Bringing Hope to Marriages

Posted on April 19, 2023 by Nate Miller

Bob’s hopes were dashed when his wife walked out minutes into the first Friday evening session: “Are You Living the Dream?” Downcast, he followed her.

Ann continued walking down the long hotel hallway. Bob stopped at the elevators to collect his thoughts. That is when a FamilyLife counselor approached him.

Bob was so embarrassed by his wife’s behavior and his dashed hopes that he barely made eye contact. He couldn’t put into words the pain he was feeling. The counselor briefly asked God to soften hearts, open minds, and heal hurt.

Ann finally rejoined Bob and they left the ballroom area. Not knowing if the couple had left the conference, the counseling team prayed they would return and work through their struggles.

The next morning the counseling team was excited to see Bob and Ann at the session. They attended the rest of the weekend. During the final testimony time, Ann was the first to stand in front of 500 people, declaring, “Bob is the champion of my heart!”

Others have said, “I didn’t expect to fall in love with my husband all over again.” Wife of 10 years.

“Perfect timing… coming off 3-month separation and near divorce.” Husband of 42 years.

“We were greatly encouraged that we have to work towards intimacy and that there is always hope!” Wife of 4 years.

“Our best date night in years. This weekend helped make that happen, and for that, I’m grateful.” Husband of 30 years.

God is using the Cru ministry of FamilyLife to bring hope to hurting marriages and to strengthen solid marriages. We are grateful for you!

Whether your marriage is flourishing or floundering, a Weekend to Remember conference may offer the tools to make immediate and lasting improvements to your relationship.

Normally $350 per couple, Cru ministry partners like you can attend for $100 per couple (plus hotel, parking, and meal costs). Please contact us for the promo code.

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God’s Personal Care Restores

Posted on March 31, 2023 by Nate Miller
Students from around the world gather in prayer and worship.

Physical and spiritual healing can go hand-in-hand in the Bible.

Hima had never heard that God loves Him personally. He grew up Muslim and experienced God as distant and unknowable. In spite of this, he decided to attend a Cru conference for international students.

The first day of the conference, he was intrigued by videos about God revealing Himself in human form through Jesus.

The next day he was eager to learn more, but a severe morning headache and a spike in his blood pressure kept him from joining the meetings.

He approached a Cru staff member to explain why he needed to be absent. The staff member asked God to heal Hima in the name of Jesus. To Hima’s surprise, his headache quickly subsided! He was convinced of God’s personal care for him.

Later that day, he asked Jesus to become his Savior. Hima told his fiancée about his experience, and the next day she also prayed to receive Christ!

By the end of the conference, two more Middle Eastern students had started to follow Jesus, and the hearts of dozens more were softened by His love and forgiveness.

God is moving in the hearts of international students Thank you for being a part of changing the lives of students like Hima and his fiancée. We are grateful for you!

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Specific Prayers Answered

Posted on February 27, 2023 by Nate Miller
Cru staff members at Eastern Kentucky University use cookies to connect with students.

Abby was quietly sitting at a table in the Penn State student union sipping her Starbucks and listening to AirPods when a Cru staff member and student greeted her. They had just prayed to be led to a person who wanted to talk about Jesus.

At first, Abby seemed standoffish, but she responded enthusiastically to questions about her worldview. She grew up what she called a “chrester,” someone who goes to church only on Christmas and Easter. However, she started taking Christianity more seriously at the end of high school.

When she got to Penn State, she wanted to prioritize her faith but there were so many distractions she didn’t know where to start. They asked, “Is prioritizing your faith something you want help with?” With a smile on her face, Abby said yes!

Cru staff members in Tallahassee, Florida also saw Jesus answer their specific prayers. They prayed that they would be able to talk about Jesus with someone who had made a New Year’s resolution to know God.

At the end of a day on campus, the staff gathered to share what they experienced. Most of them had long afternoons of “so-so conversations” but two of them were beaming!

A student named Brady had decided to follow Jesus. Guess what opened the door to share the gospel? Brady had made a New Year’s resolution to grow closer to God.

Thank you for partnering with us as our behind-the-scenes service enables Cru staff members to talk with students like Abby and Brady. We are grateful for you!

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