From Monica Powell

Craig,

You have been such an encouragement in my life during my four years at ECU in Cru. You helped me to understand and realize the gospel, sins in my life, what a personal ministry is, and what it really means to be a follower of Christ and to have a heart change. Without you and Brad, working as team to turn lost students into Christ-centered laborers, I would have missed out on so many wonderful things that Christ wanted to show me and use me for. When I first came to Cru I fully believed that I was a Christian. But, I was lost in a sea of lies and misconceptions about the gospel. You helped me to fully understand what it means to be a Christian and you challenged me repeatedly, because I didn’t want to hear it the first time☺, to accept that I became a whole hearted, Christ-centered Christian when I was in college, not when I walked the aisle at 5. This impacted my life tremendously and completely changed how I viewed Christ, how I viewed myself, and how I witnessed to others. You constantly encouraged me to learn, know, and desire more of Christ and you spent countless hours pushing me, teaching me, and guiding me to know Christ more and to disciple others. The impact that you have made will impact not only the rest of my life, but innumerable others that I will be able to touch and teach because of my personal ministry.

I am also thankful for your discipleship and friendship to my husband. You helped to show him what it looks like to spiritually lead a family and to follow Christ’s example in loving his bride. You helped to push him toward Christ, explain scripture to him, and become a friend to him. God has used you to shape our family into one that will follow him and raise up our children to follow him, under the leadership of a Christ-focused husband, which is something I am forever thankful for.

Monica Powell