Campus Crusade founder Bill Bright dies at 81

Orlando-based ministry leader, author of ‘The Four Spiritual Laws’

Jul 23, 2003

ORLANDO (FBW/BP)–William R. "Bill" Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, the world’s largest Christian ministry, died July 19 from complications related to pulmonary fibrosis. He was 81.

Fueled by his passion to present the love and claims of Jesus Christ to "every living person on earth," Bright spent more than five decades building and leading the Orlando-based Campus Crusade for Christ.

As the world’s largest Christian ministry, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2001, Campus Crusade for Christ serves people in 191 countries through a staff of 26,000 full-time employees and more than 225,000 trained volunteers working in some 60 niche ministries, beginning with campus ministry at UCLA and later expanding to projects ranging from military ministry to inner-city outreach.

Bright died at his home in Orlando surrounded by family members, the Associated Press reported.

Motivated by what is known as the Great Commission, Christ’s command to carry the Gospel throughout the world, in 1956 Bright wrote a booklet titled "The Four Spiritual Laws." The tract has been printed in some 200 languages and distributed to more than 2.5 billion people, making it the most widely disseminated religious booklet in history.

In 1979, Bright commissioned the "JESUS" film, a feature-length documentary on the life of Christ, which has since been viewed by more than 5.1 billion people in 234 countries and has become the most widely viewed, as well as most widely translated, film in history (more than 800 languages).

In 1996, Bright was presented with the prestigious Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion, worth more than $1 million. The Templeton Prize is the world’s largest financial annual award. Bright donated all of his prize money to causes promoting the spiritual benefits of fasting and prayer.

"He has carried a burden on his heart as few men that I’ve ever known. A burden for the evangelization of the world," said Billy Graham, a longtime friend of Bright and his wife, Vonette.

"He is a man whose sincerity and integrity and devotion to our Lord have been an inspiration and a blessing to me ever since the early days of my ministry," Graham said.

In an interview with Florida Baptist Witness, Orlando pastor Jim Henry, a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, called Bright a "magnet" for the cause of Christ.

"Bill had some of the magnetism Jesus had when he was here," said Henry. "I think Bill Bright is probably the most innovative, inspiring, motivational leaders since the inception of Christianity since Jesus left."

One of the memories Henry has of Bright is of his reaching out during a program at First Baptist Church, Orlando last year to pray for Henry.

"I remember the extra effort he made," Henry recalled, despite Bright’s being wheel-chair bound and dependent on an oxygen tank to breathe. "I remember him reaching out to say, ‘I want to pray for you,’" Henry said. "His faith was inspirational."

Henry called Bright a man without "guile" when describing his willingness to speak out on moral or political issues.

"He was not ashamed or intimidated by political pressures. He would talk to [politicians] and be in touch with them about issues," Henry said.

And though sensitive to those in the community of faith, he did not compromise his convictions, Henry said.

Citing a conversation Bright had with a Jewish rabbi, Henry said Bright asked the rabbi how to say a prayer in Hebrew.

"Bill was inclusive in the way of his love," Henry remembered. "But he never compromised on there was only one way to salvation through Jesus Christ.

"A sense of openness, but not compromise endeared him to people," added Henry.

Commenting on Bright’s inclusiveness in working with "Kingdom" people, Henry said the stateman’s "heart is one of the secrets of his success."

"That unselfish spirit and humility is a lesson for all of us," Henry said.

About his own sense of personal loss, Henry said, "God’s people suffer loss when we lose men like that of gigantic proportion."

Speaking of Bright’s "massive" influence on the world and on Christianity, Henry said his efforts are unequaled.

"In my life time, I don’t know of one man, other than Billy Graham, that just tried to grab the world and give the Gospel to them," added Henry.

One of Bright’s last efforts has been to work with the Global Pastor’s Network, an effort that continues under the leadership of John Maxwell and James Davis, according to Henry.

"His last dream was to train pastors to touch their community," recalled Henry. "This was really on his heart.

"To be around Bill Bright you always walked away ... taking a step higher, feeling more enthusiastic about the Gospel and reaching the world for Christ," Henry said. "I was mentored by his positive approach to the Gospel and his love for people."

Robert E. Reccord, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board, in a statement to the Witness, said Bright’s "purposeful approach to life" won’t be forgotten.

"While heaven is rejoicing at the homecoming of Bill Bright, our world is left a little bit darker without his presence. Few lights burned as intensely, and no heart beat more passionately for evangelism than his," Reccord said.

Referring to his years as a student at Indiana University where he came to Christ through the ministry of Campus Crusade, Reccord said it had been a "privilege" for him to develop a close relationship to Bright over the years.

"I was amazed at his productivity and purposeful approach to life even during his final weeks," said Reccord. "While many Christians settle for reaching the base camp in their relationship with God, Bill Bright settled for nothing less than reaching the summit.

"I pray that his life will continue to inspire that kind of obedience and abandonment to God," Reccord added.

Bright’s work through Campus Crusade for Christ will continue under the leadership of Steve Douglass, a longtime associate whom Bright tapped in 2001 as his successor.

"A Christian can’t lose," Bright said in a 2001 interview. "If we live, we go on serving Him. That’s an adventure. If we die, we’re in heaven with Him, and that’s incredible."

Bright had been a California businessman and self-described "happy pagan" before coming to faith in Christ in 1947, the AP recounted. Bright told of God giving him the vision for Campus Crusade the day after he and his future wife, Vonette, made a commitment of all their possessions in order to evangelize the world during their lifetimes, according to the AP.

In addition to his wife, who assisted him in founding Campus Crusade for Christ, Bright is survived by two sons, Zachary, pastor of Divine Savior Presbyterian Church in California and Bradley, who is on staff with Campus Crusade; and four grandchildren.

A memorial service has been scheduled for July 30, at 10:30 a.m., at First Baptist Church in Orlando. In lieu of flowers, the Brights have requested that friends honor his memory through the William R. Bright Legacy Trust. Worldwide Challenge has created a 14-page memorial magazine. To order a copy call 800-688-4992 or e-mail wwc.subs@ccci.org.

[With additional reporting by Joni B. Hannigan, Florida Baptist Witness.]

Email this Article Print this page

Login ID:
Password:	Forgot password?