Summary
Campus Crusade for Christ, Inc. (CCCI) seeks to help fulfill the Great Commission in the Power of the Holy Spirit by winning people to faith in Jesus Christ, building them in their faith and sending them to win and build others; and helping the Body of Christ do evangelism and discipleship. Its ministry encompasses more than 190 countries, being carried out by more than 25,000 staff members. The ministry has more than 30 program ministries, such as The Jesus Film project, Josh McDowell Ministry, Military Ministry, Andre Kole Ministry, Athletes in Action, Arrowhead Conferences and Events, The Campus Ministry, and Family Life. Their vision is to help build spiritual movements everywhere so everyone knows someone who truly follows Jesus Christ. Campus Crusade for Christ is a nonprofit organization and contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. In addition, it is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
Contact Information: [ Back to top ]
| Mailing Address: | 100 Lake Hart Drive, 3100 P O Box 628222
Orlando, FL
32832-0100 |
| Website: | www.ccci.org |
| Phone: | (888) 278-7233, (800) 918-9929 |
| Email: | You need to enable javascript to see the email |
Organization Details [ Back to top ]
EIN: 956006173
| CEO/President: |
Mr. Steve Douglass |
Tax Deductible: |
Yes |
| Chairman: |
Mr. Steve Douglass |
Fiscal Year End: |
August 31 |
| Board Size: |
10 |
Financial info from: |
Audit |
| Founder: |
Dr. William Bright |
Member of ECFA: |
Yes |
| Year Founded: |
1951 |
Member of ECFA since: |
1979 |
Campus Crusade for Christ, Inc. (CCCI) seeks to help fulfill the Great Commission in the Power of the Holy Spirit by winning people to faith in Jesus Christ, building them in their faith and sending them to win and build others; and helping the Body of Christ do evangelism and discipleship. Its ministry encompasses more than 190 countries, being carried out by more than 25,000 staff members. The ministry has more than 30 program ministries, such as The Jesus Film project, Josh McDowell Ministry, Military Ministry, Andre Kole Ministry, Athletes in Action, Arrowhead Conferences and Events, The Campus Ministry, and Family Life. Their vision is to help build spiritual movements everywhere so everyone knows someone who truly follows Jesus Christ.
Spiritual Movement
When God works through like-minded people to win people to faith in Jesus Christ, build them in their faith through life-changing discipleship and send them to win and build others, Campus Crusade for Christ says that a spiritual movement has begun.
Campus Crusade for Christ believes that God has called them to help build these spiritual movements everywhere, so everyone knows someone who truly follows Jesus Christ.
To that end, they are emphasizing several key objectives:
Student Movements
Today's college students are tomorrow's world leaders. Campus Crusade for Christ believes there would be changes in the world if every one of the 110 million college students had an opportunity to hear and respond to the gospel every year.
Campus Crusade for Christ wants to see students everywhere embrace the purpose, love and forgiveness that God offers them in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Leader Movements
Every day, leaders in business and government make influential decisions that reverberate through society. Campus Crusade for Christ believes the world would be different and better if those decisions were being made by men and women who were truly following Jesus.
Campus Crusade for Christ wants to help build spiritual movements among leaders so their influence can be used by God to draw people everywhere to himself.
Church-based Movements
As innovators in tools for evangelism and discipleship, Campus Crusade for Christ helps the body of Christ win, build and send people. They are also helping to plant churches in the most unreached regions of the world through JESUS Film translations and mission trips.
Virtual Movements
Recognizing that many people worldwide are using the Web to explore spirituality, Campus Crusade for Christ sees Internet evangelism and discipleship as a key component to helping people begin a relationship with God and truly follow Jesus.
Campus Crusade for Christ is a nonprofit organization and contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. In addition, it is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
Campus Crusade for Christ, Inc. uses the following to express its mission statement:
Launching spiritual movements by winning, building, and sending Christ-centered multiplying disciples.
Program Accomplishments [ Back to top ]
Campus Crusade for Christ has become one of the largest Christian organizations in the world. CCCI is served by more than 26,000 full-time staff in more than 190 countries around the world.
The organization of Campus Crusade for Christ has many sub-ministries that are part of the whole. Or another way to look at it, all the sub-ministries are in fact the organization that is known as Campus Crusade for Christ.
