Ministry with Leslie & Mike

In celebration: How the Lord used Cru to impact our lives.

2026-11-05T14:16:17.006-05:00

Cru turns 75 years old this Fall. We thought it would be an appropriate opportunity to share how Cru impacted us in our early stages.

As a student at Butler University, I (Leslie) attended Cru’s weekly meetings and went on a spring break trip where I shared my faith for the first time. Discipled by staff, I co-led a freshman Bible study. Cru was key in laying a spiritual foundation, though after college I pursued my dream of elementary teaching.

Four years later, three major events led me to a yearlong internship with Cru. God had so much in store (1 Cor. 2:9). I loved equipping and discipling women, which led to calling me into full-time vocational ministry with Cru.

As a freshman at Bradley University, a Cru staff member asked me (Mike) when I last shared my faith. When I said I was too shy, he shared 2 Timothy 1:7 ("God has not given us a spirit of timidity..."). That moment showed me how Scripture practically applies to daily life.

By my sophomore year, I stopped striving in my own effort. On a spring break trip in Daytona Beach, my roommate and I spoke with a student who decided to accept Christ. Despite feeling inadequate, God used me—sparking a lifelong desire to share His message.

Prayer Requests

Pray for the weighty load Mike is carrying in this intense season. The Lord’s wisdom as he trains and equips staff in their new roles.
For the Lord to grow and transform new staff’s hearts during the Faith & Finance 6-week class Leslie is co-leading.
The Lord’s wisdom as we face one of our son’s need for a serious surgery in the near future.

The World Cup is Here – An Eternal Opportunity in Your Living Room!

2026-06-22T15:37:34.754-04:00

Last September, we wrote to you about an unprecedented opportunity to share the light and life of Jesus. Today, we are thrilled to say: the world is officially standing still, and the tournament has begun! Over the course of June and July, an estimated 5 billion people will engage with this global soccer event hosted right here in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

This year feels especially significant as we celebrate 75 years of Cru faithfully helping people take their next step toward Jesus. Since 1951, Cru has been part of reaching people across the globe, and is now impacting lives in over 190 countries. We are stepping into a historic opportunity through a global initiative called Victory Beyond the Cup. Our bold, shared vision is to mobilize 100,000 believers and 10,000 churches to utilize this moment and share the hope of Christ in simple, relational ways.

In our previous letter, we encouraged you to ask the Lord for five people He was putting on your heart. Now is the time to invite those neighbors, co-workers, classmates, and friends into your living room to watch a game. This is not about complex programs; it is about gathering neighbors, building trust, and creating space for conversations that matter for eternity. Your living room is a powerful mission field!

As we launch into this exciting five-week season, would you join us in praying for a few key areas?

Pray for open doors: With so many gathering around the World Cup, ask that God would create natural opportunities for connection and conversation. Pray that homes would become places of welcome.
Pray for boldness and clarity: Pray that believers would feel equipped and confident to step into these moments with love and authenticity, and have the ability to clearly share the hope they have in Christ.
Pray for unity across the Church: Pray that this initiative brings together churches and believers across cities and nations, reflecting the true heart of God.
Pray for lasting impact: Our hope is not just for conversations during a tournament, but for transformed lives—individuals, families, and communities changed by encountering Jesus.

Let’s trust the Lord to see what He will do through this incredible outreach, as we all play a part in His global mission! To stay informed and access resources for your own micro-outreach, visit: http://www.victorybeyondthecup.com/.

Highlight of the Year

2026-05-25T09:57:05.697-04:00

March 31st was a highlight in Leslie’s ministry career. Five months of planning, praying, and preparing, she and a team crafted a full-day MPD (Ministry Partner Development) workshop for U.S. Capacity. It is the department Leslie and Mike have served since they moved to Orlando. U.S. Capacity consists of behind-the-scenes roles that give foundation (think Human resources, technology, communications, operations) to Cru so that staff can share the Gospel. This full-day workshop wove Leslie’s MPD coaching/coordinator role and wisdom, production (AV, Technology) experience, and event planning. There were about 150 people from Central Florida who met at Cru Headquarters and 40 who joined remotely from across three time zones (6:30 am for our West Coast staff).

The morning session began with a leader in Cru who gave a pastoral devotional. We then dove into table discussions revolving around lies and truths we believe about: Ourselves, Others, MPD, and God. That was a monumental moment for some of our staff to verbalize deep-seated thoughts. The afternoon session included times of sharing the latest tools and resources in MPD (ie, how to communicate your ministry) as well as coming up with personal next steps. The feedback from this full-day workshop was INCREDIBLE! Staff felt seen in their behind-the-scenes roles, equipped with new tools after being reminded of truths and their calling to serve the Lord.

I… equip, mobilize, and send missionaries, who are fully funded and financially faithful, so that lives are changed because of the Gospel.
I get to be a part of the mission in sending laborers into the harvest for the Gospel.
I get to be a part of building disciples in their faith and propel them in their trust in the Lord.
I get to point staff to their identity in Christ.
I get to remind staff of the importance of their behind-the-scenes roles in the Kingdom.
I get to remind staff of their calling from God.