Global Operations Update
As a business, Campus Crusade for Christ’s main “products” are evangelism, discipleship and helping to resource ministries around the world. Much like any worldwide business, to be successful we need: technology development and support; financial management and reporting; communication guidelines and the ability to accurately measure the success or failure of our work. These responsibilities all fall under the Vice President of Operations. Andy works in the Global Technology Office (which reports to the VP of Operations), which is responsible for technology development and support.
Due to differences in economies, populations, political climates and the availabilities of resources, the individual Campus Crusade ministries in different countries operate independently. Currency alone requires differences. But even with those differences, each ministry within Campus Crusade needs similar basic tools.
The Global Technology Office offers (among other things) two tools which can then be tailored to each country’s unique situation. One is standardized accounting software. One reason this tool is so effective is because the GTO maintains the servers and software which run it, allowing our various country ministries to access it over the internet which relieves them of the responsibility to find or provide their own technical support.
The other tool is Global ConneXion, known in Andy’s office as GCX. This tool, written by an incredibly gifted team of programmers in Andy’s office, allows our staff and ministries to build their own websites at no cost to them. This tool is effective because ministries can easily make a website without advanced technical knowledge, allowing them to establish their own worldwide web presence. And, any GCX website comes with common elements like security, inter-Campus Crusade search-ability and a place to make resources available: things like files, spreadsheets, documents and support-raising tools.
These two tools are part of what our Vice President refers to as Ops in a Box, a set of tools bundled to help benefit ministries in developing countries in Africa and Asia, Eastern Europe and South America. Our goal is to help accelerate the ministry activities of the staff in these areas through these basic, operational tools.
The Global Operations Team is helping to build movements everywhere, so that everyone knows someone who truly follows Jesus.
A Recent Prayer Letter from Co-worker, Jerry Hertzler
Jerry, one of Andy’s good friends and coworkers, is heading up the Mobile Seminary Project for the GTO — offering, through Smartphone technology, a series of educational materials which have been adapted for pastors and lay leaders. The goal is to find Christian leaders in underdeveloped areas, where bringing them to a seminary would be cost-prohibitive, and bring the seminary to them.
The cell phone is rapidly becoming the ubiquitous piece of technology, literally all over the world. By utilizing even inexpensive smart phones, these seminary candidates have enough computing power in their hands to view video tapes of professors, work on homework, and take tests that are instantly submitted to the professors, all without leaving their homes.
This program has been rolled out in Kenya, Africa.
From Jerry’s most recent prayer letter:
As you read this, the second class of students taking the Institute of Christian Leadership course are making progress toward completion. We can see their progress online, and it’s clear to see who is sailing along and who needs some extra help. You are part of their education through your partnership with us in making it available.
The course instructor calls everyone who needs help or isn’t making progress, but most of the students seem to be doing well, so there is a lull in activity now until their final exam at the end of May.
Pray for God to raise up the next class of people to take these courses.
Colorado, Here We (Plan and Work and Organize) Come
More often than not, you won’t find Andy at his desk at this time of the year. He is hiding out in a corner of the office (sometimes even in a corner of the local Panera Bread) to work on the technology needs for our U.S. Staff Conference held in Fort Collins, Colorado. Andy is presently working on the database which stores, tracks and reports the registration data (for all 4500 attendees), the seminary data for those planning on attending seminary classes, the housing data (where all our staff will be staying while in Colorado) and the childcare data (we’ve been told that for 2 weeks we run one of the largest childcare operations in the country). He oversees the team who will be purchasing laptop computers, the computer servers for the whole conference and this year, ipads! Even Campus Crusade is jumping into the new century of technology with both feet. Andy has had an iPad here at the house to get used to it, and I believe both he and Rachel have given it a thumbs up. A tough call for an avowed Dell man!
Andy oversees the operation of the office area that we use for the summer. For two months we inhabit a building which usually houses a student game room, weight room, a pub and various office spaces. These become the offices for our computer team, housing team, childcare team, finance team, a computer lab, study space, library, coffee room, information booth and more.
This is truly crunch time for Andy, and he would appreciate your prayers for him — for balance of his time, for success in his endeavors and for minimal problems with technology. He and Becca will begin driving to Colorado the last week of May (5/24ish) and we all would appreciate your prayers for safe travel! Rachel and I fly out June 5th. Cady will be staying home to work, coming to visit us in July. Please pray for it to be a quiet summer for her.
Your Part in this Partnership
As Jerry mentioned in his letter, “You are part of [the Kenyan’s] education through your partnership with us”. Through Andy and me you are a part of the “Ops in a Box” programs, of ministry going on in Asia and Africa and South American and of the work done for our U.S. staff during the U.S. Staff Conference and various leadership trainings and seminary classes. Thank you for helping us serve the Lord, and our staff members.
The Kelloggs 