Knowing What Counts.

It's no secret: I like numbers. One of my favorite ways to use numbers is by counting things. (In fact, I'd love to stop writing right now and count how many times on this blog I've started a post with the phrase, I like numbers).

I've always liked counting things. Sometimes I feel like Harold Crick from the movie Stranger Than Fiction. (I know I've made that reference at least once before on this blog...)

But I love something more than the process of counting things. I love living my life in a way that counts. Even as a kid, I knew I wanted my life to count for something. I knew that I could use my talents and abilities to do something great.

What better to do than to pursue the American Dream? The nice house, the car, a suit and heels I could wear in my corner office in a big skyscraper downtown that would make me feel powerful.

The problem with that was, my life wouldn't count for anything once I was gone. I'd earn a lot of money and spend it all on myself. It would be fun, but I forgot to count something. I only had one life, and my desire not to waste it was stronger than my desire for my version of the American Dream.

I love knowing that I count. And it's not because I do well at my job, or have a nice car or apartment or friends, or money in the bank. I count because I'm a human being, created in the image of God. I count because He loves me - not because of the good I do (which would never be enough!), but because He says I count.

All I have is one life, and this life is only a dot on the timeline of eternity. Why not use my one life to count in ways that matter after I'm gone?

In college, our CCC movement used to count how many people we shared the Gospel with, how many people we had spiritual conversations with, etc. We used to explain that to others by saying We count people because people count. It wasn't about being rewarded or chastised for your number - it was about keeping track of how many lives had been impacted that year by our small group of student leaders.

By living life in light of eternity, and impacting those around me, I can multiply my life, and really make it count.

What God Has Done

Check out this video for some of the ways God has used the US Campus Ministry of Campus Crusade in the last year:

Top 10 Questions about the Name Change

1. Why is Christ no longer in the name?
2. Why did Campus Crusade for Christ change its name?
3. Who made the decision to change the name?
4. Who was involved in the process?
5. How were the staff involved in the process?
6. What does Vonette Bright think about the new name?
7. Why did we hire a brand consulting agency?
8. Campus Crusade for Christ has inherent meaning. Cru has no apparent meaning. How do you explain that?
9. Does Cru carry the negative connotations of the word “Crusade”?
10. Why did we take the name “Christ” out of our name?

Each of these questions have run through my mind, along with many others over the last 48 hours as I've thought about the name change. Visit this website for answers and even more frequently asked questions.

Campus Crusade for Christ becomes Cru

Two years ago, at our US Staff Conference here in Ft. Collins, CO, our leadership announced that the board of directors had approved a motion to consider changing the name. Over the course of these two years, there has been an incredible amount of research, discussion and much, much prayer over this decision.

This week, at our US Staff Conference, they revealed the new name: Cru. There have been many sessions and discussions concerning the process of searching for and deciding on a new name. After taking everything in, it is very, very evident to me that the US Leadership of CCC has been lead to this name by the Lord.

It's been interesting to reflect on the name change and think of the history of CCC. Even in the 70s and 80s, founder Bill Bright talked about the possibility of changing the name of the ministry.

I feel confident that this is the right decision for us at this time, and that our organizational leaders and staff involved in making this decision have truly sought the Lord on this.

the Lisu people

This morning I went to church with a friend I was visiting in Bellevue, Nebraska. The church had a guest speaker, Jesse, come in and share a little about his ministry. He is a missionary the church has supported for many, many years, working with the Lisu people in Thailand.

My heart was so moved for this man and his work with this people group. I don't know a thing about them, but as I saw photos of the people - graduates of a Bible Institute he started, children in Sunday School, his small team of people helping him translate the Bible into the native language - I could not hold back the tears.

There are over a half million believers in the Lisu people group, but they do not have a Bible in their native tongue. It took Jesse and his team of 10 people more than 6 years to translate both the old and new testament.

This one man's life has been used by God to influence thousands and thousands of people. I was so moved by his story, and the way that God can use one person to bring him so much glory. What a great reminder that each life is important to God.

During his update, Jesse said, "it's hard to make Christians without the Word of God." Here are 500,000 Lisu people trying to live a life pleasing to God and walk in His ways - without a Bible. I have a handful of Bibles, yet it's been awhile since I've picked one of them up for any significant amount of time. I pray often for the Lord to work in my life, for the Holy Spirit to move in my heart - but my lack of time in the Word of God shows the emptiness of these pleas.

Perspective.

If by chance you're checking in to see if I've blogged lately about the summer projects returning... I haven't! Sorry. Well, I guess this one technically is about them, because I just wanted to leave a quick note that I am so amazed at the things God's done this summer through our six international projects. I was reading some of the project director prayer letters the other day and got the more extreme case of goosebumps I've had ever! Pretty soon tears were streaming down my face after taking in all that they shared through a simple newsletter.

The Gospel going out into the world to people who are destined for death without it is one of the most important things in my life. The redemption that is possible through Jesus is the best news ever, and I never want to lose sight of that.

It's ridiculous how often I lose sight of this mission. Even in the midst of my role in ministry this summer with our projects, I lost sight of the purpose: bringing glory to God through sharing the life-changing Gospel with others.

More on this later, because this is supposed to just be a quick note. Stay tuned for stories from all around the world ... can't wait to share them!

A note from India

A staff friend of mine from Nebraska is leading an international summer project to her region's partnership location in India. Here's an excerpt from a recent e-mail of hers that I thought I'd pass on:

The past few weeks here in Bangalore we’ve had the opportunity to work on several campuses. Our company here is present and working on 6 campuses, we have such a unique chance to get to work with these students who are the future leaders of this country and get to help out with what the team is doing here. There are over 7 million people in the city and just about 2% of them are christians, which seems to be a bit daunting at times. To add to that, there are several different main religions here. One minute you could be talking with a Muslim student and the next you could be speaking with a Hindu student, both with very different beliefs and so it has been difficult to adjust to the many different ministry needs.

As many of you read in my last email, my passport was ruined during a monsoon while we were in Mumbai. I cannot thank you enough for your prayers, because I have really seen God’s provision in this area. I decided to continue to travel to Bangalore with the rest of my team, and once I got here I was able to get a train ticket from here to Chennai, the nearest US consulate in order to get a new passport. A LOT had to happen in order for this to work, for example, most of the time train tickets here are booked 3 months out simply because of the number of people that live here. I showed up at the train station one morning not really knowing what to do or where to go, and a random stranger at the station was nice enough to wait and help me for 45 min while I filled out all the paperwork. Also it just so happened that they have a special foreigner ticket here that I was able to get for the very same day. AND there is a Cru staff team in the city I was going to that was able to meet me at the train station and drive me straight to the consulate and the consulate who is normally booked solid just happened to have one appointment open that day. The Lord provided in unbelievable ways, and I already received an email that my new passport is already finished! Please continue to pray though, I need to courier my old passport to them in Chennai and wait for the them to send them both back to me. I’m not necessarily worried about the time as much as I’m worried about one of both of my passports getting lost somewhere along the way. Please pray for everything to go smoothly with that and I will continue to keep you posted.