What does it take to begin a relationship with God? Do you need to devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? Must you become a better person so that God will accept you? Learn how you can know God personally.
Learn the basics of what Christians believe.
Get the answers to frequently asked questions on Christian beliefs and practices.
Explore answers to life's biggest questions.
We all have a story. Read about individuals who have been transformed by faith.
Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth.
Explore resources to help you live out your life and relationships in a way that honors God.
Find resources for personal or group Bible study.
Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus.
Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring.
Develop your leadership skills and learn how to launch a ministry wherever you are.
View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages.
Have some fun taking various quizzes and assessments to learn about yourself and others.
Volunteer abroad this year on a short term global missions trip offered by one of the best, most-reliable Christian missions organizations in the world.
Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries.
If you're looking for the best Christian jobs and careers, check out Cru's ministry job openings for full- and part-time missionaries and professionals.
Live in another country building relationships and ministries with eternal impact.
Would you like to give your time to work with Cru? We need you.
Find a Cru event near you.
Use your hobbies and interests to find the best place for you to serve.
Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others.
Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city.
Partnering with urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs.
Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation.
Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage.
Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school.
Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide.
How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus.
Answers to questions on donations, financial policies, Cru’s annual report and more.
What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation.
Learn about Cru's global leadership team.
When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen.
Leading from values so others will walk passionately with God to grow and bear fruit.
Because ethnicity is part of the good of creation, we seek to honor and celebrate the ethnic identity of those with whom we serve as well as those we seek to reach.
Today we encounter a wide variety of questions related to sexuality and gender. As followers of Christ, we want to navigate LGBT+ questions in a way that is compassionate to people and faithful to scripture.
Showing God in action in and through His people.
Hear what others are saying about Cru.
Only until Dec 31 - your impact will be doubled, up to $550,000 total, to reach even more students.
Most people have good intentions when they reach out to a combat veteran and want to help and support. But sometimes they respond with questions or comments that should have been left unsaid. Perhaps they did not really think the comment or question all the way through.
As concerned Christians, we want to offer the veteran a safe, open, non-judgmental environment for them to talk about whatever they want to talk about in their own time. To help you cultivate this environment here is a selection of comments which can “close doors” and some alternative “door openers.”
Did you kill anyone? Did you see any dead bodies? What was the nastiest or most disgusting thing you saw over there? (What would be the purpose of questions like this?)
Door Opener: I don’t know how I would react to the things you must have seen. Or, I cannot imagine the things you have gone through. Can you tell me how you are coping with them?
Are you glad to be home? (A veteran might hear, “Are you glad that you are no longer in a situation where you are getting shot at?” and wonder if you are concerned enough to think through what you are asking.)
Door Opener: I am glad you are home. Could you tell me about the conditions you had to endure while over there?
How are you doing? (Only ask this question when you are willing to stay and listen to the answer. Many times, the veteran doesn’t know how they are doing, know how to express it or feel safe to really express their feelings and state of mind. It is okay not to know what to do with the answer. You are not there to “fix” it for them but merely to give them a safe place to express their feelings. Sometimes just being there so the veteran can “debrief” can be enough.)
Door Opener: I won’t ask how you are doing and I will listen to you if you would like to talk about it. Could we meet for lunch tomorrow?
Did you see the news? There was a story about a troop loss in … (The veteran has “lived” the news and doesn’t need to relive it. Very likely they know people who are still fighting and dying.)
Door Opener: Do you hear from your friends that are still over there? Have you had a chance to connect with the guys you came home with?
Do you feel guilty about what you had to do over there? Do you think God could ever forgive you? (Do you need to ask questions like this? They are loaded with judgment – yours, not God’s. Just about every combat veteran has some measure of guilt. Those who make it home alive may have survivor’s guilt. Those who participated in direct combat had to make decisions that resulted in taking human life, possibly including the innocent. These veterans often have tremendous guilt and may not be able to find release. But God is an all-forgiving God and does not put a limit on His forgiveness. Find ways to help them accept the forgiveness God provided in Christ and to forgive themselves.)
Door Opener: I am glad you did what you had to do to come back to us. You may have areas where you cannot accept God’s forgiveness, what might those things be? Sometimes the things we beat ourselves up over are the things we feel God cannot forgive. What are some of the things you beat yourself up about?
Just be grateful you made it home alive. You didn’t die over there. You just need to get over it and be happy you are home now. (Statements like this are often intentional door-closers and can be received like a slammed door in the face. Some combat veterans wish they had been killed in action along with their battle buddies. It makes coming home more difficult than actually being in combat. The veteran knows what is expected during the heat of battle. There is no training manual for coming home and there is no debriefing that can fully prepare the veteran for how difficult it might be. As a result, many desire to go back because there they know who they are and how to survive.)
Door Opener: Being back home is nothing like being over there, is it? What are some things that you are thankful you have now that you didn’t have over there?
(Thanks to Andi Westfall for her input and suggestions!)
Valor is the Cru ministry for college and high school ROTC cadets and midshipmen, veterans on college campuses, and cadets at foreign military service academies.
One of the greatest challenges soldiers and their spouses are facing is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Learn how your church can care for military families in crisis.
Although being with his soldiers at life's most perilous moments is part of his job, Chaplain Zell is also a counselor to the men day to day, helping them with their relational and spiritual needs.
©1994-2023 Cru. All Rights Reserved.