Movements Everywhere

Changing Culture and Increased Fruitfulness

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 | Uncategorized | No Comments

As I write this, I am flying back from a meeting with many of our global leaders. Some of those leaders are focused on student-led movements. I had the privilege of talking with a number of them informally concerning university students today and how to minister to them.

Wanting to Know If the Christian Life Really Works

There were some trends we had all observed. One was that students are increasingly interested in what really works for us as Christians. They want to know the difference Christ can make in an individual life.

What does that mean in our witnessing? One thing is that we need to share our own experience with Christ in a more comprehensive way versus just giving a brief testimony. Over the last 20 years, I have found myself sharing more of how Christ gave me peace in tough circumstances, and how He gave me a sense of success and significance far beyond what worldly achievements ever brought.

I have also found that the impact of explaining how Christ has been real to me is multiplied if they express similar needs. This life-to-life connection motivates people to hear how they can have that same kind of relationship with God.

New Ways of Learning

A second thing some global campus leaders and I discussed is the change in how students prefer to learn. Today’s students seem to absorb more lessons from discussions with their friends than from listening to a lecture or reading a book. This “oral learning” trend has a major impact on how we can best disciple students. Lectures need to be shorter and have fewer points. Teaching sessions need to be frequently interspersed with times of discussion in small groups. We need to allow for “self-discovery.”

Pulling from the earlier point, students also want to see how what they are learning applies to their lives. It is more important than ever to have an “application time” in Bible studies and training sessions. It is also powerful to encourage students to share what they have learned with their friends. That ministers to their friends, but it also increases learning retained by the student who is sharing.

What Kind of Church Experience They Prefer

Another observation we noticed is that students want to see an enrichment of their church experience to include an abundance of relationships and opportunities to participate in the lives of the friends they have at church. Listening to a good sermon and singing some worship songs doesn’t seem to be quite enough.
I helped plant what started as a house church in Orlando, Florida. One of the most significant things we have done to cater to this intense need for relationship is to have one hour set aside for having supper together. (We meet on Sunday nights). Needs are shared more rapidly and candidly when just a few people are talking together over some food.

We also have “gospel communities” which meet in homes during the week. It is normal in these groups for there to be non-Christians present who want to see and hear what Christians really talk about and act like. Many of these non-Christians have come to Christ. Some of these new converts have become quite active in the church.

Final Reflection

It was interesting to reflect on how students have changed in the last 10 to 20 years. But what was even more exciting was to discuss new and better ways to minister to students in light of those trends.

Changes in the marketplace should never serve as gravestones for ministry, but rather as doorways to new fruitfulness. So when you run into tough challenges doing ministry, don’t give up and settle for less effectiveness. Instead, be inspired to develop new ways to be even more fruitful.

Using Life Experiences to Touch Others

Friday, December 16th, 2011 | Uncategorized | No Comments

On  a  recent trip, a friend and I were speaking by phone when he asked my advice concerning his future because he was thinking of a job change.

I was in the boarding area waiting for my flight back to Orlando.  As the conversation continued, I boarded the plane while still talking to my friend. Even as I took my seat in the plane, I was still talking to him about how he could discern God’s will for his life.  When the plane was ready to pull back from the terminal building, I had to hang up.

Apparently the woman in the seat next to me overheard my phone conversation. She was a Christian and also wanted to know God’s will for her life.  To be honest with you, I had planned to sleep on the flight because I had slept only a few hours the night before.  But I certainly didn’t want to pass on such an obvious divine appointment.

For the next hour and a half I had the privilege of leading her through a personal planning process that I have used and taught for 40 years.  She took careful notes, asked questions and wanted to see how this applied to certain current opportunities she had.  By the end of our time she had some specific action points.

Afterwards, it occurred to me that God used my specific experience to minister to her.  How many other people on that plane had an extensive background in teaching personal planning – especially from a Christian perspective?  It is interesting that God placed the two of us together and had me talking about the subject within her hearing.

I believe that God gives us concepts and experiences, in part, so that we can use them to minister to other people.  For example, in the area of comfort and encouragement, Paul says in II Corinthians 1:3-6:  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.  For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.  If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.

Think of what God gives us which can be useful in ministering to others: education and training, our life experiences, life experiences of friends (which we experience alongside them), and knowledge of the Bible from many years of daily personal devotional times.  We practically possess an arsenal of ministry capability waiting for deployment in the spiritual battle.

We shouldn’t be surprised when God causes our paths to cross with people who need what we have to offer.  In fact, we should expect that to happen.  As we meet and interact with people, we should look for “match ups” of their need with our experience and ability to minister.

As we see God orchestrate that week after week, each day becomes an adventure.  I believe we can pray, “Lord, lead me to people today whose lives I can touch with what You have given to me.”

Changed Lives, Relationship that Matter and Uncommon Opportunities

Monday, November 14th, 2011 | Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Recently, I was reflecting back on my two years of involvement with Campus Crusade for Christ when I was a graduate student at Harvard Business School. Why did those years have such a lasting impact on my life with God and my choice of career?

As many of you know, I made a commitment to Christ during the summer before graduate school. I saw how much Jesus had changed the lives of some students my age and concluded, “That’s what I want!”  What I don’t share as often in my testimony is the back story and those who were influential in it.

First, there was the Campus Crusade group in my hometown that summer. Then, there was a couple from the church I grew up in. They regularly opened their home to our Campus Crusade group after we played volleyball in a park nearby. All of these relationships mattered and made a difference in my spiritual growth.

I attended a basic training at the Campus Crusade headquarters later that summer. There I learned about the Spirit-filled life and how to explain my faith, and had the amazing opportunity to lead a young man to Christ on the day of outreach.

Soon after arriving at graduate school, a fellow student approached me about participating in a small group study for student leaders. Joining them quickly gave me relationships at school that were oriented toward God and ministry opportunities. Four of us from that group roomed together our second year in a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) program. We became very involved in the Campus Crusade ministry in the Boston area, finding ways to invest our time strategically for the kingdom.

The four of us had the privilege of doing our MBA research project on the ministry, interviewing 100 staff members and spending double the normal time for such projects. The opportunity was enormous—a chance to be helpful to such a strategic ministry. We actually presented the results in a meeting with Bill Bright.

As I look back on those two years, I realized what got me started and kept me involved were three things: changed lives, relationships that mattered and uncommon opportunities to make my life count for God.

We recently hired a top research organization (Brand Trust) to interview people who have been involved in our ministry. They were trying to discover why people joined us, why they stayed, and why they increased their involvement. They discerned three main themes:

1 – Changed Lives
2 – Relationships that Matter
3 – Uncommon Opportunities

In light of my experience, I wasn’t at all shocked by these findings. That was why I joined, stayed, and increased my involvement with Campus Crusade. The same things motivated my roommates to be involved.

Think about your own experience. My guess is that you were motivated by some or all of the same things.

So why am I talking about this? Because those three elements must be present, in strength, in our ministry today if we hope to have people be involved with us as co-laborers and partners, let alone as staff members.

Therefore, here are some questions for you to think about:

1. Are you seeing God change lives in your ministry? Crucial to that is modeling and teaching the Spirit-filled life.

2. Are you seeing small groups of multiplying disciples form where the relationships involved have purpose beyond just being friends? Those kinds of groups have a profound impact on their members.

3. Are strategic, significant opportunities regularly offered to your disciples? Do they see specific opportunities to make their lives count?

If we hope to see movements of spiritual multiplication spread, people associated with us must see and experience those three important things. If they are not, what can we do about that?

God Can Use Us “Along the way”

Monday, October 17th, 2011 | Uncategorized | No Comments

In August I went to Korea to speak at the Global Mission Society’s 100th anniversary.  It was a wonderful chance to address many missionaries of the largest missionary sending agency in the country.

As I reflected on my trip, a number of personal encounters stood out as much as the actual speaking times.

For example, on the flight from Orlando to Atlanta, I sat next to a woman named Carmen.  She slept most of the trip, but as we were landing she awakened.  After a few minutes of conversation I asked her if she read very much.  She said “yes”, and I gave her a copy of an evangelistic book because I assumed she was not a Christian.

Then she said, “Thanks, God bless you.”  I asked if she was a Christian.  She said “yes.”  I asked if she was active in a local church.  She sheepishly said, “no.”  I suggested an excellent church near her in Orlando.  She said she would visit there soon and thanked me for taking the time to help her.

When Jerry, my assistant, and I arrived at the Incheon Airport, we were greeted by Hau and Choi, GMS missionaries in Southeast Asia.  They brought along their seven-year-old daughter Hwi, who reminded me of my grandchildren.

Over the course of the conference Jerry and I got to know their stories, dreams and challenges.  We arranged to arrive back at the Incheon Airport early to have coffee with them and pray.  On the ride there Hwi drew some pictures and gave them to me.  It is hard to adequately express in a few written words the depth of connection we experienced.

