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Special Note and Personal Testimony by
Steve Shultz regarding the "Home Going" of Dr. Bill Bright
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I never met Dr. Bright personally, but
his ministry could be said to be almost "solely" responsible for the
Christian life I live today. I was raised in a church environment
that seemed unintentionally (I truly mean unintentionally) hostile to the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. Many in my denomination loved Jesus with all that
was within them, but they didn't know how to tell me of this love.
It was not until 1982 that two
different men from Campus Crusade for Christ shared Bill's famous "Four
Spiritual Laws" with me, that I finally, for the first time understood
Grace, the Gospel, and yes, even Father God Himself.
I remember sitting in McDonald's in
San Bernardino, CA, going through those "4 Spiritual Laws" that as I
finally understood what Christ had accomplished for me---PERSONALLY for
ME!--Suddenly I had to cover my mouth because I actually started to
chuckle--to laugh--with tremendous joy and relief. It felt so
disrespectful to laugh-- but so great was my relief at hearing His True
Gospel, His good news---I could barely restrain my laughing. This was long
before I had ever heard (nor had many others) of Holy Laughter. But I was
experiencing it at hearing those silly 4 spiritual laws in 1982, written
by Bill Bright. (See
http://billbright.ccci.org/)
Suddenly,
I would sit in front of the TV by the hour, completely disinterested in
what was playing--as I read my Bible, seeing nothing but Grace, Grace, and
more Grace. I had never seen it before, but Bill Bright's writing and
God's Holy Spirit had instantly caused "scales" to fall from my blinded
eyes--and now I could see it.
A few days later, at a Campus Crusade
for Christ Home Bible Study in Highland, CA, a man named Loren Lillestrand,
who was "high up" in the administration of CCC led our small group for
over a year in the book of Romans.
During and "AT" those Bible studies,
within that first year---to Loren Lillistrand's and our great shock, a
dear friend, Claudia Rutherford was dramatically healed of almost
life-long debilitating arthritis--something that Campus Crusade was not
even promoting at the time as part of their ministry (but which was a
DIRECT RESULT of the anointing on Dr. Bill Bright, and his obedience to
the unrelenting sharing of the simple Gospel). [for verification of this
healing, contact Claudia if you wish http://www.pbnradio.com/patsbio.htm
or email her at: pbn@pbnradio.com
]
I doubt Dr. Bright ever heard of that
particular healing. In addition, it was at the first night of that CCC
home Bible Study that God first spoke to me (and it has become part of my
testimony) that:
John 10:27-30
27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and
I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall
snatch them out of My hand. 29 "My Father, who has given them to Me,
is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's
hand. 30 "I and the Father are one." (NAS)
Again, I would find it
surprising if Dr. Bright, or anyone but our closest friends, know that
this
prophetic ministry, THE ELIJAH LIST, dates back to that one Campus Crusade
for Christ Home Bible Study where God showed me on night #1, that He
speaks to His people. Perhaps the Lord is "filling Bill in," even now as
we speak, of all the fruit of his life--of which Derene and I are but a
tiny speck in
its tapestry.
I want to give to Bill Bright more than double honor for what He did for
our Lord. I am close to tears as I write this.
I know His Reward will be great, but Bill Bright's greatest reward IS in
finally being WITH the ONE in whom his soul delighted for those many
years-- Jesus Christ!
Bless you Bill Bright! And Bless YOU JESUS CHRIST for using him and for
dying for us, that we might live with YOU!
In the name of Bill Bright's personal Friend, Jesus, the Christ,
Steve Shultz, Publisher
Jul 20, 2003
Dear friends:
Last night, July 19, 2003, I got a call saying that Dr. Bill Bright had
just gone to be with Jesus, at 9:25 P.M. ET. He had been battling
pulmonary fibrosis. He was age 81. It was not unexpected. He had been
going downhill fast and we had been notified the day before that it could
be any moment, and that his eyes had not been open for two days.
Dr. Bright was the founder and president/chairman emeritus of Campus
Crusade for Christ International, a ministry he began in 1951.
Without reservation, Dr. Bright was the greatest and most Christ-like man
I have ever known. I had worked for him directly for the past 12 years,
and my wife was his secretary for the last ten years of his presidency,
before he had to step down in 2001 for health reasons. I have never known
anyone more loving and caring or who displayed the love and life of Christ
more than Bill Bright. He was truly an exemplary leader of leaders. He
was the most loving friend my wife and I have ever had. That he even
noticed or cared about us at all was a miracle, because we are nobodies,
and he communicated every day with some of the world's most important
people. But he took time to love us and all others who crossed his path.
He was remarkable, and to serve Jesus under this man's leadership has been
the greatest privilege I have ever had in my life, and I praise God for
it. It has truly been a gift of grace.
