Dr. Bill Bright Goes Home to be With the Lord

July 21, 2003

Mathew D. Staver

Dr. Bill Bright, Founder of Campus Crusade for Christ International, left our earthly world to be with the Lord this past Saturday night on July 19, 2003. Our prayers and thoughts are with his wife, Vonette Bright, who co-founded Campus Crusade, and the entire staff of Crusade.

As today's newspaper notes, Dr. Bright was as comfortable meeting with kings and presidents as with the common person. He never boasted of his own skill. He referred to himself as a "slave of Christ." He had a vision to take the gospel to the entire world and he had a deep concern for the moral and spiritual condition of the world and of America.

I will never forget last year when a moral issue was facing Orlando. Dr. Bright came to a city council meeting and sat for more than four hours in his wheel chair which carried an oxygen tank to help him breathe. In November last year, Dr. Bright was gracious to allow me to interview him at home for more than an hour. I was moved by his testimony. He truly believed that he was in a "win-win" situation. If the Lord permitted him to live on earth, he would have the joy of sharing the gospel and writing down his thoughts for several books he was completing, but if the Lord took him home, he would be in heaven! As much as he taught us how to live as a slave of Christ, he also taught us how to die with Christ. I will miss him. He was a true role model and spiritual mentor because he modeled Christ and he loved Him with all of his soul.

For today's news article, see
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-bright-obit072103,0,4589973.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

Campus Crusade has set up a web page to inform the public about the ministry and the memorial service. See http://www.billbright.ccci.org 

Mathew D. Staver, Esq.
Liberty Counsel
http://www.lc.org.

An Ally of the Alliance Defense Fund