I just passed a test by getting a negative result. Yes, it was an at-home COVID-19 test. Anne Marie and I are being extra careful this week as we plan to host a friend in our home later this week. She’s visiting to train our writers team in editing.

The reason for this training is a significant change in the work that the writers do. Over the next few months, our team members will take on more editing work. They’ll all still write articles, and will also edit writing by Cru staff members from around the world. Many Cru staff members whose primary work involves evangelism and discipleship want to write about how God is working in their lives and ministries. Our team will help them get those articles published. 

Along with this, my role will change as of February 1. I’ll continue as the managing editor of Cru Storylines while adding a new role. As managing editor, I help our editor in chief by identifying the steps needed to complete each issue, set out a timeline, and then help assign work to get each issue done. Each story goes through about 50 steps from planning through publishing.

Now, I’ll serve as one of the project managers for the whole communications team at Cru’s headquarters. Based on my experience and strengths, we realized that I can help plan a wide variety of evangelism and discipleship communications products. I’ll help team leaders do what I’ve been doing for our digital magazine — identify the steps needed, plan a timeline and assign work to team members.

In order to fit this into my workload, I’ll pass the role of leading the writers team on to someone else. Melissa, one of our current writers, will take on that role moving forward.

As you think of us over the next few weeks, please pray these things.

• Ask God to keep us healthy as we interact with people at this week’s training, in our offices, at church and in other places.
• Pray for my adjustment to my new role, and that I’ll help with a wider variety of communications projects. 
• Pray for Anne Marie as her team continues to help teachers around the world share the gospel and build disciples.   

Thanks for your prayers and generosity.

Sincerely in Christ, Mark — for the Winz family