The sun sests on Canada's Lake Mississagagon. More than 6 million Canadians have been affected by Power to Change, says Barry Bowater, the campaign director.

Glenn Kehler wasn't supposed to become a Christian. At least not at the breakfast he attended.

Staff members of Campus Crusade for Christ in Canada were looking for an effective way to reach people of all demographic profiles. So they began the Power to Change campaign. Through Power to Change, Canadians in most provinces heard the gospel in some way.

"We have four ways to take advantage of Power to Change," says Nathan Hildebrandt, Saskatchewan provincial coordinator. "The 1-800 number [in television commercials], churches doing special events with permission to use the Power to Change logo, door-knockers and personal opportunities."

In order to fund the commercials, Bibles, CDs and evangelistic booklets, Nathan and his group needed to raise a half a million more dollars. So they held a fundraising breakfast that Glenn attended. At the end, he approached Paul McDonald, who works with Power to Change. Glenn was crying.

"Glenn," Paul asked, "what happened?" Glenn said he had heard truths about God that he had never known before. So, Paul explained the gospel to him. Glenn asked Jesus to be his Savior.

Glenn told Paul later, "Now that I think back, when you invited me to this meeting, you said it would be about raising money. What I heard you say was 'Come find out about God.'" —Jennifer Abegg

Two churches—one in Oregon and one in California—have invited the Waterers to help start HomeBuilder groups.

In the United States, 43 percent of marriages end in divorce. Aware of this statistic, Frank and Judy Waterer, married at ages 62 and 54 respectively, agreed to do something every year to strengthen their marriage. After hearing an advertisement on Christian radio and remembering this commitment, the Waterers decided to attend a marriage conference in Reno, Nev., hosted by FamilyLife, the family ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ.

At this conference, the Waterers learned about FamilyLife's HomeBuilders Couples Series. HomeBuilders, a six-to eight-week small-group Bible-study series, addresses issues such as communication, conflict and encouragement. The studies are designed to help strengthen a marriage by teaching godly principles to couples. HomeBuilders includes a weekly small-group meeting time as well as discussion "dates " for couples.

"It was encouraging to meet with other couples and get to know them in a different setting," says Joetta Raber, who co-hosted a HomeBuilders study in Sarasota, Fla. "It strengthened our marriage and drew us closer to Christ. It made us realize how important our marriage is, not only just for us but also for our children and the legacy we will leave them."

The Waterers also recognized the power of the HomeBuilders studies. Retired and living full time in their RV, the Waterers traveled around the country working for a volunteer organization that builds and repairs churches and Christian camps. The Waterers knew they had a heart for families; however, they quickly realized they would not live in one location long enough to lead a study. They also knew that their current lifestyle led them to be at a different church almost every week.

Drawing from their farming background, Frank and Judy decided their ministry could be one of planting seeds. Instead of leading the HomeBuilders studies, the Waterers felt God calling them to encourage others to use them—in their churches, homes or communities.

Now in addition to their other volunteering, the Waterers travel around the country advertising the study to pastors and other people they meet. The couple believes so firmly in the power of the studies that they invest their own time and resources into convincing others of its value in helping marriages.

In many towns, Frank and Judy already have made contacts. They often call pastors and make appointments before arriving. After leaving information, the Waterers send FamilyLife the names of pastors they contacted; FamilyLife then sends packets of HomeBuilders materials. The Waterers also give pastors the name of a FamilyLife staff member or volunteer to contact.

"They have such a heart for the family," says Jeff Lauer, HomeBuilders marketing coordinator."This is not something that FamilyLife is subsidizing; they are just doing this because they have a burden for the families."

The Waterers have gotten a great reception to the studies. "[Everywhere] we've gone, people make time for us," says Frank. "People appreciate the time we take to sit down and explain, not just send a letter."

The choice to live and travel full time in an RV could be difficult for any marriage, but the Waterers love the lifestyle. "God has sized us down, but he sure has expanded our borders," says Frank. The couple considers it a privilege to share tools to strengthen others' marriages besides their own. The Waterers' commitment to their marriage and HomeBuilders has given their lives a whole new direction. —Jessica Cline

For more information about HomeBuilders studies,visit www.familylife.com or call 1-800-358-6329 (1-800-FL-TODAY).

Lisa Beamer (not clapping, as she is introduced during President Bush's address on Sept. 13) credits God for her strength. Americans have noticed.

Lisa Beamer's calm demeanor is now as familiar across America as her late husband Todd's last words. President Bush introduced this 32-year-old widow during his televised address to Congress after the horrors of September 11. Oprah, Larry King and Stone Phillips are among the many who 've interviewed this vivacious mother from Cranbury, N.J. But through the recent months of tragedy and overnight publicity, Lisa remains refreshingly humble and soundly unshakeable in her faith.

Todd Beamer rallied a handful of other passengers to overthrow the terrorist hijackers on San Francisco-bound United Airlines Flight 93 last September. Shortly before 10 a.m., the software salesman issued a battle cry to his inflight comrades: "Are you ready? Let's roll." A few minutes later the plane nosedived into a deserted strip mine in Pennsylvania, far from people-packed buildings in Washington, D.C.

Three days later Lisa learned of Todd's final actions, including his praying the Lord's Prayer with a GTE Airphone operator, whom he asked to call Lisa and their boys—David, 4, and Drew, 2—to reassure them of his love.

"It wasn't Todd's human resolve that kept him from cracking on that plane," says Lisa. "It was his knowledge that, I'd really like to return home today, but if I don't, my family's going to be OK. I'm going to heaven, my final destination, and it's not the end of my life; it's really the beginning. That perspective is what kept him together and keeps me together."

