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JULY/AUGUST 2007 | VOLUME 34 | NUMBER 4
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![[ o u t l o o k ]](../images/t-outlook.gif){kind=small}
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Uruguay Great Expectations
As he got closer, he saw that one of them was Dario Silva, the famous Uruguayan striker known as Sa Pibinca, ("The Nuisance"), who has played for the national team as well as clubs in Europe. Javier was used to seeing him on television, not in person, but he recognized his bow-legged running stance. At first, Javier kept walking, but then he turned back. God has given me this opportunity, he thought. Javier loves to tell others about Jesus, though he considers himself a shy person. A lawyer by trade, Javier became a Christian through Vida Estudiantil, the name for Campus Crusade for Christ's college ministry in Uruguay. Through this ministry, he received training in how to communicate his faith to others. That day in the park, Javier struck up a conversation with Dario (left) on the sidelines. He promised the soccer star some evangelistic materials, though he didn't have them with him at the time. Javier tried to meet up with Dario the next day but was unsuccessful. A few months later, Javier heard on the radio that Dario was seriously injured in a car crash. Suffering a compound fracture in his right leg, Dario had to have it amputated, ending his soccer career. Javier felt compelled to meet with him, to continue the conversation they started in the park. Through persistence, he was able to get Dario's phone number, and he called him to set up an appointment. Dario agreed to see him. "It was no coincidence that we were able to meet in that park that day," Javier told the soccer celebrity as they sat in his home. Javier explained in detail about the faith that dramatically changed his life. He urged Dario to make the decision to follow Jesus, to turn his life over to Him. Dario gratefully accepted.
Javier continues to tell others about Jesus—especially people with high influence. "I share Christ with great expectations," says Javier. "I get a special joy in doing it."
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Arkansas Salon Talk
Lisa (at left, in chair) is a staff member of Life Builders, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ that focuses on one-to-one evangelism and discipleship. She often looks for opportunities to have spiritual conversations in everyday situations, like with her stylist. But while a hairstyle can be changed quickly, a person's spiritual outlook often can take longer to transform. Many conversations and eight months later, her hairdresser, Linda De Candia, still had doubts and was struggling with trusting in doing good things to earn her way into heaven. As Linda shampooed Lisa's hair one day, the two discussed the topic and decided to talk more at Linda's house. Lisa suggested they start a Bible study together and gave Linda some materials to read through before their next meeting. At her next salon visit, Lisa saw a noticeable change in Linda. "I'm absolutely sure," said Linda with a broad grin. "I'm going to heaven because I believe in Christ."
Lisa was smiling too. She was thrilled that God had used her to help lead Linda (above left, with Lisa) to Christ—simply because she was willing to talk about spiritual things with her hairdresser.
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India A Thousand Times
Graham had worked with lepers of India and helped translate the New Testament into the Ho tongue, a language spoken by 1 million people. It is this language, eight years after Graham's death, which became the 1,000th language translation for The JESUS Film Project®. Based on the Gospel of Luke, JESUS is the most translated film in history. Several elements go into each translation of the film. First, a missionary translates Gospel of Luke into the given language, as Graham desired to do into Ho. Then, the text is scripted to coincide with the original 1979 film. Afterward, voice actors (above) in the country read the parts, and the new language version is recorded. "It's a testimony of God's faithfulness," says John Meyer, who travels to record the film into various languages. "Those 1,000 languages mean that over 90 percent of the people in the world can hear, in their own language, the greatest story ever told." When dubbing is completed, missionaries take the film to the indigenous speakers. At the end of the film, they offer everyone a chance to accept Christ. "It's a historic milestone to see any film, but certainly a film that lifts up Jesus, translated into 1,000 languages," says Jim Green, executive director of The JESUS Film Project.
This month, the film will debut among a people where less than 1 percent currently follow Christ. Graham's death was not in vain.