He was also the most focused person I have ever known -- focused on Jesus
and the Great Commission, to which he was called to help fulfill. He
never strayed from that heavenly vision, or was distracted. He often said
that when he got up each morning, he evaluated all the potential
activities of that day based on the question: "Will it help fulfill the
Great Commission." I cannot help but think how that this dear man's
consistent focus on the Lord Jesus and his faithfulness to His Word and
Great Commission for more than 50 years stands in stark contrast to the
apostates I wrote about yesterday.
A public announcement of his home going is at
http://billbright.ccci.org/public/.
The organization he founded and led now has more than 26,000 full-time
staff and more than 225,000 trained volunteer staff in 191 countries in
areas representing 99.6 percent of the world's population. In the past 50
years, Campus Crusade for Christ has seen approximately 6 billion
exposures to the gospel worldwide. The film, "JESUS," which Bright
conceived and funded through Campus Crusade for Christ, is the most widely
translated and viewed film of any type ever produced. Since its use began
in 1980, the film has been translated into 812 languages and viewed or
listened to by 5.5 billion people in 236 countries. ("Gone With the Wind"
is # 2 with only 35 translations!) Dr. Bright had five honorary
doctorate degrees and was also the author of more than fifty books. He
recently co-founded Global Pastors Network to "Touch, Teach and Train" a
group of 5 million new house churches around the world 24/7/365 at
http://www.globalpastorsnetwork.org.
For most of his life, he signed every piece of correspondence with these
words, which I considered prophetic: "Yours for fulfilling the Great
Commission in this generation." This great saint is now gone. This seems
like a sign to me.
His departure leaves a big hole in the lives of my wife and I. He called
us a last time on July 8, 11 days before his passing and just before
losing his voice. He could barely talk, but spoke with both of us. I
asked how he was feeling, and with a weak voice, he typically responded,
"I'm rejoicing." He called about a couple of projects I am working on for
him because he said, "I'll be moving soon," lightly referring to his soon
departure. He was a workaholic for Jesus until the end. He was never
concerned about dying and always said it was a "win-win" situation for
him. He said, "If I stay, I will continue to be able to serve my Lord,
and if I leave, I will be with Him." He always rejoiced in the Lord and
was always positive and loving. I have never, ever known anyone like him.
See you soon, my dear friend. We will greatly miss you. Thank you for
your love and example. Thank you, Jesus, for Dr. Bright.
Jim
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Part II -- submitted by Jim Bramlett
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Message from Bill Bright
Jim Bramlett
Jul 20, 2003
Dear friends:
It seems appropriate to share with you something Dr. Bill Bright recently
wrote. May it be an inspiration to you.
__________________
The Most Thrilling Adventure!
Dear friends:
As a new believer in 1945 I read a statement that had a profound influence
on my life. It was by Sir James Stewart of Scotland, a famous New
Testament scholar.
He said: "If we could but show the whole world that being committed to
Christ is no tame, humdrum, sheltered monotony but the most thrilling,
exciting adventure the human spirit can ever know, then those who have
been standing outside the church and looking askance at Christ would come
crowding in to pay allegiance to Him. And we might well expect the
greatest revival since Pentecost."
That statement has greatly influenced everything I have ever written or
spoken for more than 50 years.
James Stewart was a great scholar and a godly, humble man. I remember
calling him at his home in Scotland and inviting him to speak at one of my
conferences. He was then approaching 70 years of age. He said, "Oh Mr.
Bright, there's so many people that are more qualified than I to speak to
your group."
He did agree to come and speak to us, and when this great man got up to
speak he was anointed by God, although by nature he was very reserved. He
didn't think he was that great. But his words were great because he
exalted Jesus. That is the key.
I don't know how many thousands of times I have thought of that as a
principle to follow: When I write, exalt Jesus; when I speak, exalt Jesus.
No one or nothing else is as important as He.
When you get down to it, church is not going to save us. Religion is not
going to save us. Christianity is not going to save us. Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus -- the Christ, the Messiah, the King of kings and Lord of lords, the
Word made flesh. He is the one who died for us. He is the one who lives
within us. He is the one who transforms us.
If we could faithfully and consistently communicate the true person of
Christ and the reality of life in Him, many unbelievers would gladly turn
to Him. We have a duty to know what we believe and why we believe it so we
can share the gospel. Peter says, "Always be prepared to give an answer to
everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have" (1
Peter 3:15, NIV).
In recent years, the church has often discarded many fundamental
principles because it fears looking foolish in the world's eyes. But it is
foolish not to present the whole gospel. As the church recommits itself to
the authority of God's Word, and proclaims Christ, revival will come.
_________________
(To receive Dr. Bright's daily "Insights," go to
http://www.crosswalk.com/ , then
Resources on right, then to Newsletter signup.)
Permission is
granted (and you are also encouraged) to reprint these articles in hard copy
form, as well as sending them to your own email lists and posting them on
your own websites. We ask only that you keep Elijah List website, email
contact info, and author contact information intact. Thank you and
blessings, Steve Shultz, Publish, The Elijah List
http://www.elijahlist.com
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