International Christian organization Cru is re-launching its branch at AU with a new staff, new name and a mission of helping students “have meaningful conversations about Jesus Christ with their peers,” according to Cru D.C. and Virginia Team Leader Andrew Powars.
Three AU alumni approached Powars during their senior year at AU to reinvigorate interest in Cru, which had been established at AU in 2007 but was not an active group. The alumni included Erin Radomsky, SIS, ’11; Mark Ferren, CAS, ’11; and Megan McCormack, CAS, ’11.
The purpose of Cru, a religious organization with over 50 branches around the world, is to touch upon the physical and spiritual needs of students and to help the D.C. community, Powars said. He helps run the D.C. and Arlington, Va., branches of Cru with his wife, Karlayne.
Branches of Cru are conducting evangelical work in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Australia-Oceania and Europe to “spread the Gospel to areas of conflict and places void of the Christian religion,” according to Cru’s website.
Cru is listed under religious life groups on the Kay Spiritual Life Center’s website under its original name, Campus Crusade for Christ.
“[Cru] would go to other countries and all they would hear was ‘campus crusade,’ and it would be a point of contention,” said Lauren Kelly, a graduate of West Virginia University and a coordinator of AU’s Cru branch.
All U.S. branches will officially change their names to Cru in January 2012.
Cru Vice President Steve Sellers mentioned the name change during a July 19 appearance on FOX News and made a formal announcement about the change July 23 to clear up misconceptions about the organization and its mission.
Cru is neither a shortening of the word Crusade, nor is it an acronym, Sellers said in the announcement.
“When the organization started in 1951, the word ‘crusade’ was generally not thought of as offensive in the U.S.,” Powars said. “As the country has continued to diversify, concern for the word and its message brought a desire for change.”
Powers said Cru’s campus branches are usually student-run, but AU’s branch is not. Rather, Powars is leading the re-launch of Cru on AU’s campus and is looking for students passionate about Cru’s message.
Allie Stauss, a sophomore in the School of International Service, became involved with Cru this year because the group and the leaders gave her a sense of community.
“It’s not about religion, it’s about having a community,” Kelly said. “College can be a lonely place, we just want to provide a place where students can come together and be loved.”
Kelly said that, while Cru is recognized as a Christian group, it is in fact nondenominational and students do not need to be Christian in order to join.
“I think that [Cru] will make an excellent addition to the campus community, and I am so glad that they are providing another community for students to explore faith in,” said Stephanie Municchi, co-director of AU Christian student group The Gathering.
University Chaplain Joe Eldridge said he looks forward to Cru’s reappearance at AU.
“Cru is an active affiliate with Kay Spiritual Life Center and a wonderful partner,” Eldridge said.
Cru holds a men’s community group meeting in SIS Monday at 8:30 p.m., and holds a woman’s community group meeting in Kay Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. Cru also meets at noon on Thursday for lunch in the Tavern.
Students who are looking to get involved in Cru, want more information about Cru’s missions or are interested in becoming a member of Cru’s student leadership team can contact Powars at DCcru.AU@gmail.com.
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