Shortly after we started distributing our stories via email instead of by a print magazine, someone asked me how many people would read the emails as opposed to reading the magazine.

That made me recognize an important difference — we only knew how many copies of the magazine we mailed. Now, we can find out how many people read each story and the average time they spend with each article. We know much more than we did with print.

I recalled that conversation last month as we reviewed the progress our communications teams have made since last August. The Cru email newsletter, where we distribute Cru Storylines articles, has 10,443 new subscribers, bringing the total to 75,687. That’s more than our magazine had when it ended.

Of our last four Cru Storylines stories (right), Anne Marie edited one, “Experiencing God’s Extravagant Love,” and I edited another, “A Legacy of Changed Lives in San Diego.” I’m now in the final steps of editing a story about an outreach to last year’s World Youth Day using the “JESUS” Film. Last week Anne Marie began working with a writer and photographer for a story about one of Cru’s summer missions that she will edit.

Beyond Cru Storylines, our main website, Cru.org, had 3,419,910 visitors from 235 countries. We saw 37,742 people sign up for our Advent and Easter devotionals on our website and the YouVersion Bible app. I served as the project manager for both of those. Now, Anne Marie is editing a series of devotionals that we have used in the past to bring those up to date for future use.

As you think of us over the next few weeks, would you pray for these things?

• Please pray that Anne Marie will work well with Mike and Tom to complete the summer mission story. Pray that the story will encourage other students to take part in future mission opportunities.  
• Please pray for Mark’s work with the project management team during the current focused planning time to set goals and priorities for our teams for the next few months.
• Thank you for praying for Anne Marie’s health. She continues to feel better but is still dealing with an autoimmune disease and an infection.

We’re grateful for your prayers and generosity.

Sincerely in Christ, — Mark, for the Winz family