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Estonia Fox Week
It's the time of year when more than 2,000 freshmen students in Estonia, a country situated just west of Russia, descend on the University of Tartu for orientation, called Fox Week. For many years, freshman students have been known as foxes, the origin possibly deriving from the Latin words faex or fux. As a staff member with Agape Estonia (as Campus Crusade for Christ is called there), Daire (pronounced DYE-rah) directs Fox Week in partnership with the university. For 10 years, Agape Estonia has helped to organize the event as a way to make the transition easier for new students. The week also serves as a way to give students spiritual-interest questionnaires. "Because of former Communist rule in our country, Estonians generally think God is for weak people who can't manage their lives," says Daire. Though more than 60 percent of Estonia's population is non-religious, on the surveys many students express interest in knowing God personally. Eventually the Agape staff members contact the students and build relationships with them. Seven years ago, Daire was one of those students. Lonely and hoping to make friends, her first contact with Christians was with those running Fox Week. "I desperately needed to feel love from someone," says Daire. "That's what I found in the people leading Fox Week." At first, Daire didn't show much interest in Christianity. Instead, she quietly observed the lives of Agape staff members and students. Later, Daire prayed and received Christ. Since Fox Week is where Daire first interacted with Christians, placing herself in the students' paths is of great importance. During one Fox Week, Daire met Age (pronounced AH-jay), who began meeting with Daire soon after to discuss her spiritual interests and prayed and received Christ two months later.
Every fall Daire looks forward to leading Fox Week and helping meet the students' needs, especially the spiritual—the most important need of all.
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MK2MK
Then three nights in a row, Don (left) was awakened with an idea. He had recently finished Josh McDowell's book that answers skeptics' questions about Jesus' deity, More Than a Carpenter, and he found a way to combine the message with another of his talents—illusions. "God gave me ways to combine the book's principles and my illusions quicker than I could write them down," says Don, who had previously worked as a cruise-ship illusionist for 10 years. He began an illusionist act, and incorporated the gospel into several parts. Every attendee receives a copy of More Than a Carpenter, and last summer, Don received more than 40,000 of the books to give away, a reminder that the Lord continues to orchestrate His plan with the show. "I get lost in the magic and the message and forget I am at a show," says friend and fellow illusionist Marc Vergo. "It revitalizes the power of the gospel for me."
Since he began the show, Don has seen 247 people accept Christ. "If you have a willing heart," he says, "the Lord is going to use you in ways beyond what you can dream."
With quiet assurance, Kristine asked God for strength to forgive her accuser, and patience to await the outcome. Her response surprised inmates and even herself, contrasted with her bitter temperament years before.
"She had chosen a peaceful, forgiving attitude before I even met with her," says Rene Brygger, a staff member with the Prison Ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ, who has helped encourage Kristine in her faith over the past three years. "We discuss how to live a victorious Christian life." Kristine exercised what she was learning while she waited. Finally the answer came; the accusation was dropped. But even before she heard the news, Kristine's faith had given her freedom.
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© Campus Crusade for Christ International. All rights reserved.
We welcome questions and comments!
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Being the child of missionaries isn't easy. Foreign cultures, language barriers and transitions often define their lives. But MK2MK, a Campus Crusade for Christ ministry, helps missionary kids embrace their parents' mission as their own. "MKs' common experience of isolation is disappearing," says Donna Kushner, who co-directs MK2MK with her husband, Yale, "and being replaced by global community." This summer, MKs from around the world will travel to Uganda for a mission trip with MK2MK. During last year's trip, 463 Ugandans indicated they had become Christians as a result of the MKs' outreach. For more information, visit 
Though Don Townsend loves working with computers at Campus Crusade for Christ's headquarters, more than a year ago he began praying for God to also use him to directly influence people's lives for Christ.
Due to good behavior, Kristine received word that she would be released early from prison. Then she was falsely accused by another inmate and faced serving 13 more years at Taycheedah Correctional Institution for Women.
