Steve Douglass, the former president of the Christian ministry campus organization Cru and Campus Crusade for Christ International, passed away on Saturday due to complications from cancer. He was 77.
"Even though we all rejoice that Steve is with Jesus, this is a tremendous loss for the family and Campus Crusade for Christ/Cru," Cru President Steve Sellers said in a statement. "A great missionary statesman has gone home."
"He was a man who was passionate about Jesus and relentlessly committed to the advancement of the Gospel. A great servant of God has passed into the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ," preacher and founder of Dare 2 Share Ministries Greg Stier tweeted last week.
Steve Douglass, former president of Cru, passed away this afternoon. He was a man who was passionate about Jesus and relentlessly committed to the advancement of the Gospel. A great servant of God has passed into the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.
— Greg Stier (@gregstier) October 30, 2022
Douglass spent 53 years with Cru in a variety of roles, including leading the organization as its president from 2001-2020 after succeeding founder Bill Bright. In 1969, he joined Cru after graduating from Harvard University with an MBA and from Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering.
"What I saw in those meetings was the love and joy of Jesus beaming forth from the faces and lives of the people in a small group of students," he recalled.
"They didn't just talk about Jesus; they lived out His presence and power in their lives. It was magnetic and irresistible. One night that summer, I sat up in bed and said, 'God, that's what I want.'"
He was also a member of the board of directors for the National Religious Broadcasters and hosted the national radio program "Making Your Life Count."
As reported by The Christian Post, the organization shortened its name to Cru in 2011 under Douglass' watch due to the negative connotations surrounding the word "Crusade."
"Our mission and DNA remain the same," Douglass said at the time. "It is all about fulfilling The Great Commission."
Douglass also authored and co-authored several books, including Managing Yourself, How to Achieve Your Potential and Enjoy Life, How to Get Better Grades and Have More Fun and Enjoying Your Walk with God.
He is survived by his wife, Judy, three adult children and ten grandchildren.
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Carolyn Ann Ryan
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
