Helping Leaders Prepare for Summer

Two weeks ago I boarded a plane for San Antonio, Texas.

Our summer project leaders were gathering at a training conference and I was asked to speak to them about their financial responsibilities.

I was excited and nervous to address the group as the new Associate Director of Finance.

About 50 leaders sat before me as I spoke on financial stewardship, policy and procedures. It was my job to encourage them of our responsibility before the Lord and Campus Crusade to be wise stewards of the resources we have been given.

This summer these leaders will be responsible for managing and spending millions of dollars. I walked them through our budgeting process and exposed them to our online financial tracking systems.

Training staff in financial practices has become one of my favorite parts of my job!

Unexpected Encouragement at Dinner

The moment I walked through the doors I felt like I had been transported to Japan.

The hostess at Kobe’s Japanese Steakhouse was wearing a bright red kimono and there were live bamboo plants scattered around the room. We sat with 8 strangers around a table where we were entertained by a chef that cooked right in front of us.

Sarah sat next to me. We introduced ourselves and found out quickly we had much in common. We both worked in Finance and shared a love for the city of Boston. When I mentioned that I worked with Campus Crusade, Sarah’s eyes lit up. “I’m familiar with Campus Crusade – it saved my cousin.”

While Sarah’s cousin, Jeff, was in college he became addicted to drugs. His whole family was afraid that he would die before he graduated. One day, a student involved in the Campus Crusade movement on their campus invited Jeff to a meeting. He started attending more regularly and decided to go on a summer project to Daytona Beach, FL.

It was there that Jeff turned his life around and started living for God. He also met his future wife that summer.

Now Jeff and his wife are raising 3 children and are still committed to God.

It was such an encouragement to hear about how God worked through Campus Crusade to change Jeff’s life!

Maria

Maria had already made plans, detailed plans, to end her life. She was a freshman in college. She was struggling with severe depression. Her home life had been emotionally abusive for years. College had held hopes for freedom, but Maria still felt trapped.

A week before she had planned to kill herself, a classmate invited her to the weekly meeting of Campus Crusade for Christ. She reluctantly went to the meeting. She even filled out a comment card about her experience at the meeting.

She never expected anyone to bother contacting her.

She was wrong.

A few days later, Jessie and Amy (two students involved with Campus Crusade) got in touch with Maria. They told her about the love, hope and freedom that Jesus offers. Maria had never heard the gospel. She responded by accepting Christ into her life.

Just like Jessie and Amy reached out to her, Maria is now passionately telling her story with other girls in her dorm.

Life in Orlando & Finance Gathering

Thank you for all your prayers for my move across the country. I made it to Orlando, FL and have settled into my new house and my new life. I live with 4 fabulous girls who are all in full-time ministry as well. We share a lot of laughs and a lot of heart-to-hearts. I'm excited that these girls have become my friends.

While I've settled nicely into my new home, I'm still adjusting to my new job. The learning curve is high and there are many times that I feel overwhelmed with the tasks set before me. But "the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me by still waters." Every time I think of this Psalm I am reminded of the peace that God offers me when I surrender to Him. I remember that God has not only given me the ability to do this job, but has called me to it as well. Trusting him to provide me with the wisdom and strength to accomplish my purpose is difficult, but so rewarding. I'm incredibly humbled by the influence God has given me and I strive every day to serve God joyfully and in humility.

Last week we had our annual Campus Ministry finance conference here in Orlando. 15 of us gathered together to discuss some upcoming changes in our financial structure as well as work on a few national projects together. We heard from John Rogers, Chief of Staff to Campus Crusade's President, Mark Gauthier, National Director of the Campus Ministry, and Mark Tjernagel, Campus Crusade's CFO. It was great to hear from leadership and to be reminded of how the role of finance helps to accelerate the mission of reaching ever person for Christ.

Since we started these annual gatherings 3 years ago, we have experienced greater ministry effectiveness and greater stewardship of resources across all 10 regions of the U.S. A major part of my new role is to coach the Regional Finance Professionals as well as raise the overall effectiveness of finance in the Campus Ministry.