Wes Brenneman reread the letter to allow the exciting news to permeate. As director of Campus Crusade for Christ in the Pacific Islands, he had just received a letter saying that nearly 5,000 cult members on the island of Tanna now believed in Jesus. Soon, Wes and other staff members traveled to the island to see the evidence firsthand and record what they observed.

The 10,000 islanders used to follow a strange cult messiah called Jon Frum, insisting he was a former American GI who would one day emerge from a volcano. But in September 2004, missionaries came to Tanna to become partners with the missionaries on the boat Dayspring III to show the JESUS film. They also brought other evangelistic materials, along with lessons to help new believers grow in their faith.

The islanders saw truth in the film, and many placed their faith in Jesus instead of the cult messiah.

Leaders on the island even asked if the group would leave the projector and film on the island so that more people could know Jesus. As a result, Wes and the others found a total of more than 300 villages and 7,000 islanders who now believe in Christ.

At one village of a few hundred people, they met Silas Iou, a missionary who teaches school and leads the church. They instantly noticed that the village was different than the others on the island. "[The villagers] seemed more animated, their eyes sparkled, they smiled more, andÉthey were happy to see us," said Wes. Staff videographer Bob Rictor described the village as "organized, clean, and emanates order and peace."

Throughout the village, Pastor Silas had set up leaf shelters with painted pictures teaching the Bible, theology and Christian living. He is determined to help rework the people's beliefs and teach them new truths about Jesus. "I added another name to my list of heroes of the faith: Pastor Silas Iou from Tanna," says Wes.

Campus Crusade's focus now, together with the churches in Vanuatu, is to provide resources for the islanders to grow in their faith and be able to tell other islanders about the gospel.
—Michelle Toy

Gregoire Ndayongeje had set up three appointments, but was disappointed when only one man showed up.

In Cotonou, Benin, a tiny country in West Africa, Gregoire had visited an office hoping to tell employees about Christ. Although two of the people he hoped to meet with were gone, Gregoire (second from left) began to explain the gospel to one man, using the Four Spiritual Laws booklet.

At the end of the booklet, the man prayed with Gregoire and invited Christ into his life. "Then he quickly entered other offices [down the hall]," says Gregoire, "while loudly shouting, 'Come, come, listen to some news!'" The man brought three other employees to listen to Gregoire, and two of them also prayed and invited Christ into their lives. He gave each of them a copy of the New Testament.

Gregoire was part of the first phase of Operation Jericho, an evangelistic outreach in the 66 largest cities of French-speaking Africa.

"Nearly 300 Campus Crusade staff members from the 17 countries [in French-speaking Africa] came together and were trained in movement building and in how to implement Operation Jericho in their cities," says staff member Daniel Diaka.

Also, more than 1,000 pastors and volunteers from 187 churches in Cotonou were trained in evangelism and discipleship.

During the week, more than 88,000 people heard a clear presentation of the gospel, and approximately 9,000 people indicated decisions to receive Christ.
—Becky Hill

Five years ago, Ken Wilson's life was tragically interrupted when his wife of 40 years passed away unexpectedly during surgery. Ken became very angry and would stand in his backyard shouting at God.

His neighbors became concerned, and one of them suggested he meet with Jim Furr, a staff member with Campus Crusade for Christ's Executive Ministries.

So Ken, the director of economic development for Sand Springs, Okla., began meeting with Jim and attending the EM Bible study in Tulsa on Wednesday mornings with 30 other men. There he began deepening his relationship with the Lord. "Jim helped me through this crisis," says Ken.

He also began to grow in his desire to see other lives changed with the gospel.

Hoping to reach more executives in his own suburb, Ken organized a Bible study in Sand Springs with two of his colleagues.

They also decided to host an event for other businessmen. They asked a recognized community leader to speak, and 40 men attended.

The results were encouraging: Eight men indicated beginning a personal relationship with Christ, six were interested in joining a Bible Study, and two were interested in knowing God personally. Also, 20 men said they would like to be invited to future events.

"People who are successful walk around with masks on their faces looking like they don't have any problems," says Ken. "But we all have the same spiritual problems. Executive Ministries has helped me see we all have common shortcomings, and there is strength in leaning on one another and the Lord."
—Michelle Toy

Yang-Sheng Sun was lonely and homesick. The Taiwanese student, who came to the United States to work on his doctorate, didn't have any friends at Virginia Tech.

