Chapter 9: Bill Bright’s Good Fruit of Teaching the Commands

Cru (known as Campus Crusade for Christ — informally “Campus Crusade” or simply “crusade”—or CCC until 2011) is an interdenominational Christian parachurch organization for college and university students.[1] It was founded in 1951 at the University of California, Los Angeles by Bill Bright and Vonette Zachary Bright. Since then, Cru has expanded its focus to include adult professionals, athletes, and high school students. In 2011, Cru had 25,000 missionaries in 191 countries.

One evening in 1980, I was catching a connecting flight on Ozark Airlines from St. Louis to Tulsa. I had a seat in the aisle with a vacant seat next to me, and a man was sitting in the seat next to the window. After the plane reached cruising altitude, the gentleman next to the window said, “Please excuse me, young man, but I have been praying to the Lord, asking Him if I could introduce Jesus to you so that you could have a personal relationship with Him.” I quit staring at the bulkhead wall and turned toward the man and immediately recognized him as Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ and many other mission programs. I got a big grin on my face and said, “Well, your prayer was answered in November of 1971 when one of your campus crusade girls on my college campus witnessed to me about 15 times. I told him I dated her and all she wanted me to do was to realize that my being a Catholic did not necessarily mean I had a personal relationship with Jesus. I put up with her witnessing because she was beautiful. Then, I shared my testimony with him, and he told me about Campus Crusade. We exchanged business cards and for the next 10 years my wife and I went to various crusade functions and got to know this man of God.

Quotes from Bill Bright:

“I want before God that everything, every thought, attitude, action, motive, desire in my heart be pleasing to Him. I ask Him, keep the spotlight of your Holy Spirit on me so there would be nothing impure or unholy in my life. “

“Fasting with a pure heart and motives, I have discovered, brings personal revival and adds power to our prayers. Personal revival occurs because fasting is an act of humility. Fasting gives opportunity for deeper humility as we recognize our sins, repent, receive God’s forgiveness, and experience His cleansing of our soul and spirit. Fasting also demonstrates our love for God and our full confidence in His faithfulness.”

“By rejecting faith in Jesus Christ, America has also rejected God’s protective hand, which until recently, sheltered this nation from harm. We have invited the devil which all his diabolical and destructive power in our daily lives.”

The Commands of Jesus (81-90)

Command 81

“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” (Matthew 19:4-6)

Command 82

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of

heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)

Command 83

“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” (Matthew 19:17)

Command 84

You shall not murder… (Matthew 19:18)

Command 85

… you shall not commit adultery… (Matthew 19:18)

Command 86

…you shall not steal… (Matthew 19:18)

Command 87

…you shall not give false testimony… (Matthew 19:18)

Command 88

…honor your father and mother… (Matthew 19:19)

Command 89

…love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 19:19)

Command 90

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and

you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:21)