“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV
Transferring to Bob Jones University in September 1950, we were required to take a course in speech, and exposed to the poem “Evangelize” –
“Give us a watchword for the hour, a thrilling word, a word of power; a battle cry, a flaming breath, that calls to conquest or to death. A word to rouse the church from rest, to heed the Master’s high behest. The call is given: ye hosts arise, our watchword is, Evangelize!”
All students were required to attend chapel every Monday, Tuesday Thursday, and Friday. One of our first speakers was Bill Bright, who had just established Campus Crusade for Christ to reach students in secular colleges. Endeavoring to recruit staff, he presented the goals and methodology for the new organization. BJU senior Gordon Klenck became the first staff member of Campus Crusade for Christ, August 14, 1952. Gordon served 74 years, until his life on earth ended May 9, 2026.
Meanwhile, Campus Crusade for Christ developed into the largest evangelistic outreach on secular college campuses.
In the book “Amazing Faith,” the authorized biography of Bill Bright, author Michael Richardson wrote: “Since 1945 Bill had envisioned the value of a high-quality motion picture on the life of Christ. In 1974 it seemed to Bill that the right time to go forward on the project had come – but others were not convinced.”
God’s Word guided the Brights.
“And in this I give advice: It is your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago. But now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.” 2 Corinthians 8:10-12 NKJV
Richardson continued: “Several months later, Bill and Vonette were hosting Bunker and Caroline Hunt of Texas oil wealth. The Hunts had been friends and supporters of the ministry for many years, so Bill shared with them the vision of creating the motion picture. Bunker turned to Caroline and asked, ‘How would you feel if we financed it?’ She agreed.”
In 2025, views of the “Jesus Film Project” content totaled 671,316,226, with 12,224,661 indicating decisions to follow Christ. The Jesus Film has now been translated into 2,296 languages.
Through our friends Paul and Jeannie Cedar at Mission America conferences, we were privileged to get to know Bill and Vonette Bright. My daughter Tami was encouraged and challenged by Vonette, and I had the opportunity to get to know Bill and interact with both of them.
Kurt Kaiser wrote the song “Pass It On”: “It only takes a spark to get a fire going, and soon all those around can warm up in its glowing. That’s how it is with God’s love – once you’ve experienced it, you spread His love to everyone, you want to pass it on. I wish for you, my friend, this happiness that I’ve found. You can depend on Him, it matters not where you’re bound.
I’ll shout it from the mountain-top, I want my world to know: the Lord of love has come to me, I want to pass it on.”
Robert Coleman autographed his book “The Spark That Ignites,” saying: “God bless you, George. May the fire of revival always burn in your ministry to the praise of God.” Psalm 62:5
The TTT 7:27 prayer team receives updates on the 7th and 27th of each month, as Tami and I continue to go “Together Toward Tomorrow” with multiple truth-telling connectors.
God’s ABCs of salvation are shared in print and through multiple media. They’re offered twice daily on Telling The TRUTH radio, broadcast in 25 states on the VCY America network, WSJD in Mt. Carmel, and via podcast.
The “Together” editorial/blog is posted online (TTTChristianYouth.org) at 7:27 AM every Friday, and published in newspapers every Saturday.
The TTT vision: Every youth, before turning 20, to hear the Gospel with an invitation to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.”
TTT Saturday nights continue at 7:27 every week for teenagers, preteens, and caring adults (in person and online).
The final stanza of “Evangelize”: “The glad Evangel now proclaim, through all the earth, in Jesus’ name. This word is ringing through the skies: Evangelize! Evangelize! To dying men, a fallen race, make known the gift of Gospel grace. The world that now in darkness lies, Evangelize! Evangelize!”
The challenge from God’s Word continues: “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV