In Brazil, military service is obligatory for men when they turn 18. In Belém, Brazil, navy recruits are also required to hear Campus Crusade for Christ's Four Spiritual Laws, a four-point presentation of the gospel.

It started when naval captain Vilas Boas attended a monthlong training session at Campus Crusade's New Life Training Center in Brazil. The Christian officer learned the importance of winning people to Christ and building them in their faith. As the officer in charge of training new recruits, Capt. Vilas asked Campus Crusade staff member Valdí Daniel to present the gospel to each new class of recruits that went through the navy training in Belém, a port city at the mouth of the Amazon River.

"These recruits come from long distances," says Valdí. "They are away from their families in a strange place with people they don't know. That tends to create situations that lead to bad behavior."

However, in the first class, 133 of the 140 recruits indicated they received Christ after hearing Valdí and three others speak about Christianity. In the second class, 127 of 130 recruits also indicated decisions to follow Christ. Following the presentation, a local church sent each recruit a letter acknowledging their decision and inviting them to a Bible study at the church.

The recruits' responses have made a visible difference. "The captain said he can see an immediate difference in the behavior of the recruits," says Valdí. "They are much less disobedient and much more responsive after this event than before."

Another change is evident at the end of the training. The graduation ceremony for new recruits is now held at a church. Because so many of the recruits have begun personal relationships with Jesus, the graduation ceremony is now also a worship service.

The captain has asked Valdí to give the presentation to navy recruits in other cities, and there is also a possibility of the outreach spreading to the air force and the army. "This is the beginning of our military ministry in Brazil," says Hank Hornstein, who leads Campus Crusade in Brazil.
—Jessica Cline

On the field they are opponents; in life they are friends.

Ryan Longwell, placekicker for the Green Bay Packers, and Josh Bidwell, punter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, met in college. At different schools, both got involved in Athletes in Action, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. In 1999 the Packers sent Ryan (left, number 8) to scout Josh for the team. Soon both played for Green Bay.

Steve Newman, a staff member with AIA, spiritually mentors Ryan. Then Ryan initiated a similar mentoring relationship with Josh to talk about their spiritual lives. "Ryan built into Josh's life naturally," says Steve.

In 2004 Josh signed to play for the Buccaneers, which meant a move to Florida. "I miss him every day without question," Ryan told the Wisconsin State Journal newspaper. "It's one thing to have a friend and a good teammate, but I would say he is my best friend, other than my wife."

As Josh moved ahead, even earning a spot in the NFL's 2006 Pro Bowl, Ryan's mentor gave the kicker a new goal. "I challenge Ryan to pick out someone each year to build his life into," says Steve, who mentors Ryan over the phone weekly.

Ryan now meets with Packers teammate Aaron Rodgers, a rookie second-string quarterback, to discuss their relationship with Jesus. Says Steve, "The chain is still going on."
—Jennifer Abegg

Mongolian art and culture flow through Ankhchimeg Bagbaatar's blood—her father is a famous dramatic actor, and her brother is a painter. Ankhchimeg herself is a musician, playing the piano and the shanz, a traditional Mongolian three-stringed lute.

At age 13, Ankhchimeg began attending a prestigious music academy in Mongolia's capital city of Ulaan Baatar—a city renowned for its art and culture.

Ankhchimeg was immersed in the art scene. But she was miserable.

"One of my deep desires was to find friends whom I could share with freely," says Ankhichimeg, who is now 20. At home, her family had trouble relating, except when discussing art. At school, the environment was so competitive that it only increased her loneliness.

About four years ago, a friend from school invited her to attend a meeting of Action, the Campus Crusade ministry to students in Mongolia. At the meeting, the speaker gave a talk on loneliness—how God's love is the greatest love a person can experience. Ankhchimeg was struck, committing her life to follow Christ.

Not only did the living God become her friend, but so did many of the other students from the gathering, including many who share her affinity for the arts. "They gave me such a warm welcome," she says. "Several of them dedicated time to help me understand the knowledge of God."

Just last year, Action ministry leaders started a group specifically for art and culture students. Ankhchimeg is on the leadership team, and 35 students attend the meetings each week.

Ankhchimeg often tells other artists she meets about her faith. One of them was an opera singer named Sogii, who indicated a decision to follow Christ. The most powerful thing she tells students like Sogii is how God became her greatest friend. "There is no loneliness in God's presence," she says.
—Chris Lawrence

Children's HopeChest works with 10,000 Russian orphans in 34 orphanages around Russia teaching orphans about God's love. The Russian government asked the agency to teach HIV/AIDS and drug/alcohol prevention.

To help teach the children, HopeChest's 80 staff members have been trained to use a character-based curriculum created by CrossRoads, a ministry of Campus Crusade. "This is probably the only way these kids will get in contact with someone who knows and follows Christ," says Matt Kavgian, of CrossRoads. To learn more, call (407)826-2490 or visit www.crossroadslink.org.
—Jessica Cline


Michigan

"I always seemed to notice her," says Melissa Huntley, a senior at Michigan State University. "But I never got a chance to meet her." During Melissa's sophomore year, a fellow African American stood out to her among the hundreds of other students in the lecture hall. "She seemed lonely," the 21-year-old remembers. "That's what prompted me to pray for her."

Involved with Campus Crusade for Christ, Melissa wanted this girl to experience God's love. But she never took the initiative to meet her. After that class ended, a year would pass before she would see the nameless face again.

In September of her senior year, Melissa (left, left) passed her on the street. Later that same week she spotted her two more times. "OK, Lord, this is weird," prayed the nursing student. "I don't know this girl, but I pray that if she doesn't know You, someone would share Your love with her so she can accept You as her Savior."

On November 2 Kerry Nienhuis (above, center), a Campus Crusade staff member and Melissa's Bible-study leader, had an appointment with someone who had become a Christian two months earlier. Kerry asked Melissa to join her. Waiting for the new Christian in Beaner's Gourmet Coffee shop, Melissa smiled when the girl arrived. The nameless girl walked over, reached out her hand and said, "Hi, my name is Susan."
—Gabriel de Guia


Military Ministry

Retired Air Force Gen. Jim McCarthy walked through a compound in Kandahar, Afghanistan, escorted by a Marine. He noticed the Marine had something in his pocket, so he asked him about it. The Marine dug out a small Bible.

"He said it was given to him onboard ship before he deployed into Afghanistan," says Gen. McCarthy. "He said a lot of his comrades were using them, and he found great comfort in his combat Bible." The Marine was one of more than 1 million soldiers who have received a Military Ministry "Rapid Deployment Kit," consisting of a camouflage New Testament, an Our Daily Bread devotional guide, and an evangelistic booklet—all in a waterproof bag that fits into uniform cargo pockets.

Military Ministry is Campus Crusade for Christ's outreach to military personnel and their families in the United States and 21 countries. To learn more, visit www.milmin.com or call 1-800-444-6006.
—Jennifer Abegg


FamilyLife

Eggs. That's what FamilyLife, the family ministry of Campus Crusade, developed to explain the gospel at Easter. Called "Resurrection Eggs," each of the 12 plastic toys contains an artifact that tells the Easter story.

"It was the best evangelistic outreach we've ever used," said Linda Paz of Everett Gospel Mission in Everett, Wash. "The women at the mission loved it more than the kids. We told the story over and over." To order, call 1-800-FL-TODAY (358-6329).
—Jennifer Abegg