My good friend Vonette Bright has lost her battle with acute Leukemia and has moved into heaven. Like her husband Bill she “finished well”. Vonette and Bill Bright, who died in 2003, founded Campus Crusade – later called CRU. It is a worldwide, interdenominational Christian evangelism and discipleship organization that since its founding has become one of the largest Christian organizations in the world. It currently is served by more than 25,000 full-time and part-time team members in 191 countries around the world and is comprised of 29 different ministries. Literally billions of people have been reached through the Jesus film and other initiatives that were spawned through that organization and other ministries that they helped found.
Vonette received numerous honors and recognitions, including six honorary doctorate degrees from universities such as Colorado Christian, Taylor University and Liberty University. She wrote numerous inspirational books and founded and co-founded so many different ministries that there is not enough room in this post to include them all.
She was a good friend of mine and was in fact the first person to officially sign up for the Jesus Alliance which she believed in with all of her heart. Though I didn’t know her nearly long enough, I did learn a tremendous amount from her in the many hours we spent talking to each other by phone, letter, and occasionally in person.
I received a Christmas letter from her just last week and she shared that she only had days to live. She said she was encouraged by words that she has often shared with those who have lost loved ones in John 14:28
If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father.
She then wrote: “Do not weep for me. I am preparing for the journey Home with such joy and anticipation. I trust the New Year will bring great hope and expectation that we will see Him glorified in unimaginable ways. The hope God provided through His Son has been my constant source of encouragement throughout this year”.
Hmmm . . . Sorry Vonette this is one request that I cannot fulfill on your behalf. Though I am overjoyed in knowing that you are now standing in the glory of Jesus and your homecoming with Bill and others gone on before you has begun in earnest, I will miss your radiant smile and wise advice so very much.
I suppose I’m selfish, but I loved this saintly woman more than words can express. The world is a darker place without Bill and Vonette Bright, but there is still hope in Jesus Christ and Vonette’s last request was that we could experience that hope in its truest measure and share that hope for 2016 with everyone we meet.
I am committed to doing that as best I can and I hope you will join me.
Romans 15:12
“The heir to David’s throne will come, and he will rule over the Gentiles. They will place their hope on him.”
December 24, 2015 – Click here to listen