Friday, November 04, 2022

Life and Death

In the world we live in, we experience this yo– yo of incredible joys and deep loss. I can’t help but think of all the billions of folks in our world who don’t know “eternal life” available to them! When people who don’t know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior die, the darkness of being eternally separated from God is their reality/fact. BUT GOD, we (Mike and I) have this incredible privilege to give others the opportunity so that “Everyone knows someone who truly follows Jesus!”

New Staff Training Fall 2022
In September, I (Leslie) helped train 38 new missionaries with Cru. These new Cru Staff members span recent college graduates, those who completed a year internship with Cru, even couples who are in their 60s! Hearing their call to ministry was a reminder of the incredible God we serve. Here are a few new staff In my workshop (photos below): One couple, from Ohio, joined staff with Family Life as they have been profoundly impacted by that ministry and their marriage is in a flourish state as a result. Another couple, retired from the military and have grandkids, are compelled to spread the Good news of Jesus Christ to those in military service. A young family man who worked with athletes shared his calling: “I was pushing athletes so hard to “win” the game, when what is more important is winning their souls for Christ on the athletic field.” Training room of New Staff Orientation

His ministry assignment is on a collegiate campus to work with athletes.
What’s exciting is how God uses ordinary people serving as missionaries in: high school and college campuses, athletics, military forces, cities, neighborhoods, overseas…to draw those around them to Himself. The Harvest really is PLENTIFUL (in our neighborhoods, athletic teams, military bases, students…) There are many places where the Gospel isn’t. Early on in my ministry training I learned and memorized this scripture, and it is branded in my mind: “Then he [Jesus] said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field’ (Matthew 9:37-38).”
Leslie with her training class at New Staff OrientationThank you for your partnership to pour into, train and mobilize labors for the Harvest. Together we change lives, so they know Jesus personally and have eternal life.