As we parted there were hugs, and they went down the escalator from the restaurant.  Jerry and I went to the balcony and waved good-bye as they walked through the ticket-counter area to the front door.  Several times Hwi looked back to see if we were still watching them.  We waved again and again until they were out of sight.

On the flight from Incheon to Atlanta, Jerry and I struck up a conversation about the talks I gave at the GMS conference.  That led to the topic of what it really means to be a missional Christian.  We concluded that Christians must live out the Christian life, love the people around them and take proactive steps to minister to others in ways consistent with the opportunities God gives each person.

Shortly after, a man came up from the row behind us. He had been listening to our conversation and said, “I am a Christian and am doing some things to serve God, but I am not fully surrendered to the will of God for my life.  I want to be, but I know I’m holding back.”

We must have talked for half an hour.  We found out the man was a highly skilled developer of business opportunities.  He could size up situations, arrange for needed resources and help drive new projects to implementation.  He also pastored a small local church part-time.

The conversation ranged from understanding the Lordship of Christ to maximizing the use of his gifts to help fulfill the Great Commission.  I gave him some materials to understand how the Spirit-filled life works practically.  Jerry shared some great insights he had learned.  At the end of the conversation we arranged to send him some more materials and talked about the possibility of his helping our ministry embark on new projects.

As I reflect back on the trip, I find myself thanking God for the privilege of touching lives “along the way”.  Oh, by the way, I did speak three times in plenary sessions at the GMS conference.  And I met with various leaders.

But I am so grateful that God kept me alert to divine appointments.  Jesus helped blind Bartimaeus “along the way” to somewhere else.  He touched the life of the woman who had been subject to bleeding “along the way” to helping Jairus’ daughter.

To be honest, I can easily get so focused on where I am going that I miss God’s “along the way” opportunities.  Maybe that happens to you sometimes as well.  Let’s commit together to ask God for special sensitivity to notice all that He has for us to do – even “along the way.”

Steve

“If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Monday, September 26th, 2011 | Uncategorized | No Comments

The Apostle Paul directed these words to his readers in Rome, his brothers and sisters in Christ. Can you think of one question more appropriate, as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the movement?

Our upcoming Worldwide Day of Prayer, October 4, should once again be a wonderful time of worship and adoration of the Lord Jesus. It will also be a unique day of prayer, acknowledging our neediness before Him as we head into our seventh decade of ministry.

If you are like me, it is easier to pray when you feel burdened with a need. And today, headlines shout about of a world in turmoil. Such chaos, of course, is of no surprise to God. But situations of civil unrest, natural disasters and economic crises across the globe are creating a huge reservoir of need from which we can unite and pray. We can pray for those who hurt. And we can pray that in the ache, many more people will entrust their souls to God.

As we look to bring the gospel we can expect to encounter resistance. But in response to confusion, concern or spiritual opposition, we bring praise and petitions to a God who is greater, stronger and able to overcome.

Paul’s question in Romans 8:31 was the passionate conclusion to an amazing description of who we are in the Spirit and the realities of following Jesus in this world. God is for us. That single fact defeats any and every foe against us.

Do prepare your heart for our time together in prayer. Judy and I encourage you to take a careful look at Romans 8 with your team in these days leading up to October 4. It will help you be ready for a day of prayer and for the future of Campus Crusade for Christ.

Yours in Christ.

Steve Douglass, President

P.S. Your team can always submit updates to global.prayer@ccci.org. A list of prayer points for the upcoming Worldwide Day of Prayer will be posted at www.GlobalPrayerMovement.org.

U.S. Name Change Offers Lessons

Tuesday, September 20th, 2011 | Uncategorized | No Comments

August after U.S. Staff Conference is always filled with memories.  This year was no exception.  I was blessed by the messages I listened to.  I also loved the praise and worship times.  “Our God is greater.  Our God is stronger” will be reverberating in my mind and heart for a long time.

However, this conference had one huge difference from past ones: the U.S. name change!  The announcement was the culmination of a two-year process, involving prayer, discussion and research.

As you know, after the announcement, the initial media coverage was positive or neutral.  But then it took a sudden turn to the negative, mostly on the issue of the name of Christ.  I marveled at how quickly and inaccurately people formed opinions and passed on why we were changing our name.  Very few people came to us to inquire concerning what really was our motivation and reason for the change. 

There were many things I learned from the experience:

1.       Treat others kindly, regardless.  To paraphrase the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you wish they would have done to you.” We have sought to be careful not to respond back with a mean spirit.  Also, I will be even more diligent in the future not to jump to conclusions about someone or about another ministry.

