The History

Like everyone, we have a history and ours started with Bill Bright. Bill and his wife Vonette had a vision to see a new generation discover a relationship with Jesus. In 1951 they founded Campus Crusade for Christ on the campus of UCLA. Their unwavering vision and bold commitment are a testimony to our growth as a global ministry that, today, stretch beyond just campuses and into every part of society. Today, we’re charting a new course based on the same calling – to help you reach your world. Take a nostalgic step back into time to discover how God has woven his plan into the past 40 years.

1967
Peace protests and tied-dye shirts were the rage when Josh McDowell moved to Vancouver to set up a student ministry at UBC—Campus Crusade’s first foray in Canada.

1974
He shoots, he scores. Athletes in Action is launched in Canada—two years after Paul Henderson scored the winning goal in the Canada-Soviet hockey series. Henderson joins AIA staff several years later.

1976
Disco balls and bell bottoms. We create another 70s sensation with the “I found it” campaign that hits Canada with an evangelistic media blitz.

1980
The Empire Strikes Back at the same time the JESUS film captures the big screen audiences in Canada. This latter movie is now the most watched film of all time.

1985
The year of Reagan, Thatcher and Mulroney. We open the Christian Embassy in Ottawa to reach the political elite.

1988
With divorce on the rise and families in crisis, FamilyLife hosts its first marriage conference in Canada.

1991
The JESUS Film Project is launched to translate the movie into hundreds of languages, and to show it to millions more around the world.

1994
Oprah reigns over the TV airwaves. After an outreach banquet with Gerda Hnatyshyn, wife of the Governor General, we initiate Women in Leadership and Women Today.

1996
Dot-com mania begins. With the birth of new technology, an Internet ministry is established, which now impacts thousands of people around the world every day.

1999
The new millennium approaches. And a new media campaign—Power to Change—saturates most of Canada. Dozens of the churches join the effort. The campaign is being replicated into a new strategy to reach the world.

2003
Paul Martin becomes Prime Minister. Leonard Buhler leaves his business in Manitoba to become president of Campus Crusade in Canada. A new wave of momentum begins.

2007
With 500 staff members in more than 15 ministries, thousands of supporters and a new radical strategy, Campus Crusade for Christ, Canada makes a unified decision to change their name to Power to Change Ministries propelling the ministry.