Cru (formerly known as the Campus Crusade for Christ) is a Christian organization dedicated to spreading the gospel. Meetings and Bible study are held 8 p.m. on Thursdays, in the Garrett Center or in the organization’s building on Bradley Avenue.
“It’s basically just a caring community that is dedicated to connecting students to Jesus Christ,” said Taylor Saucier, president and junior retail merchandising major.
The organization partners with Bethany Baptist Church in Edwards, Illinois to host service on Thursday nights called “Intersection” for Bradley and Illinois Central College students that typically draws a crowd of 60 to 80.
Ryan currently helps run Thursday night services and got involved with Cru as an undergraduate. After graduating in 2017, he started working there full-time.
According to Ryan, Thursday nights typically consist of singing worship songs, a short message delivered by a staff member, followed by a themed after-party.
“In our messages, we usually work our way through the book of the Bible to get the best idea of what the book is trying to tell us,” Ryan said. “This semester is the book of first John.”
The Cru organization doesn’t just stay on campus. Members can go on mission trips in addition to the regular activities. Saucier, for example, spent the summer in Greenfield, New Jersey.
The Bradley chapter of Cru also partners with Western Illinois University, Illinois Central College, OSF, Illinois State and other community colleges for weekend getaways. There is a summit at the end of the month in Macomb, where members will discuss their successes, failures and feelings about the previous year.
According to Ryan, the organization is always happy to receive new members.
“If you’re interested in learning about yourself, or life, or God, in any sense of the word, then I would say come check us out,” Saucier said. “And if you just want community, of any sort, and you’re not even interested in God, then I would still say come check us out.”
Interested students can contact Saucier at tsauscier@mail.bradley.edu.