2.       Expect that some people will misunderstand your intentions and criticize you no matter how clear you try to be.  As Peter said in 1 Peter 4:12: “Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.”

3.       At the same time, listen to what critics say to discern the lessons God might have. The warning to us is don’t ever abandon lifting up Jesus Christ. That is absolutely correct. We must always seek to honor and glorify our Lord Jesus Christ. I thought we were doing that, but we must excel still more. In that context I am encouraged that we developed the new-name by-line long before the controversy: “A caring community passionate about connecting people to Jesus Christ.”

4.       But, also expect that your good friends will come to your aid in tough times.  For example, for ten years Judy and I have been meeting twice a year with the presidents and spouses of five other ministries to students – primarily in the U.S.  You may have read how some of them responded when I asked for a word of encouragement:

·         “There can be few ministries in the world that have a stronger commitment to Christ or greater faithfulness and passion in advancing the Gospel than Campus Crusade for Christ.” (Mike Treneer – International President, Navigators)

·         “For many years I have had the deepest appreciation and utmost respect for Campus Crusade for Christ…I support them wholeheartedly.”
(Denny Rydberg – President, YoungLife)

·         “We are so thankful for the boldness and consistency of Campus Crusade staff and students in pursuing our Lord’s Great Commission.”

(Alec Hill – President, InterVarsity)

5.       Even more importantly, expect that God will come to our aid in times of trouble.  I remember when Mutual Benefit Life declared bankruptcy.  They were managing our staff’s retirement funds.  Things looked pretty bad until God gave a miraculous solution to the problem and the staff’s retirement accounts were made whole. It is reassuring to know God is in control and He loves us deeply.

I often tell people that I like to learn new things.  It’s just that I don’t prefer to learn them this way.

I don’t know what your experience has been in recent weeks.  By the time you receive this newsletter, well over a month will have transpired since the announcement.  As of when I am writing, staff giving is actually up from a year ago.  My donors have been gracious in understanding the issues.  Yet I am aware that some donors have not been so understanding.

Know that Judy and I are praying for you and are trusting God for His supernatural intervention and special blessing at this time.

Steve

Back to the Basics

Thursday, August 18th, 2011 | Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Earlier this summer, Judy and I watched two of our grandsons, Carter and Aidan, play their last soccer game of the season. We had an early lunch with their two teams, watched them receive their trophies and went back to our house.

At about noon Nick, Debbie and their three boys drove out of our driveway, not to go to their home in Orlando, but to drive to Indianapolis—to their new home there.

Let me be honest; I shed some tears. For two and one half years they have lived in Orlando. We watched the boys begin to grow up. We had them over at our house often, to swing on our swing set and play. For the 10 days previous to June 4 they actually lived in our house –so we saw them first thing in the morning and prayed with them as they went to bed.

We bonded so deeply that when they left it was like part of our hearts left with them.

Let me quickly say that far worse things happen to people all the time – they become seriously ill, or severely injured. They lose loved ones. Their houses are destroyed.

But for me, at this moment in time, the departure of Nick, Debbie and the family was very sad. However, the good thing was that the emotional pain drove me back to the basics:

1.      Thank God in every circumstance.

That is what I Thessalonians 5:18 says: “Give thanks in all circumstances– for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

The second clause is compelling: “This is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” It is not just a nice thing to do, which will make you feel better. It is specifically and expressly God’s will.

Why would the Apostle Paul phrase it so strongly? For one thing because it tests our theology. If we can’t see our way through to thanking God, then we might be saying that God is not good, or perhaps He doesn’t love us, or maybe He really isn’t in control enough to have protected us from the “bad” circumstance.

In fact, that isn’t just a wrong view of God; it is actually an insult to Him. Many times as our kids were growing up, Judy and I had to say “no” to their requests.  Sometimes we heard the words: “You don’t love me” or “You don’t want me to have fun” or “You just want to make my life miserable.”

Of course, none of those statements were true. And it hurt to hear children say them. Didn’t they know we loved them? How discouraging and insulting. I can only imagine what God thinks and feels when we whine instead of say thanks.

2. Count your blessings.

I remember the old song that exhorted us to count our blessings and name them one by one. Perhaps that song had Psalm 103:2 as its scriptural basis: “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”

Now, let me go back to Debbie and Nick and the boys. When Debbie and Nick got married, they moved to Bozeman, Montana. It took considerable effort to visit them there. Then they had Carter, and then Aidan. The distance began to seem even greater. But then they felt called to join the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ and move to Orlando to serve with Global Media Outreach. What an amazing blessing! We were able to see them all the time.

