John,

I hope this email finds you well and you’re enjoying the Lord’s favor. For many a new year means new opportunities for growth and change. That may be true for you or others in your life. We pray God gives you all you need in the upcoming year as you seek to follow Him.

As you know, Unto^® is the humanitarian ministry of Cru^®. Because you care about our organization and mission, I am forwarding you an important message from my good friend, Steve Sellers, the president of Cru. I have served alongside Steve for many years and appreciate his heart for the Lord and desire to make Him known.

I wanted you to hear from me about Steve's upcoming leadership transition. Please pray with us that the Lord will lead Cru's Board of Directors to the person He wants to lead Cru into the future. Thank you for partnering with us as we continue to express the kindness of Jesus to people living in the toughest places on earth.

Al Goff

President and CEO
unto.com | (972) 234-0800

---------- Forwarded message ---------

From: Steve Sellers, Cru

Date: Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Subject: An Announcement

To: Al Goff, Unto

Dear Partner,

I trust you are doing well. I am praying for God’s protection and peace for you at the start of this new year.

I am writing to inform you of a change in my role at Cru. Because of your generous partnership with us, I wanted you to hear from me directly.

It has been my great privilege to serve as the steward of this global movement. Today, I am announcing that I plan to step aside as president of Cru by the end of July.

In 2020, when our Board of Directors asked Christy and me to consider the presidential role, I told the Board of Directors that I was willing to step into the role, but sensed from the Lord that it would only be for a brief season. As I’ve prayed and continued to surrender to God’s will, I believe it is now time for someone new to lead this great, global movement of God.

One of my greatest joys in life has been to witness our staff members around the world win, build and send in the power of the Holy Spirit and help the body of Christ do evangelism and discipleship. I remain fully committed to this calling and will continue to serve on staff. I look forward to seeing how God will continue to fulfill the vision of Revelation 7:9 and fill His throne room with people from every nation, tribe and tongue. To God be the glory.

Barry Cannada, the chairman of the Board of Directors, sent this letter to our staff members after I announced my decision yesterday:

“The Board of Directors is grateful for Steve and Christy’s service. We look forward to seeing how the Lord will lead them in the next phase of their ministry. Steve and Christy have modeled a life of surrender to Christ and have focused the staff members on loving Jesus. We want to express our earnest appreciation for all the ways Steve and Christy have served in their roles.

The responsibility for selecting the president of the ministry is one of the primary duties of the Board of Directors. We approach it with a deep commitment to seek the Lord’s direction, first and foremost.

The “calling” of Cru, first given by the Lord to Bill and Vonette Bright, and later passed on to Steve and Judy Douglass and Steve and Christy Sellers, is our collective focus.

We have prayerfully begun a process that we will walk through over the next months of considering men and women from around the world who love God supremely, live out our mission of win, build and send, and lead by faith. We hope that this Spirit-led process will be complete by the end of July.

Please pray for us as we pursue this season of trusting the Lord to lead us, step by step, to the person He is calling. We thank God for you, the staff members around the world, who faithfully work to help fulfill the Great Commission. Our prayers are with you as you continue in your calling.”

I echo this request for prayer for the process of selecting the next president. Please also pray for me to finish well in my current role and continue to glorify Him as I serve in other capacities.

I am so grateful for your support, prayers and encouragement of our movement. You are central to the future of this ministry. I am confident that Cru will be well-led and that God will continue to use us together to make His name known among the nations.

Yours in Christ,

Steve Sellers President, Cru

Steve Sellers
President, Cru