individuals, businesses, churches and foundations. Each staff member is responsible for securing contributions to cover his or her own salary and expenses. We are a charter member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability . Founded in 1979 by Billy Graham, the ECFA serves as a monitoring agency to ensure that non-profit Christian ministries maintain the highest ethical standards. Voluntary ECFA membership requires full financial disclosure and the exercise of sound fund-raising practices. An annual report is published and available upon request.
How is Campus Crusade for Christ staffed?
Staff members with the ministry are selected through a process that includes a written application, references and interviews. They are evaluated by their spiritual, personal, emotional and leadership abilities. All campus staff must also have a college degree. Staff members on the field are responsible for coordinating weekly meetings, instructing Bible studies, leading outreach activities and helping student leaders to develop in a number of ways. Staff members also serve in a number of leadership capacities on the national and regional level utilizing skills in technology, human resource management, communications, finances and research and development.