Recap Cru 15 Staff Conference
Being together with 5-6 thousand other US Cru staff in Fort Collins, Colorado was an amazing experience. Just worshipping with that many people was a thrill! We had many sessions and breakouts and heard from many different speakers. It was truly a time of spiritual renewal for us.
Here are a few highlights from Francis Chan. He was one of several terrific speakers.
Regarding having the right mind set in ministry he said, “It is easy to let selfish ambition get mingled in with serving the Lord”.
He understood all the ministries of Cru are looking to form partnership with other ministries. Instead of duplicating efforts, to join forces with others. To this he said, “How often do you get down on your knees and pray for another ministry”? Wow, that was convicting.
When talking about Christians being judgmental and critical he said we have it all backwards. “We are to judge those inside the church. We are not to judge those outside the church”. Instead we do the opposite, we don’t judge ourselves but we do judge the world. That certainly hit home!
From 2 Timothy 3 Paul is talking to Timothy about the church in the last days, not about the world. Starting with verse 2 the list of sins will be seen in the church. The people will be lovers of self. That is the first one mentioned and all the others flow from that.
He cautioned that even in ministry we are often looking at it with selfish motives and ambitions. We all have the “it’s all about me” mentality. He reminded us that in Scripture over and over God cautions that in everything “no one should boast”. We are even offered salvation by grace and not by what we do, that “no one may boast”. Pride creeps into everything we do. Verse 4 and 5 conclude with, people will be lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. Oh boy, could that be me?
He spoke of unity in the church. In John 17:22 and 23 Christ is praying to God the Father. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. It was great to be reminded of how God wants us to be united as one so that the world will see Him!
We are very grateful we were able to attend the conference in Colorado this year. Thank you for your faithful support. This time of renewal was only possible because of you!
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