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Innovation Stories

2026

Victory Beyond the Cup

Victory Beyond the Cup is a Cru initiative that helps churches and Christians use the global excitement surrounding major international soccer events to build relationships and share the hope of Jesus. Through free evangelism resources, multilingual hosting kits and practical tools for community watch parties, the initiative equips believers to create welcoming spaces for meaningful conversations about faith. By connecting a worldwide sporting moment with simple, relational outreach, Victory Beyond the Cup helps local churches engage their communities and make a lasting spiritual impact beyond the final match.

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2010

GodTools®: Where It All Began

GodTools® is a digital evangelism app that equips Christians to share their faith through simple, accessible and culturally adaptable resources. Launched in 2010 as a mobile version of Cru’s Knowing God Personally booklet, the app has grown into a global platform used in more than 90 countries, with gospel-sharing tools available in nearly 150 languages. By placing trusted resources, practical lessons and guided conversations directly on a person’s phone, GodTools removes many of the barriers that can make evangelism feel intimidating and helps believers share the gospel naturally wherever they are.

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GodTools app home page

1972

What really happened at Explo ‘72

Explo '72 was a landmark Cru gathering that brought more than 80,000 college and high school students to Dallas for a week of biblical teaching, worship, evangelism training and hands-on outreach throughout the city. By combining large-scale spiritual formation with contemporary Christian music and immediately sending participants out to share their faith, the event introduced a powerful model for mobilizing young believers around the Great Commission. Explo '72 became a defining moment of the Jesus Movement, inspiring many participants to pursue lifelong ministry and demonstrating how a shared experience can equip and send a generation to help others know Jesus.

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1967

Spring Breaks and Summer Missions: How Cru’s Summer Missions Started

In the summer of 1964, Cru leader Dick Day and 17 students shared a donated apartment in Newport Beach, California. In their free time, they talked with beachgoers about Jesus. Three years later, a local pastor’s invitation brought Cru students to Ocean City, where they spent the summer sharing the gospel, growing in their faith together and learning to lead.

Those early beach outreaches helped shape Cru Summer Missions. In 2026, 1,868 students took part at 110 locations in the U.S. and around the world, gaining experience they could take home to their campuses and churches.

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1966

History of the Holy Spirit Booklet

The “Have You Made the Wonderful Discovery of the Spirit-Filled Life?” booklet — now titled, “Satisfied?” — was first published in 1966 and has been used around the globe since. Each year, Cru Store sells approximately 25,000 copies. 

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Holy Spirit Booklet

1952

History of the Four Spiritual Laws Booklet

The Four Spiritual Laws booklet transformed a simple gospel presentation into one of Cru’s most influential evangelism tools. Developed by Cru co-founder Bill Bright, the booklet gave Christians a clear, repeatable way to explain the gospel and helped make personal evangelism more accessible to people without extensive training. Over time, billions of copies were distributed in more than 200 languages, and its core message has continued to evolve through resources such as Knowing God Personally, The FOUR and the GodTools app. Its lasting influence demonstrates how simplifying an idea can help equip generations of Christians to share their faith.

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Four Spiritual Laws Booklet