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How to Know God

Do you ever wonder what Christians believe? Who Jesus is, what he did and why it matters? Get answers to these questions and more.

Spiritual Growth

Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth.

Life & Relationships

Explore resources to help you live out your life and relationships in a way that honors God.

Bible Studies

Find resources for personal or group Bible study.

Share the Gospel

Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus.

Help Others Grow

Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring.

Leadership Training

Develop your leadership skills and learn how to launch a ministry wherever you are.

Video

Browse videos designed to help you grow spiritually, share your faith, and lead others well.

Language Resources

View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages.

Quizzes & Assessments

Have some fun taking various quizzes and assessments to learn about yourself and others.

Campus

Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others.

City

Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city.

Inner City

Partnering with urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs.

Athletes

Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation.

Families

Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage.

High School

Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school.

Military

Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide.

Locate Cru Near You

Explore Cru's global presence and discover how you can get involved in communities worldwide.

Events

Whether you're interested in conferences or local gatherings, there's an opportunity for you. Explore upcoming events and find your place to serve and grow.

Mission Trips

Explore domestic and global mission trips with Cru—serve, grow, and make an eternal impact. Opportunities for students, families, and professionals.

Internships

Explore Cru's internship opportunities—serve globally or locally, develop your skills, and make an eternal impact. Apply today!

Careers

Explore full- and part-time ministry careers with Cru—use your skills to impact eternity. Apply today!

Volunteer

Explore volunteer opportunities with Cru and use your skills to impact lives for eternity.

International

Explore global mission opportunities with Cru—serve, grow, and make an eternal impact.

What We Do

How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus.

Donor Relations

Answers to questions on donations, financial policies, Cru’s annual report and more.

Statement of Faith

What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation.

Our Leadership

Learn about Cru's global leadership team.

Cru Partnerships

When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen.

Values

Leading from values so others will walk passionately with God to grow and bear fruit.

Storylines

Showing God in action in and through His people.

Press

Access Cru's latest news releases, media contacts, and background information on our global ministries and leadership.

Contact Us

mailto:Donation.Services@cru.org

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What is poverty?

What is poverty?

A lack of money? A lack of education? Housing? Hope?

Yes, poverty is all that and more. At its root poverty is a lack of options. And nowhere in America do people have fewer options than in our inner cities, where 35 percent of the population find themselves in poverty’s shadow.

Meet Amber. She’s a single mom working two jobs to make ends meet. She just lost one job and is being evicted from her apartment. She needs groceries, but she has student loans to pay. And she has to get her daughter settled into a new school, again.

Organizations send Amber donations, hand me downs and meals. And those things help for a little while. But food runs out, clothes are outgrown, and next month, next week, tomorrow, Amber will be right back where she began.

Amber feels alone, and her world is looking darker every day. She wonders if the dawn will ever come.

But down the road from Amber is a church that has partnered with Cru Inner City. Together the church and Cru use a simple strategy called the Circle of Hope to create life-changing options for families like Amber’s.

While the church uses resources from Cru to connect with folks in their neighborhood, Cru empowers the church with training to develop families and individuals for long-term change.

Each piece of this strategy is driven by the heartbeat of hope: the gospel of Jesus Christ.

One day the church reaches out to Amber with a Thanksgiving meal delivered to her door.

Because of their partnership with Cru, when Amber visits, the church is able to offer her training on becoming employable, and even give her daughter a safe place to do her homework and receive Christ-centered mentoring.

Out of the darkness comes options.

But Amber’s circumstances aren’t just changing; Amber is changing. God has sparked something in her heart she wants to share with others: hope.

Poverty is a deep shadow, but when Jesus walked out of His tomb 2,000 years ago, the sun of hope began to rise.

Cru is linking arms with the church to share the transforming light of God’s love. One city, one community, one family, one option at a time.

When we create, we actualize ideas.

When we create options, we work innovatively to turn ideas into practical resources for families and individuals in need. Many of the devastating effects of poverty stem from a lack of options. By working together with friends and partners in ministry, we find fresh ways to apply the hope of the gospel to the many issues poverty leaves in its wake. The resources we offer are intimately tied to finding new life in Jesus Christ and bring compassion and valuable life training ... to the ultimate fulfillment of the Great Commission.

Learn more.

Since 1951, Cru has helped individuals who grapple with integrating faith into daily life by offering practical steps and community support. As a result, countless people in over 190 countries have been empowered to move from passive belief to active faith.