Campus Crusade for Christ?s United States Ministries:
- André Kole Ministry
Presenting the claims of Christ using the artistic means of illusion in André's live stage shows worldwide. www.andrekole.org
André Kole Productions
325 West Southern
Tempe, AZ 85282
(480) 968-8625
- Arrowhead Conferences and Events
Arrowhead Conferences and Events is Campus Crusade for Christ's meeting planning ministry. ACE serves Campus Crusade and other Christian ministries with their conference planning needs - from staff retreats to multi-city and city-wide major events. www.arrowheadconferences.org
Arrowhead Conferences and Events
300 East State Street, Suite 470
Redlands, CA 92373
(909) 798-1965 ext. 113
info@arrowheadconferences.org
- Athletes in Action
Reaching the United States and resourcing the world through the influence of sports. www.athletesinaction.org
Athletes in Action
651 Taylor Drive
Xenia, OH 45385
(937) 352-1000
athletesinaction@aia.com
- Bright Media Foundation
Bright Media Foundation develops and promotes the use of media tools, based on the literary works of Bill and Vonette Bright, to disciple future generations. www.brightmedia.org
Bright Media Foundation
100 Lake Hart Drive, #2100
Orlando, FL 32832
- The Campus Ministry
Partnering with the whole body of Christ to reach the world's university students with the gospel, turning lost students into Christ-centered laborers. www.campuscrusadeforchrist.com
The Campus Ministry
Campus Crusade for Christ
100 Lake Hart Drive, #2500
Orlando, FL 32832
(407) 826-2500
- Faculty Commons
Reaching and equipping professors to reach their colleagues. www.facultycommons.com
Faculty Commons
P.O. Box 129
Addison, TX 75001
(972) 713-7130
facultycommons@clm.org
- Christian Embassy ? United Nations
Reaching diplomatic leaders with the gospel at the United Nations. www.ChristianEmbassyUN.org
- Christian Embassy, Washington D.C.
Reaching government, military and diplomatic leaders with the gospel, in Washington D.C. www.christianembassy.com
2000 N. 14th Street
Suite 230
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 525-1770
- Executive Ministries
Turning influencers into Great Commission Leaders. www.execmin.org
Executive Ministries
P.O. Box 25391
Winston-Salem, NC 27114
- FamilyLife
Equipping couples and individuals to build godly homes through FamilyLife Conferences (marriage, parenting and urban), Homebuilders Bible Studies and "FamilyLife Today" radio broadcasts. www.familylife.com
FamilyLife
P.O. Box 7111
Little Rock, AR 72223
1-800-FLTODAY (1-800-358-6329)
- Global Aid Network (GAiN)
Demonstrating the love of God through word and deed to hurting and needy people around the world through relief and development projects. www.gainusa.org
Global Aid Network
Box 139020
Dallas, TX 75313-9020
(972) 234-0800
info@gainusa.org
- Global Media Outreach
Introducing millions of people in their native languages to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and connecting them to the local church through websites like www.whoisjesus-really.com and www.globalmediaoutreach.com
Global Media Outreach
16330 Los Gatos Blvd.
Los Gatos, CA 95032
(408) 358-3470
GlobalMediaOutreachINQ@ccci.org
- Grad Resources
Serving the practical, personal and spiritual needs of graduate and professional students.
www.gradresources.org
Grad Resources
5501 Independence Parkway, Suite 100
Plano, TX 75023
(972) 867-0188 or toll free at 1-800-867-0188
info@gradresources.org
- Here's Life Inner City
Mobilizing urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs in the inner city.
www.hlic.org
Here's Life Inner City
142 West 36 Street
New York, NY 10018
(212) 494-0321
hlic@ccci.org
- International Leadership Academy
Working with other evangelical organizations to develop a model training strategy that is sustainable and reproducible by national churches and ministries.
www.ilaccc.org
International Leadership Academy
PO Box 13007
Prescott, AZ 86304
(928)778-1928
doell@mindspring.com
- The JESUS Film Project®
Showing "JESUS" to everyone in the world in his or her native tongue.
www.jesusfilm.org
The JESUS Film Project®
100 Lake Hart Drive
Orlando, FL 32832
(407) 826-2300
Jesus Film Mission Trips
www.JesusFilmMissionTrips.org
1-866-622-8747
TripInfo@Jesusfilm.org
- CrossRoads
This character-based educational strategy is dedicated to helping communities around the world discover the hope, life, and truth of Jesus Christ in the midst of devastating social crises like HIV/AIDS.
