|
As the world’s largest
Christian ministry, 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 and projects ranging from military
ministry to inner
city ministry.
Bright was so motivated by
what is known as the Great Commission,
Christ’s command to carry the gospel throughout the world,
that in 1956
he wrote a booklet titled The Four Spiritual Laws,
which 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 (786 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 Rev. Billy Graham, a
long-time friend of the Brights. “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.”
Bright’s work through
Campus Crusade for Christ will continue under the leadership
of Steve Douglass, a long-time associate whom Dr. Bright
tapped in 2001 as his successor. “Not only have I lost a
dear and
lifelong friend in Bill Bright, but the world has lost one
of its greatest visionaries and faithful servants of Jesus
Christ,” said Douglass.
Bill Bright is survived by his wife Vonette, who assisted
him in founding Campus Crusade for Christ; a sister Florence
Skinner; a brother Forest Bright; his son Zachary, who is
pastor of Divine Savior Presbyterian Church in California;
son Brad, who is on staff with Campus Crusade; and four
grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the Brights have requested that friends
honor Bill’s memory through the William R. Bright Legacy
Trust to further the work to which he gave his life.
William R. Bright Legacy Trust (account #2747894), 100 Lake
Hart Drive, Orlando, FL 32832.
### |