Scott and Jan Luley, regional directors with Campus Crusade's Christian Leadership Ministries, are among the many friends and fellow church members coming alongside Lisa as she raises her boys and her soon-to-arrive baby. "Lisa is a strong person and a leader with a lot of resolve," Jan says. "Those of us who've known Lisa are not surprised by the strength everyone now sees."

With her own "let's roll" energy, Lisa credits God for providing stability in her loss. "My perspective hasn't all of a sudden blossomed based on what happened on September 11," Lisa says. "Both Todd and I had a perspective that we're here to know God, and to help other people know Him and to ultimately prepare to spend eternity with Him. We've based our lives on this for many years. It's kind of who we are."

Whether fielding questions from reporters or telling her children about their brave daddy, Lisa desires for her words and actions to point others to the God she and Todd loved and served together.

"The terrorists really planned on destroying us and ripping us apart—and in a lot of ways they did," adds Lisa. "But in a lot of ways they opened up a whole new awareness of spiritual things for our country."

Because of the grief and anxiety gripping an America at war, Lisa is lending her story to a special magazine designed to help others find spiritual strength and comfort. This publication is part of the 911 Remembrance Project, a Campus Crusade initiative providing practical help and evangelistic tools like the Fallen But Not Forgotten mini-magazine to hundreds of thousands of churches and mission agencies.

"I hope that all this gives people cause to take stock, because Todd and I were the last two people on this earth who looked like we would be facing this type of tragedy," says Lisa. "Ultimately we all have deep inside a desire to know God and be in relationship with Him, and unfortunately for a lot of people, it takes a crisis for them to look up and say, 'OK, I need something more here.'" —Beth Lueders

Beth Lueders, a former Worldwide Challenge associate editor, is a free-lance writer in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Fourteen-year-old Shane is from Belize, but he was far from his Latin America home on September 11.He was in New York City, and afraid.

Days later, he met Woody Woodfin on a street corner in Brooklyn. Woody works with Student Venture, Campus Crusade for Christ 's ministry to teens. After talking for a while, Woody asked, "If you had died on September 11,how sure are you that you would have gone to heaven?"

Shane replied, "Maybe 10,20 percent....Nah, I wouldn't go to heaven."

So Woody asked him if he wanted to hear about how he could be 100 percent sure, and Shane said yes. Woody explained the gospel to him using an evangelistic booklet called "Connecting with God, "and Shane prayed aloud and received Christ.

Police later told Woody that he would need to leave the street corner because gangs were gathering. Yet Shane walked away from that same corner, not filled with fear of gangs or terrorists, but with a huge smile on his face, reading the Bible that Woody had given him. Shane had traveled from Belize to New York; that day, he also moved from death to life. —Becky Hill


Life Builders
Michigan

Wild boar, bear, pheasant and elk. Exhibits at the local zoo? No, this year's menu for 550 outdoorsmen at Kurt Loosenort's evangelistic Sportsman's Banquets in Michigan.

"Keep inviting me," said Kurt's neighbor Kevin Baker, whom Kurt describes as "pre-Christian." Kevin brought four friends with him, none of whom claim to be a Christian, to the evangelistic event.

The meal and the door prizes, which included bows, binoculars and camouflage, certainly piqued interest. The tall tales of high adventure made for an enjoyable evening. But this gathering aimed higher. The target: honoring God and drawing men closer to Him.

Kurt, a staff member with Life Builders, a ministry of Campus Crusade, hosted the banquet. This event linked two of his passions: God and the outdoors. And it worked —after the feast, 30 attendees requested more information about spiritual growth, cracking the door for another of Kurt 's passions: ministry.

All 30 men got what they asked for, either through Kurt or a local church, using Life Builders' one-to-one mentoring process. —Howard Hardegree

For more information on Life Builders, call (817)540-2222.


Military Ministry
Texas

A distraught father called Jerry Hardwick seeking answers. His son, Marvin Jr., had died in an auto accident, and the Air Force had given him a box of his son's possessions. Inside, Marvin Sr. found two enigmatic items: first, a short, white rope; and second, a card printed with Jerry's phone number, a Bible verse and the phrase "New Centurions in His Majesty's Royal Service."

Jerry, a staff member with Campus Crusade's Military Ministry, did not know Marvin Jr., but immediately understood the items. He explained that participants receive a card like the one in the box during the third Spiritual Basic Training Class taught by Military Ministry staff members. Jerry assured the elder Marvin that his son heard the gospel clearly, since every Military Ministry teacher presents the gospel in each class.

Furthermore, the white rope identified Marvin Jr. as a chapel volunteer, meaning he led others to a relationship with Christ. Jerry told the elder Marvin he believed he would see his son again in heaven.

"And the heavenly Father can relate to your sorrow," Jerry told the elder Marvin, "because He too had a son die in the service." —Howard Hardegree


Campus Ministry
New Mexico

Christianity has oppressed the Hispanic people throughout the years," claimed a member of New Mexico State University's Hispanic Council.

Marie Lerma, involved in Destino, Campus Crusade for Christ's ministry to Hispanic students, waited to address the 25 most influential Hispanic leaders on campus.

Before Marie was allowed to talk, several council members expressed why they believed Destino should not be allowed into the Hispanic Council. One leader compared the Nazis' torment of Jews to Christianity's tyranny over Hispanics and their Aztec ancestors.

After listening to the leaders vent their complaints about the Christian faith, Marie stood up to speak. She urged them, "Don't look at the institution of Christianity, but look at the man Jesus and what He has done for us." She then explained the gospel.

Some students cried. Some asked questions. Destino was not accepted as an official council member, but several leaders, including the president, have since participated in Destino outreaches and activities.

Marie showed that Christianity is not an oppressive religion, but a freeing relationship. —Jennifer Abegg