www.crossroadslink.org
CrossRoads
100 Lake Hart Drive
Orlando, FL 32832
407-826-2490
- Josh McDowell Ministry
Winning people worldwide to Christ and convincing them of the credibility of Christianity and attractiveness and reasonableness of a Biblical lifestyle.
www.josh.org
Josh McDowell Ministry
P.O. Box 131000
Dallas, TX 75313
(972) 907-1000
- Keynote
Using music and multimedia to present the gospel in culturally relevant manners.
www.keynote.org
Keynote
18711 N Union Street
Westfield, IN 46074
(317) 867-0400
mail@keynote.org
- The King's College
Educating leaders for the new millenium.
www.tkc.edu
The King's College
Empire State Building
350 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10118
(212) 659-7200
- Life Builders
Building into the lives of individuals through one-to-one evangelism and discipleship.
www.lifebuildersnet.org
Life Builders
PO Box 211684
Bedford, TX 76095
(817) 540-2222
lifebuilders@ccci.org
- Medical Strategic Network
A partnering ministry with Campus Crusade for Christ that equips medical professionals to strategically penetrate their spheres of influence with the gospel.
www.gomets.org
Medical Strategic Network
P.O. Box 2052
Redlands, CA 92373
(909) 794-4232
fireseeds@GoMets.org
- Military Ministry
Bringing hope and resources to the military worldwide.
www.milmin.org
Military Ministry
6060 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 6012
Newport News, VA 23605
1-800-444-6006
- NewLife Resources
Serving churches and ministering to Christians with tools for building effective ministry.
www.campuscrusade.com
New Life Resources
(770) 631-9940
- The Orlando Institute
Equipping leaders to make disciples by offering certificates and Master's degrees through both residential and distance learning programs.
www.toi.edu
- Priority Associates
Presenting Christ and developing spiritual leaders in the marketplace.
www.priorityassociates.org
Priority Associates Headquarters
797 North Orange Avenue
Orlando, FL 32801
(407) 843-3294
- Single Life Resources, A Dick Purnell Ministry
Providing speakers and resources to help reach single adults with the gospel and help them grow to maturity in Christ.
www.slr.org
Dick Purnell Communications
P.O. Box 1166
Cary, NC 27512
(919) 363-8000
- Student Venture
Reaching high school students for Christ.
www.studentventure.com
- Women Today International
Providing spiritual and intellectual resources and opportunities for women to help them be effective ambassadors for Christ in every workplace and neighborhood.
www.womentoday.org
- World Headquarters at Lake Hart
Providing vital services and strategic resources to accelerate the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
www.lakehart.org
Campus Crusade for Christ International
World Headquarters at Lake Hart
100 Lake Hart Drive
Orlando, FL 32832
1-800-274-5646
- Worldwide Challenge Magazine
Reaching over 150,000 people with encouraging, faith-stretching stories and inspiring, award-winning photography to share the life-changing work God is accomplishing throughout the world.
www.worldwidechallenge.org
Worldwide Challenge
100 Lake Hart Drive, #1600
Orlando, FL 32832
Subscriptions: 1-800-688-2390
All other inquiries: (407) 826-2390
Statement of Faith [ Back to top ]
Campus Crusade for Christ uses the following to express its statement of faith:
The sole basis of our beliefs is the Bible, God's infallible written Word, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. We believe that it was uniquely, verbally and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and that it was written without error (inerrant) in the original manuscripts. It is the supreme and final authority in all matters on which it speaks.
We accept those areas of doctrinal teaching on which, historically, there has been general agreement among all true Christians. Because of the specialized calling of our movement, we desire to allow for freedom of conviction on other doctrinal matters, provided that any interpretation is based upon the Bible alone, and that no such interpretation shall become an issue which hinders the ministry to which God has called us.
- There is one true God, eternally existing in three persons -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of Deity and the characteristics of personality.
- Jesus Christ is God, the living Word, who became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. Hence, He is perfect Deity and true humanity united in one person forever.
- He lived a sinless life and voluntarily atoned for the sins of men by dying on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone.
- He rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died.
- He ascended bodily into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father, where He, the only mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own.
- Man was originally created in the image of God. He sinned by disobeying God; thus, he was alienated from his Creator. That historic fall brought all mankind under divine condemnation.