Ethan was born March 14, 2009. I was to leave on a trip first thing that morning, but since Debbie was in labor, I slept with my cell phone next to me. Two hours before I was going to leave, I got word that Ethan finally arrived. I got up, showered and made it to the hospital before my trip. What a blessing!

On Saturday I saw Aidan score his first soccer goal. What a blessing! A year and a half ago we were able to walk through Nick’s severe liver disease with him and Debbie. What a blessing to be there for them!

This year we went to Sea World a few times together. What a blessing!

Many times Nick and I have talked about leadership, Internet ministry and other things. What a blessing!

During the 10 days they lived with us recently, Debbie and I went walking together most of the mornings. We reminisced, discussed challenges and laughed together. What a blessing!

I could go on for pages, but what became crystal clear to me was that, in His infinite love and provision, God gave to Judy and me experiences which far, far outweigh the few-hour flight that is now necessary to go up and visit them in Indianapolis. He turned sadness and an opportunity to complain into great joy and an incentive to thank and praise Him.

I don’t know what negative circumstances you may be facing today. But let God turn them for good. Thank Him and count your blessings. I can testify that it works!

Steve

Cast Your Nets Where Jesus Says

Sunday, July 3rd, 2011 | Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Well, what happened was indeed unreasonable and improbable.

One day in the late 1980’s Allan Beeber and I were talking about a possible new assignment for him. He asked, “What are some big needs in the ministry?” I answered, “One is to find ways to work on campuses where we have no staff there or even within easy traveling distance.”

We brainstormed a little about methods to use and imagined leading and coaching the student leaders “remotely.”

I remember we laughed at how unreasonable and improbable such methods were, but we agreed it was worth a try.

Well, what happened was indeed unreasonable and improbable. It took off. In a few years there were over 100 campuses being led through Student LINC. Eventually the mainstream field ministries took it over and called it catalytic ministry. Today, the majority of our U.S. campus ministries are guided by long-distance means.

Looking back, I wonder why we were surprised. From early in His earthly ministry Jesus asked His disciples to “cast their nets” in unreasonable places.

Consider Luke 5:1-7: “One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then He sat down and taught the people from the boat.

When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.”

Peter thought Jesus’ idea was not a good one. Nighttime was apparently a better time to fish and, more importantly, there seemed to be no fish around there at the time. Peter, illustrates the first reason we often resist Jesus’ directives for ministry.

1. Because we already know how to “fish”

I suspect Peter was thinking, “Jesus, stick to what you do well – teaching. Leave fishing decisions to seasoned fishermen.” How often do we reject new ideas because we proudly think we already know the answer?

I remember when some top marketing experts were giving advice when I was responsible for a nationwide evangelistic marketing effort called Power for Living. They kept saying that their experience showed them you shouldn’t do the campaign as quickly as we were contemplating.

Finally, I said, “The Arthur S. DeMoss Foundation leaders aren’t asking you whether to do the campaign now; they are just asking how to proceed while it is still the Year of the Bible.” Reluctantly they gave that advice. It was interesting that the campaign had a very high response rate – despite the “unreasonable” approach and pace.

2. Because “we’ve always done it this way”

Tremendous inertia builds up as we keep doing something year after year. That inertia causes most people to resist change.

I was in a meeting with a number of our top leaders from one international area. I was describing a new strategy that was working in the United States. One of the leaders asked, “Are we allowed to do that? We’ve never ministered that way before.”

I asked him if what he was doing was working well. He sheepishly said, “No.”

To that I said, “Well, if the horse you are riding into battle is shot and killed, dismount and find another horse!”

3. Because it is impossible

If I had $10 for every time “That’s impossible!” was said to Bill Bright, I’d be wealthy. For example, in the fall of 1969, he came back from attending a Billy Graham crusade. As he surveyed the crowd, he was given the vision of filling a stadium with mainly Christian students who could receive a week of training and be sent out to reach their peers, families and others with the gospel. So many of us in the leadership of Campus Crusade for Christ said it was impossible. But Bill sensed it was from God, and he persuaded us afresh that “with God all things are possible.”

Well, the rest is history: Explo ’72 – with 85,000 people being inspired, trained and sent out.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

How quick are you to respond as Peter did in Luke 5:5: “But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”? Are you willing to set aside what your experience tells you, if Jesus clearly says to do something different? Are you willing to venture from what you have “always done” to attempt even the “impossible”?

Let’s trust God together to cast our nets wherever Jesus says.