Close

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.

Mission Trips

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.

1-Year Full-Time Internships

Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries.

Careers

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.

Go International

Live in another country building relationships and ministries with eternal impact.

Volunteer Opportunities

Would you like to give your time to work with Cru? We need you.

Events

Find a Cru event near you.

Explore Your Interests

Use your hobbies and interests to find the best place for you to serve.

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.

Our Leadership

Learn about Cru's global leadership team.

Cru Partnerships

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

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.

0

Ben Carter

When I first got to college, one of my buddies from my hometown brought me to a Cru Bible study.

I had grown up going to church on Sundays, but I never really knew what it meant. I didn't understand that you have to surrender your whole life to Jesus and put Him in the center of your life.

So for a couple of years, I was going to Bible study but not living the life at all.

Then my junior year, my friendships in Cru really started to grow. The Spirit of God just shone through [Cru] people. I wanted to experience that.

I had had a lot of trouble that year. I was not getting a lot of playing time in soccer. It is hard for someone who played all the time in high school and was the star to change. And my classes were tough.

Fortunately, but unfortunately, my soccer team got sent out of the Big Ten Tournament that year and I was able to go Cru's fall retreat. The speaker was sharing his own story. I was like, “Wow, that is me right now.”

Then the speaker said, “If you want to surrender your life to Jesus and admit you are a sinner, stand up right now.”

Something was just killing on my heart to stand up, so I stood up and said, “Lord, I surrender. I surrender everything.”

Since then life has been a crazy ride. I started meeting with Bruce [a Cru staff member with Athletes in Action]. Any questions I have, any concerns, I can talk about it with him. It is so important to have someone like that in your life.

I just wanted to learn everything I could. Read the Bible. Talk to my Christian friends. Pray.

And I wanted to tell everyone too. The weekend I got back from the retreat I went to a soccer player's party. I go for the team camaraderie, but partying is not my scene at all. I was just like, “I gotta go tell these guys everything that has changed.”

Next: Would You Like to Know God Personally?

See also:

Ben has been playing soccer since he was 7-years-old. He is a senior at the University of Michigan majoring in economics. Ben has an older sister and younger brother. He asks for people to pray for me, my teammates and all the students here at the University of Michigan.”__

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.