- Man's nature is corrupted, and he is thus totally unable to please God. Every man is in need of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
- The salvation of man is wholly a work of God's free grace and is not the work, in whole or in part, of human works or goodness or religious ceremony. God imputes His righteousness to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation, and thereby justified them in His sight.
- It is the privilege of all who are born again of the Spirit to be assured of their salvation from the very moment in which they trust Christ as their Savior. This assurance is not based upon any kind of human merit, but is produced by the witness of the Holy Spirit, who confirms in the believer the testimony of God in His written word.
- The Holy Spirit has come into the world to reveal and glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to men. He convicts and draws sinners to Christ, imparts new life to them, continually indwells them from the moment of spiritual birth and seals them until the day of redemption. His fullness, power and control are appropriated in the believer's life by faith.
- Every believer is called to live so in the power of the indwelling Spirit that he will not fulfill the lust of the flesh but will bear fruit to the glory of God.
- Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, His Body, which is composed of all men, living and dead, who have been joined to Him through saving faith.
- God admonishes His people to assemble together regularly for worship, for participation in ordinances, for edification through the Scriptures and for mutual encouragement.
- At physical death the believer enters immediately into eternal, conscious fellowship with the Lord and awaits the resurrection of his body to everlasting glory and blessing.
- At physical death the unbeliever enters immediately into eternal, conscious separation from the Lord and awaits the resurrection of his body to everlasting judgment and condemnation.
- Jesus Christ will come again to the earth -- personally, visibly and bodily -- to consummate history and the eternal plan of God.
- The Lord Jesus Christ commanded all believers to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world and to disciple men of every nation. The fulfillment of that Great Commission requires that all worldly and personal ambitions be subordinated to a total commitment to "Him who loved us and gave Himself for us."
Campus Crusade for Christ, Inc. was founded in 1951 by William R. ("Bill") Bright, with a commitment to the Lord's Great Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20.
When CCCI began, its strategies and materials were radical and relevant to the culture of the day. As the society has changed, CCCI has continued to develop and discover new strategies and materials to communicate the message of Jesus Christ just as effectively today as it did on the UCLA campus in 1951. Whether it's new ministries, new strategies, or a new look for old materials, CCCI staff members continue to target their wide variety of audiences.
On July 22, 2001, ministry founder Bill Bright passed the presidential torch of CCCI to Steve Douglass. Steve joined the staff of CCCI more than 30 years ago, and has served CCCI as Executive Vice President, Director of the U.S. Ministries, and the Board of Directors. In 2000, Bill Bright was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis, an ailment afflicting the lungs. He passed away on July 19, 2003.
Campus Crusade for Christ, Inc. expresses the following needs and ways to get involved in their ministry:
Ministry Locator:
Find a local Campus Crusade group on your campus or on a campus near you.
Big Break:
Grab the whole gang and cruise on down to beautiful Panama City Beach, Florida, for a Spring Break unlike any other!
Summer Projects:
The student who invests a summer in one of our projects receives training in how to share Christ and make a difference on campus.
Campus Ministry Internships / STINT:
You could be a Campus Ministry intern--a one-year commitment to believe God to do something powerful in and through your life.
Join Our Staff:
Come help change the world! Join with us in taking the gospel to college students here in the U.S. and around the world.
Take the Red Pill:
You can help 60 million students connect with the God of eternity through the Internet.
Research Analysis
Transparency Grade [ Back to top ]
| Transparency Grade of : A |
| Criteria category | Grade | Other Comments |
| Timeliness: | 100 | 11/12/2008 5:21:09 PM: Campus Crusade for Christ by law does not file an IRS form 990 and is not required to provide an audited financial statement; however, it goes out of its way to do the right thing and posts its audit on its website (along with many more details and information than most organizations that have requirements). Campus Crusade for Christ should be highly commended. It is an organization that is leading by example. Not just talking the talk, but it is walking the walk. |
| Financial Information: | 100 | 11/12/2008 5:24:13 PM: Organization provided all financial information requested. Information was clear and thorough. |
| Foundational Clarity: | 100 | 11/12/2008 5:24:21 PM: Descriptive information was abundant and thorough. |
| Level of Cooperation: | 100 | 11/12/2008 5:24:24 PM: Answers to questions were thorough. |
Click here to compare ministries on transparency and other stats
Click here to learn more about how ministries are graded
MinistryWatch.com 5 Star Financial Efficiency Ratings [ Back to top ]
| Ranking Category | Rating | Overall Rank | Fellowship Evangelism Sector |
|---|
| Overall Efficiency Rating |  | 100 of 352 | 8 of 21 |
| Fund Acquisition Decision |  | 182 of 352 | 11 of 21 |
| Resource Allocation Decision | | 98 of 352 | 5 of 21 |
| Asset Utilization Decision | | 118 of 352 | 9 of 21 |
Learn how the ratings are calculated for this ministry
Learn how ratings are calculated in general --
or here for a longer explanation
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MinistryWatch.com's 2008 list of 30 Shining Light Ministries
Campus Crusade for Christ listed by MinistryWatch.com as a 2008 Shining Light ?Top 30? Exemplary Ministry.
MinistryWatch.com desires to see overall giving to Biblical Christian values increase and as such we developed this format to highlight those ministries which are exemplary.
This ministry is one of the ?best ministries? and outstanding examples when we consider Philippians 4:8 and weigh and take account of those ministries that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Identifying a diversity of the best ministries is challenging given the selfless work that so many do for the cause of Christ. No one is able to give to every ministry that one values as we are not possessed of unlimited resources. It is best to make an assessment of our options and make discerning decisions. MinistryWatch.com?s assessment looked at the following seven areas when considering those to make the list:
- Transparency
- Truth Claims
- Values/ Worldview
- Sectors/Functions
- Resourcefulness
- Red Flag Issues
- Consultation
A fuller explanation of our evaluation criteria is on the front page of MinistryWatch.com. A foundational premise was to shine a figurative light on those ministries that were "Christian" more than in name only. Ministries were chosen that were not just marketing to Christians as a market segment for "Christian donor money", but ministries that had theological underpinnings and Biblical values that determined their actions. Organizations that relied more on a secular motivation and means were excluded as well as those ?ministries? that seem to view the organization as their own vehicle as a business to make money rather than a love to maximize ministry to others and to let their light shine for the glory of God.
Inclusion on this Shining Light list does not mean this ministry or other listed ministries are perfect. No ministry is perfect and any that look long and hard enough may find areas for improvement; as no doubt most legitimate ministries are aware of areas to improve and have their own to-do list. Only you can decide for yourself with confidence if a ministry shares your values and with your giving plan. As far as MinistryWatch.com?s assessment, given the criteria that we followed, this ministry rose to the top.
This is just another step in our mission of encouraging Christians to give more of their talents and resources to Kingdom-building efforts. In short, we wish to help spread the Gospel of Christ by helping Christians give more and more effectively to the works of the Lord. If the Lord uses our list as part of that process, we will have been a blessing to both those ministries who have been ?good and faithful servants? with the Lord?s resources and to Christian donors who are seeking to be good stewards of their giving.
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MinistryWatch.com?s Take
February 2004
By Andy Preslar
Winning, Building, and Sending
Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC) is an interdenominational Christian ministry which exists to fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ: ?Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . .? (Matthew 28:19a). The late William R. Bright, visionary founder of CCC, set out to obey the Commission specifically in its extensive aspect ? to proclaim the Good News to ?
all the nations.? Of course, Bright had to start somewhere, so he started in 1951 on the campus of the University of California at Los Angeles. Another well-known figure of 20th century evangelicalism was also getting his start in Los Angeles around this time ? the Reverend Billy Graham. Unlike Graham, Bright was never the visible focus of his mega ministry. Untold numbers of people who have never seen nor heard of Bill Bright have been won to Christ through the ministry he founded. Friends describe Bright as a man who was ?somewhat shy when it was his turn to address a crowd.? Nevertheless, Bright was a master organizer, marketer, recruiter, and a ?soul-winning activist . . . who lived what he believed.? Bright?s natural entrepreneurial spirit and supernatural commitment to the Great Commission led him to develop methods, materials, and ministries to help the Church engage in mass evangelism. The overall approach of Bright has been called ?spiritual multiplication.? As Stephen B. Douglas, Bright?s successor as president of CCC, has stated, spiritual multiplication occurs through ?winning, building, and sending;? as in winning souls, building trained disciples of Jesus Christ, and sending them into the world to do likewise.
Over the course of a half-century of spiritual multiplication in action, CCC has managed to reach billions of people with the message of salvation in Jesus Christ. This has been accomplished through the wide distribution of the booklet,
The Four Spiritual Laws, the enormously successful
Jesus film, campus ministries (hence the organization?s name), and a host of additional ministries and ministry projects, all of which serve in one capacity or another to carry forward CCC?s mission of ?helping take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all nations.?
