"We would like to announce…"

It was the morning of January 28th, 1986. Andy and I were each in our Campus Crusade office (he was in Computer Services, I was in the Creative Group) on 27th Street in San Bernardino, California. Both offices were preparing to have morning office devotions, both Andy and I were ready to burst with our great news — the night before, Andy had asked me to be his wife! However, another announcement stole the moment: the Space Shuttle Challenger had blown up! Such clear memories for me, it is hard to believe that it was 30 years ago.

Thirty years of marriage and ministry — living in two states, serving in eight offices, traveling to many countries, working more than ten National Staff Conferences in Colorado, serving alongside hundreds of other staff from around the world. Serving hundreds of staff from around the world. Serving with hundreds of financial and prayer partners in this ministry, and some of you have been ministering with us a long time. Some of you attended our wedding in 1986, in Unionville, Connecticut, another day about which I have very clear memories. And that day, nothing blew up!

A Project Nine Years in the Making

It was the beginning of 2007 and when Cady Noreen’s formal senior portrait arrived in the mail, I framed it and put it up on our photo wall.  Our first graduate!  On that day, I realized it would be nine years before the last senior portrait would be added to the wall.  It seemed so far off!  And then it came — I finished the project last month, adding Rachel’s senior portrait to the wall. Three beautiful girls — we could not be more proud.

Already Focused on Summer

I have offered my writing services to the National Campus Ministry Office’s Head of Communications, Laura Viau.  I will be working with her one day a week to start.  I was walking to my new desk and caught a glimpse of this white board.  College students are already planning to spend their summer focused on the Lord.  I spent two summers in the early 1980’s on mission’s projects (Galveston, TX; and N. Myrtle Beach, SC) and they were four months of incredible growth in my walk with Jesus.

Orlando to the Other Side of the World

Two weeks ago Andy attended a conference of Campus Crusade staff (they are from around the world) who are doing digital ministry — sharing the Gospel message through websites, social media, mobile apps, etc. The creativity our staff tap into to tell the story of Jesus is amazing. One staff member from a closed area of the world created a portable Wi-Fi server to take on airplanes. After the plane takes off, people can attach to his Wi-Fi signal; and they are given access to the JESUS film. Each time he has used this server on a flight, more than 20 people have watched the movie!

On the 22nd Andy will “wing his way around the globe” to a gathering of staff members who are in operational technology support roles. These are people who support the systems that those in digital ministries use — and it is where Andy lives. This is what Andy’s passionate about!

To illustrate how these two groups work together, it was a guy from the conference two weeks ago who came up with the portable Wi-Fi idea, and likely a guy from the Bangkok gathering who helped him to make that idea a reality.

Join us in praying for Andy while he is in Thailand from 2/22—3/1.

(A few more of my favorite pics of Andy and me…)