Have you ever heard of deoxyribonucleic acid? No?
Well, maybe you would recognize it by its more common name, DNA. DNA is the central information storage structure of all living things. A living being’s DNA helps determine its size, shape, and a multitude of other visible and invisible attributes. While DNA can be difficult to see without the proper scientific tools, we see the results of DNA every day as we encounter various people, plants, and animals, each one unique and distinct.
In the same way, businesses, groups, and non-profits can have their own unique “DNA” that shapes their organizational structure, culture, daily practices, and interaction with the world. This DNA is what makes the organization distinct from other groups.
So, when we think about the DNA of Cru, what makes us unique? With over 70 years of experience and thousands of staff and volunteers serving in nearly 200 countries around the globe, defining what exactly makes Cru unique can be a challenge. The day-to-day activities of staff, students, and volunteers may look different from one location or ministry context to the next, but at the core, you will find a common DNA built around three keywords: win, build, and send.
From the beginning, Cru has believed that to fulfill our mission of “building spiritual movements everywhere, so that everyone knows someone who truly follows Jesus,” we must win students to Christ, build them in their faith, and send them to reach others. We believe that this process of spiritual multiplication is the means by which many will come to know the love of Christ. So, let’s take just a moment to unpack each of these three keywords.
Win
Since 1951, Cru has been committed to broadly and consistently sharing the good news of Jesus in hopes of winning people to Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:20 says that “we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!’”
We know that God created people to experience His love, walk in His ways, and live in fellowship with Him, so we take the first good opportunity to share how an individual can know God personally. Our hope is that as we lovingly interact with others, listen well, and provide a clear and compelling gospel message, many will choose to place their trust in Jesus.
We know that only God can call people into a relationship with Himself, but we take seriously the call to partner with Him in that work to tell others the good news about His wonderful grace (Acts 20:24). We know that “it is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16), so we join the Lord by taking the initiative to share Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and leave the results to God, trusting that He is at work to win lost people back to Himself. Because only God can change the human heart and give the gift of faith, we can share boldly without fear or pressure and continue to love others, regardless of how they may respond.
We know that God created people to experience His love, walk in His ways, and live in fellowship with Him, so we take the first good opportunity to share how an individual can know God personally.
Build
Jesus calls us to make “disciples,” not “converts” (Matthew 28:18-20). A disciple is a learner, committed to following Jesus, learning from Him, and being transformed into His image over a lifetime.
Young Christians will need a lot of guidance, encouragement, and support in this process as they seek to live out their new identity in Jesus. Cru movements around the globe are marked by a commitment to help people grow in understanding key truths about their new relationship with Christ.
To help establish them in their faith, Cru uses tools like basic follow-up Bible studies to help them understand key concepts such as:
- Assurance of their salvation
- How to experience God’s love and forgiveness in an ongoing relationship with Him
- How to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit
- How to grow as a follower of Christ
Christian growth works best in the context of a healthy faith community, so Cru also provides opportunities for students to study God’s Word, walk by faith, share the good news in relationships with others, and get connected to a local church. In these ways and more, Cru is committed to building up people in their faith, to the glory of God.
Send
Cru believes that part of being a Christian involves helping other people learn how to have a relationship with Jesus. Whether a student, a businessperson or a stay-at-home parent, every follower of Jesus has the opportunity to tell others about Him. To that end, Cru seeks to equip others with tools, strategies, and methods to clearly and consistently communicate the gospel.
We recognize that in many situations, natural “insiders” are the best and most effective missionaries. When students catch a vision for being sent back to their campuses as missionaries, the gospel is able to enter spaces and relationships beyond the reach of staff and adult volunteers. Students naturally move about in their campus ecosystem, interacting with classmates, teachers, teammates, and friends in a variety of natural groups. By helping students see themselves as “sent,” Cru is able to exponentially multiply our efforts to reach the campus.
In addition to reaching their local context, Cru provides students with a variety of stateside and international mission opportunities. These missions can be a week, a summer, or even a year-long internship. In each instance, students are trained in evangelism and discipleship strategies to share Christ with others and help Christians to grow in their faith. Our hope is that students involved with Cru will develop a vision for their own personal calling as sent missionaries wherever they go.
Cru Through and Through
So, whether you are interacting with Cru on a high school campus in rural Tennessee or with college athletes in Tanzania, “win, build, and send” will be at the very heart of what we do. Though the context may change, and the methods may look slightly different, Cru staff, students, and volunteers are committed to winning people to Christ, building them in their faith, and sending them out to reach others. This has been the hallmark of Cru ministries for over 70 years, and will continue to be the DNA that makes Cru, Cru.