The Four Spiritual Laws
In keeping with his penchant for simplicity, Bright?s booklet,
The Four Spiritual Laws, is a straightforward and easy to remember presentation of the Gospel message. This evangelistic publication, with more than two billion copies in print, is probably ?the most widely distributed religious booklet in history.?
The Four Spiritual Laws has provided Christians who might otherwise be unsure about how to share their faith with a basic paradigm of evangelism. This booklet has informed, perhaps more than any other document (apart from the Bible), people?s understanding of the Gospel message, and is still widely used in connection with CCC ministries. The widespread use of
The Four Spiritual Laws as a witnessing tool might be accounted for by the fact that it makes the biblical plan of salvation easy to communicate. Another factor in the success of this witnessing tool may be that the fourth ?spiritual law? calls for an immediate and decisive confession of faith on the part of the lost person (in the form of a ?sinner?s prayer?); hence, the person sharing the Gospel is likely to witness a larger percentage of immediate ?results? for his or her efforts than would be the case with other witnessing techniques.
The ?four spiritual laws? are: (1) God loves you. (2) Man is sinful and separated from God. (3) Jesus Christ is God?s
ONLY provision for man?s sin (caps and bold print original). (4) We must individually receive Christ as Savior and Lord. Each of these four basic laws is underscored with the message that God has a plan for each of our lives, that sin prevents that plan from being realized, that Jesus Christ, by his sacrificial and substitutionary death and resurrection, removes the sin barrier and allows those who receive him to ?know and experience God?s love and plan for your life.? Each spiritual law is substantiated by two or more Bible verses.
The fourth law is given extended treatment, as Bright explains what ?receiving Christ? means. According to Bright, ?it is not enough just to know these three laws. . . .? People must also receive Christ, which involves a decision by sinners to repent and invite Christ to ?forgive our sins and make us what he wants us to be.? Bright maintains that receiving Christ is not simply a state of mind, but an act of the will, whereby we yield to his control in our lives. This should not be construed as a denial that salvation is a gift, or that it comes by faith. Rather, Bright says that faith
includes yielding to Christ, and that as a result we experience salvation, i.e., forgiveness of sins and harmony with God?s plan for our lives. Bright uses the more contemporary expression ?plan for our lives,? perhaps in place of the phrase ?eternal life,? which is commonly used in Scripture as a description of the gift of salvation. One of the advantages of Bright?s choice of terms is that ?plan for life? seems to naturally connote the immediate, here-and-now benefits of salvation, whereas ?eternal life? is often mistakenly understood as merely ?going to heaven when you die.? If we understand ?plan for your life? in this way, it is natural to emphasize, as Bright does, submission to the Lordship of Christ, since only by allowing Jesus to direct our lives can we experience harmony with God?s plan ? now and forever. Thus, Bright seems to be presenting a more inclusive and integrated picture of the gift of salvation, as involving present as well as future benefits, than those who deny that Christ?s Lordship is relevant to the Gospel message.
The Jesus Film Project
The
Jesus Film Project represents the most ambitious attempt in history to fulfill the extensive aspect of the Great Commission. Conceived by Bill Bright, the
Jesus film is a full-length docudrama, which portrays the words and works of Jesus of Nazareth as they are recorded in the Gospel of Luke. Bright?s vision was to produce a high-quality, dramatic, and biblically accurate film, which would bring the message of the Gospel to life and could be used as powerful evangelistic tool. Bright intended that the
Jesus film would be translated and re-recorded into as many languages as possible. The text of the Luke?s Gospel was chosen as the basis for the script following the overwhelming recommendations of hundreds of New Testament scholars.
The
Jesus film hit the theaters in 1979, to a positive, if not overwhelming, box office turnout. The theatrical release was not, however, the climax of the project. In accordance with Bright?s original intent, the
Jesus film had been crafted primarily as a cross-cultural soul-winning tool, and within one year after the films release a ?worldwide evangelistic ministry was born.? Now some 25 years down the road, the
Jesus film has become the most widely viewed motion picture in world history. CCC estimates that a cumulative audience (counting repeat viewers) of more than five billion has been exposed to the film. The
Jesus film has been translated into more than 700 languages. Most importantly, CCC estimates that 128 million people ?have indicated decisions to receive Christ in response to the
Jesus film.?