But also at Virginia Tech was Isaiah Goodall, a senior involved in Campus Crusade for Christ, who wanted to get to know international students and tell them about Jesus.

"I really believe that God works through relationships," explains Isaiah.

Isaiah's language partner, Oh Chan, introduced the blond American to Yang-Sheng Sun, who goes by the name Anderson. Isaiah developed a friendship with him, too, and introduced him to his other friends.

"I started to know many Christian friends," says Anderson. "What I saw are almost the same characters in these people. They all had very kind hearts and a friendly attitude."

At first Anderson (far left) told Isaiah that his parents were Buddhist but that he didn't believe in God. Then he said he thought Christianity was a very good religion and he was interested in learning more about it. "He was so receptive that I questioned if he really understood," says Isaiah.

Isaiah (above, second from left) invited him to a camp with Bridges, the branch of Campus Crusade that reaches out to international students on college campuses. At the camp, Anderson met Blair Pippin, a staff member with Bridges.

"When I met Anderson," says Blair, "we started talking about what we do at Virginia Tech, and I told him that I worked for Campus Crusade for Christ. His response to me was, 'That's great; I'm not a Christian yet, but I want to become one!' It's the response missionaries dream of hearing!"

Blair explained the gospel to him and offered that he could invite Christ into his life right then. Anderson was eager to do so. Afterward, remembers Blair, "The next thing he said was 'I can't wait to tell my family!'"
—Jennifer Abegg

"Are you angels?" Howard, a homeless ex-con, asked the group of college students. "I've never talked to God before, but just a few minutes ago I asked God to help me start life over and do right. Then you come up and talk to me about God caring about me!" Howard was one of many inner-city residents with whom students interacted last year as part of Urban Immersion, a spring-break event hosted by Here's Life Inner City. This year, between 600 to 900 college students will serve in six cities.
—Becky Hill
For more information, visit www.seizeit.org.



Indiana

Although a TV announcer for the Indiana Pacers and a CBS college-basketball analyst, Clark Kellogg also uses his communication skills for God's glory. Staff members with Athletes in Action (the sports ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ) and Fellowship of Christian Athletes asked Clark (on right) to emcee the Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast.

The event for business executives is held the Saturday before the Final Four college-basketball tournament, with players and coaches from all Division I schools invited.

"It's a fabulous way to get a big day in the sports world started," says Clark.

It also serves another purpose.

A past or present player or coach is presented a special award for exemplary character, integrity and faith on and off the court.

All Division I schools are asked for nominations, then the list is whittled down to four, and a winner is chosen. In 2003, Clark won the award.

Last year, 1,300 people attended the event—mostly Christians. Yet after Clark presented the gospel, 122 indicated they had accepted Christ. "Because of Clark's heart and humble attitude and how genuine he is," says AIA staff member Dave Lower, "he resonates with the audience."

The Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast will be March 31 in Atlanta. For more information, call 1-800-416-9473 or visit www.aiasportslegendseries.com.
—Jennifer Abegg


Russia

A movie star wants to make God famous instead of himself.

Igor Petrusenko is an established Russian actor who has played in 12 Russian films, including Hothouse Effect, a film about homeless teens, which is in Russian theaters.

"Acting is a job, a job that I love," he says. "It's my favorite job. But it is only a job."

Igor (left) set aside acting for a time so he could attend Campus Crusade for Christ's New Life Bible College in Moscow. He wants to learn how to become a better evangelist and be trained to be a pastor. Although acting is a profession, serving God is a purpose, he says. "Ministering to people from the Word of God is a calling in life," Igor says. "I went to the best schools to learn to do a job. Now I'm going to New Life Bible College to learn to fulfill a calling."
—Jennifer Abegg


Campus Minsitry

Campus Crusade for Christ traces its roots to college ministry, and the Campus Ministry remains the largest arm of Campus Crusade more than 50 years later. Their mission is to turn lost students into Christ-centered laborers.

U.S. 2005-2006 school year statistics:

»Total number of staff members: 4,133
»Students involved: 48,376
»Exposures to the gospel: 8,019,579
»Indicated decisions for Christ: 84,859