July (Web-only) 2003

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What started as an evangelistic effort among college students has turned into one of the more ambitious undertakings in church history. The man behind the movement, Dr. William Rohl Bright, traces its origin to a call from God that came to him while he was studying for a Greek examination at Fuller Seminary.

His organization, Campus Crusade for Christ International, is marking its twenty-fifth anniversary this fall by developing strategy to help to evangelize the entire world. Political activities surrounding Bright's evangelistic endeavors and his association with Arizona congressman John Conlan and other conservative political leaders have attracted the attention of the news media in recent weeks.

To get a firsthand account of his political interests and evangelistic vision, Christianity Today editors interviewed Bright at the "Christian Embassy" in Washington. This article originally appeared in the September 24, 1976 issue of Christianity Today.

Where are we in America? Would you say things have deteriorated in the last twenty-five years?

I would use a stronger word: disintegrated. Our nation is in grave trouble.

What do you mean?

Well, for one thing, many of our leaders say we are in trouble economically. And politically we have more discord than ever. Morally and spiritually, we have reached the point of bankruptcy. Our entire society is becoming increasingly secular, humanistic, and materialistic. Anti-God forces largely control education, the media, entertainment, and government.

Are you saying that it's all over for America?

What happens in this country this year will in my opinion determine whether or not we remain free. I don't mean that we will lose our freedom this year, but we'll reach the point of no return. I think ...