From Harvard to South Africa

Harvard students gather for Bible Study in the church in Harvard Yard.

I’m afraid your students are a bit too messy for us. You don’t really want us and quite frankly we don’t want you,” the distinguished Reverend Professor of Christian Morals responded in an eloquent British accent. The Cru staff members at Harvard had asked if they could use the church in Harvard Yard for a weekly Cru meeting.

Despite the initial rejection, after twenty-three years and a growing friendship, the church in Harvard Yard now hosts many Cru meetings.

At a recent Cru weekly meeting students shared how God had been working in their lives at Harvard.

But these students are not just changing Harvard. They are partnering with other college students to take the gospel to the impoverished village of Mamelodi, South Africa.

Despite a branch campus of the University of Pretoria located in the middle of the village, only 3% of Mamelodi children qualify for college. Surrounded by high brick walls, most Mamelodi children don’t dream of setting foot on campus.

Over the past seventeen years, many Harvard students have invested their summers tutoring these children.

This past January, in partnership with the University of Pretoria, 250 Mamelodi children and 80 volunteers gathered for tutoring inside the walls of the university.

The morning speaker shared a profoundly clear gospel message. Dozens of hands rose when he asked who was ready to place their faith in Jesus.

God is using students from Harvard to change the lives of children in some of the poorest areas of the world. You help make this possible. We are grateful for you!

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Bringing Hope to Marriages

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

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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