virginia tech tragedy

It is unbelievable what took place at Virginia Tech yesterday.

Last night I called one of my staff friends, Sarah, who is on the Campus Crusade team there, working with college students. I was preparing myself for her voicemail–knowing a little about the volume of calls they’ve been receiving from the media and others–when she answered.

I told her how sorry I was to hear of the great loss of life on the campus. I asked her if someone on their team might be willing to write up a short paragraph or two about how the staff team and students are doing that I could publish on the Staff Web, knowing that the rest of our Campus Crusade family would be concerned; wondering if they are OK. She said she’d talk to the team and get back to me.

This hit my inbox at 11:30 p.m. last night:

“By now, if you have watched any sort of national or, for that matter, international news, you have heard of the devastation on our campus of Virginia Tech Monday.

All of our staff members are OK. We were together for our Monday morning staff meeting when the shootings happened.

The latest is that a shooter killed 33 with 27 being wounded and some not even out of surgery yet.

We had a prayer meeting Monday night for our students and the students of some other organizations. Most students are shocked and numb at this point, not sure what to think and feel. I feel the same way.

We know of at least 2 of our students who are not accounted for at this point, as well as 1 who was killed who had come to our meetings.

All of this information is coming through the network of students, as no names have been officially released yet (until after the families are notified–most likely Tuesday). I think that is the hardest part–the waiting–not really knowing who has been touched by this tragedy.

Our staff team is spending the day in the Cru office Tuesday–making ourselves available to pray with and/or counsel students.

We will take a break to attend the university-wide convocation at 2 p.m. where the Virginia governor is slated to speak.

We are gathering at noon on Wednesday to pray with other Christian groups on the drillfield–a very central place on campus.

Please pray that amidst it all that the Lord would be glorified, families would be comforted and students would grieve appropriately. I have a feeling no one is going to know how to move on from here.”

By Dave Broadwell, on behalf of the Virginia Tech staff team in Blacksburg

Since then I learned that we are unable to confirm the loss of 4 of the students involved with Campus Crusade but it does appear that they were among the casualties.

It’s just so sad.

Driving to work I was thinking about how those students and faculty got up yesterday morning with the underlying assumption that their life would stretch through seasons of marriage, kids, grandkids, retirement…

Yesterday’s events remind me of the brevity of life and the urgency to tell people about Jesus. Now.

Here’s a great article to forward to a friend who might not know Jesus yet, who might be asking questions about faith now: Where’s God in the Midst of Tragedy?

thursday dallas update

Whenever I remember that I’m in Dallas I feel the incredible urge to begin humming da dum da DUM (voice raises here), da dum da da dum dum dum DUM (high voice again) da da dum. Ah, the days of J.R. and Dallas on Friday nights.

Ok, back to the regularly scheduled program.

Dinner last night with the Mason and Jarron went great. Mason is an insulin-pump diabetic, too, so we immediately bonded. Both had great questions about missionary life and using their gifts (and being diabetic on staff with Campus Crusade and the medical benefits).

This morning I had a breakfast appointment with Steve, a sharp, 21-going-on-40, business-minded guy who loves Jesus. He’s on a campus with no full-time staff members and is really taking the lead to get things going among the students. Oh, and he works full-time and goes to school full-time.

After these meetings I’ve had to stop and just thank God. It’s so clear that He’s bringing the students to us. Mason and Jarron came to the luncheon yesterday and Steve signed up at our booth to talk. Thanks for praying. It’s making the world of difference for us here!

1 football, 4 billion sets of eyes and Campus Crusade

Today begins the World Cup craziness in Germany.

Football for most of the world. Soccer for us.

Read the blog some of our Campus Crusade staff members are writing on, telling of their experiences from the field.

branch life: connected and fruit-bearing

What an incredible day! Only 12 hours after losing Gramp, I had the privilege of spending time with precious college students on the other spectrum of life.

Two of them were Alpha Xi Deltas; Sara (left) and Renae (right). We dined at Chipotle for dinner, talking about what God is doing in the sorority now amidst bites of burrito and spicy salads.

We came back to the sorority house where they were hosting the Campus Crusade for Christ weekly meeting. I spoke on John 15 and "branch life." I was scheduled to speak about a month ago–and the timing couldn't have been more perfect. Seeing Gramp cross into eternity made me sense the brevity of life even more, causing me enjoy Jesus even more with the days I'm given. Tonight was a true blessing. I forgot how much I love college students!

just add water

up the hill

The March/April issue of Worldwide Challenge is in mailboxes now. If you don’t have your own, you can read it on the magazine’s Web site. Since we write 6 months ahead of publication, the last feature I wrote as a writer for the magazine (before changing jobs to my current position) is in this issue–“Up the Hill.”

my racin’ team

Our Global Media & Communications team took a pit stop today on the way to lunch to celebrate Matt’s birthday. Our non-cardboard team, left to right: Matt, me, Judy, Gabe, Jason.

About Ministry

From early on, my dream had always been to work in a big-city ad agency. However, God had done so much in my life through my college involvement with Campus Crusade for Christ that I was considering joining its staff.

My wise mom said, “Who better to advertise for than God?”

I was sold.

Since joining Campus Crusade in 1998, I have enjoyed serving in various parts of the ministry: writing for Campus Crusade’s magazine, Worldwide Challenge; traveling the world with Judy Douglass (the wife of our president, Steve); Guest Relations at our world headquarters and campus ministry at the University of Colorado-Boulder.

My Current Role

Managing Editor for our Campus Crusade for Christ Staff Web site. I handle day-to-day operations, as well as help plan content and determine future direction.

Why I Do It

I love helping make missionary life easier. For instance, helping connect our staff members to necessary people or resources: reports, evangelism ideas, contact numbers, communication from our leaders, stories from around the globe, reminders of upcoming events and all the while exposing them to things they didn’t even know existed!

I enjoy utilizing communication to help staff members be more connected, informed and effective in accomplishing the mission God has given them. Thus, making the good news of Christ be inescapable for people who haven’t met Him yet.

Want to Know More?

For more about my job, read my January 11, 2006 post in the newsletter section.