The numbers are truly astounding. That God has richly blessed the efforts of Bright, CCC, and others working on this project is not to be questioned. Nonetheless, the
Jesus film does have some inherent limitations as an evangelistic tool. Recent surveys have indicated that in cultural settings (e.g., India, Mali) where people are likely to be unfamiliar with the Bible, the
Jesus film made an impression but accomplished little by way of ?communicating biblical truth which is both recalled and utilized in the spiritual decision process of viewers.? Also, as with all mass evangelism tools, the
Jesus film depends heavily upon the follow-up activity of Project workers and volunteers from churches and mission agencies. These caveats are, however, more than offset by the facts that the
Jesus Film Project strongly emphasizes follow-up and Christian nurture, and that the film itself, as a visual (hence, universal) medium of communication, serves as a basis for opening up cross-cultural discourse. Surveys show that the majority of people viewing the film come away with the understanding that Jesus was unique, that he died undeservedly, and that he performed many miracles. The
Jesus film shows people the life of Christ and allows them to hear him speaking in their own language. It is difficult to over-estimate the impact of such a motion picture, which has been received by non-Christians around the world in an unprecedented way.
Campus Ministry
Although the continuing expansion of CCC?s mission has prompted some recent discussion about changing the organization?s name to reflect its broadened scope, the Campus Ministry program remains one of the most vital and influential ministries of CCC. The mission of CCC?s Campus Ministry is ?to turn lost students into Christ-centered laborers.? CCC?s goal is to give as many college students as possible the opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel. This is perhaps the most strategic ministry of CCC. There are 60 million college students in the world, who account for only one percent of the entire population. But this is the ?powerful percent.? These students are the future leaders of the nations, those who will shape the intellectual, political, and cultural landscape of the future. CCC is currently ministering on 1,100 college campuses across the world. 1,700 staff members are employed full-time in a Campus Ministry, with staff at every major state university in the U. S. Approximately eight million students a year hear the Gospel as a result of CCC?s Campus Ministry. Nearly 8,000 students made a decision for Christ in 2002.
Campus Ministry programs include creative evangelistic outreaches, regular campus meetings, recreational outings, distribution of Freshman Survival Kits (which include a Bible, a copy of
The Four Spiritual Laws, and Josh McDowell?s book,
More Than a Carpenter), leadership training conferences, and a website (Leadership U) featuring thousands of scholarly articles related to academic issues and the defense of the Christian faith.
Worldwide Ministry
CCC is comprised of more than 70 ministries and ministry projects. Many of these ministries are evangelistic in nature (e.g., The
Jesus Film Project), others focus on apologetics (Josh McDowell Ministries), while others are training and support oriented (Christian Leadership Ministries, NewLife Publications, People Builders). The common thread in each of these ministries is that they contribute in one way or another to CCC?s overall mission of fulfilling the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. For a complete list of CCC ministries, see the ?Program Accomplishments? section in the ministry profile (above).
Commitment to Financial Integrity
CCC has demonstrated superior openness and transparency through the degree of their responsiveness and the quality and quantity of information provided. CCC has the legal right not to reveal financial information to the ?outside? world, but they nevertheless go out of their way to do so. CCC?s website contains an abundance of documents on the organization?s financial operations which can be downloaded by anyone. Because of Bright?s desire to be totally transparent in all of his finances, he voluntarily requested that his business expenses be regularly reviewed by the audit committee of the ministry?s Board of Directors and publicly made known. Bright himself made an extremely modest salary (around $30,000 annually), for which he raised his own support. All CCC employees are required to do likewise. Bright was careful to inculcate into his own life and into the heart of CCC?s philosophy of ministry the principles of servanthood, stewardship, and accountability.
Another aspect of CCC?s commitment to financial integrity is the ministry?s fundraising material. CCC is straightforward and respectful of the donor. Some of the material they send out is actually labeled: ?Fundraising Material.? Their appeals contain precise information and a quality of exactness without overbearing emotional appeals.
This organization has not offered MinistryWatch.com with an official statement or response for their profile. This area is meant as a mechanism for the profiled ministry to communicate anything they may choose. It is open ended as to the topic, issues, facts or news to address. It is not negative if there is no official statement as many don’t have anything to add than what is already on the profile. This section is not tied to transparency or to communication in general. Many very open and talkative ministries with us choose not to post an official statement. This section is just an open ended offering to the profiled ministry for anything extra to say as they may choose.