A different Spring Break

Posted on March 20, 2024 by Nate Miller
Unlikely friends, Tina (l) and Camryn (r) met in Bithlo, Florida outside Orlando.

Shocked is an understatement,” Camryn said. “I didn’t think there was a place in the United States that didn’t have clean running water.”

Camryn spent spring break in 2022, on Urban Immersion, a ministry outreach sponsored by Cru Inner City.

The weeklong ministry effort focused on Bithlo, a mostly forgotten enclave devoid of basic infrastructure despite being 45 minutes from Disney World outside Orlando, Florida.

When Camryn met Tina, the older woman was just six months sober after receiving assistance through Transformation Village, a partner ministry of Cru Inner City. 

Shortly after they met, Tina confided she spent more than a dozen years in prison for auto theft and drug-related felonies. She was legally free but restrained by the dual barriers of a criminal record and limited work experience. Tina spent her nights curled up under a truck, until she arrived at Transformation Village.

That first Spring Break, Camryn and Tina developed a deep bond. Their relationship prompted Camryn to return to Bithlo last spring break for her second Urban Immersion experience. “A year later, Tina is now 18 months sober and has a job and a license for the first time in 15 years,” Camryn shared last spring.

Now a senior, Camryn plans to return to Bithlo for a third Spring Break. “Without Cru Inner City, I assumed interacting with the underprivileged would only happen outside the United States. I didn’t realize how many people were homeless and trying to find a way to make it.”

Thank you for partnering with us as we serve behind the scenes. With you, we are grateful to be a part of what God is doing. We are thankful for you!

Posted in Campus, Evangelism, Inner City, Poor & Needy, Spring Break | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Coming to Living Water

Posted on February 14, 2024 by Nate Miller
Preparing rice for distribution to the hungry at a PACKHOPE event.

Clean drinking water is a daily concern for twenty-five percent of the world according to the World Health Organization. Unto, the humanitarian aid arm of Cru, partners with local churches to bring clean water to communities. Meeting this physical need opens doors for the gospel.

Unto recently partnered with churches in Southeast Asia to build over one hundred water catchment systems in a mountainous region where wells are not practical.

A nineteen-year-old mother received one of the water tanks. Following local custom, she had married at seventeen and quickly had a child. Her husband works at a factory far away and she only sees him during the New Year holiday. He would come home drunk and abusive. She joined the church after receiving the tank and became a Christian. Through her influence, her husband received Jesus and their marriage has improved.

Another family often went to the witch doctor (a common practice in this part of the world) for healing. The father became sick. He brought the witch doctor two water buffalo to perform a ritual to remove the evil spirit that was making him sick. The ritual did not heal him.

A short time later, Unto and a locl church provided a water tank for his family. The family went to the church and heard the gospel for the first time. The father accepted Christ and was released from his fear of evil spirits. Instead of seeking help from the witchdoctor, he visited a local medical doctor for his illness and was healed.

Thank you for partnering with us as we serve behind the scenes. With you, we are grateful to be a part of what God is doing. We are thankful for you!

CRU HEADQUARTERS PACKHOPE EVENT

  • Food—the number one humanitarian relief request of Unto.
  • PACKHOPE—Unto event where volunteers repack donated non-perishable food, like rice and lentils, for easier distribution to those in need.
  • 2—the number of days for the PACKHOPE event at Cru Headquarters.
  • 245,000—the number of meals packed.
  • 1706—the number of people who will be fed for one month because of this event.
Posted in international, Poor & Needy, Unto | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Updating a classic

Posted on January 24, 2024 by Nate Miller

In 1979, Cru stepped out in faith to create the JESUS film based on the Gospel of Luke. The past 44 years this film has been translated into over 2,100 languages, seen by billions, and been a part of 600 million people beginning a relationship with Jesus.

Like others, Cru staff members are constantly seeking ways to be more effective in sharing the gospel with those who haven’t heard. We are thrilled to announce JESUS (2025) — a new, animated film about the life of Jesus.

This animated film will be designed to reach families, new generations, and people of all ages with the story of Jesus. The film will be anchored in the Christian Gospels. It will use much of the original JESUS film’s dialogue but in a refreshed script. This means this new animated film will eventually be available in over 2,000 heart languages!

JESUS (2025) builds on the global impact of the original JESUS film, and more than 40 years of Bible translation work, language production, and strong relationships with local ministry partners. Over the years, we have worked with our partners to design resources that break language and literacy barriers so anyone can experience the story of Jesus—no matter where they are in the world. This will continue with the animated story of Jesus.

Our production team is comprised of world-renowned biblical scholars and archaeologists, alongside gifted and experienced digital artists whose credits include Pixar, Disney, and Star Wars films. These creators are utilizing ground-breaking digital innovations to deliver a film which can be viewed across many platforms, including virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and the Metaverse.

A global theatrical release is anticipated in December 2025. The film will also be available on digital platforms.

Thank you for being a part of changing lives around the world!

Posted in Evangelism, Jesus Film | Tagged , , | Leave a comment