Tom and Karen Mills

Tom and Karen Mills

Helping Show God's Hand at Work Around the World

I have been most impressed by God's faithfulness and His goodness. I was honored to be asked to share thoughts from my 45 years of ministry with Cru's Digital Strategies team.

When I came on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ (now Cru) from my home state of Louisiana, I was placed at the International Headquarters at Arrowhead Springs in Southern Calif. My first assignment was with Worldwide Challenge magazine helping design and paste it up in the days before computers. I was on the team with photographer, Tom Mills.

Later, I was assigned as a graphic designer to the Creative Studios group of artists creating graphic design and illustration for the overall ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. When I was ready to lay out art boards for printing, the type had to be cut with an X-Acto knife and the back of the type rolled with hot wax to stick to the art board. I often had burns from the wax and cuts from the sharp knife.

In November 1980, Tom and I were newlyweds, and working in the art, photography, and printing building. It was the Monday before Thanksgiving, and we had all our laundry in the machincs at work. This turned out to be a blessing from the Lord. Mid- morning, 60 mph winds began to blow smoke over Cru's property from fires started in the mountains above Arrowhead Springs.

About 1:00 Tom called the switchboard at the Arrowhead Hotel because we could see uncontrolled flames on the hill behind the building. His phone conversation was cut off suddenly because fire had burned through the phone line. It was time to go! We got in the car and drove to the laundry machines nearby to get our clothing and headed down the mountain with flames on both sides of the road.

When we got into San Bernardino, the road was closed to our apartment which was in danger of being burned up, so we drove to Tom's grandparent's home an hour away. We were glad we had our clothes because we couldn't return for days. When we did, our apartment was unharmed by the fire. A number of Cru's buildings had burned down, including the writer's building which was next to the art and photography building. 12 Cru staff lost their homes, but no lives were lost.

When I married Tom, he was already traveling a lot shooting photos for Cru's magazine. He wanted to take me with him on a mission trip every 5 years and he prayed faithfully that the Lord would provide the best opportunities. Tom wanted both of us to have as strong a vision for our ministry as possible. I wasn't sure that this would happen because we soon had 3 little boys in less than 4 years and I was incredibly busy with them. My first overseas mission trip with Tom was to an evangelistic outreach to the city of Manila.

We were showing the film "Jesus" outside on a street in a poor arca of the city. I was dismayed when it began to pour rain halfway through the movie and I saw many people run into their homes. But then they all returned with umbrellas! After the film, a Filipino staff member with Campus Crusade for Christ preached about Christ. Then, all of us Campus Crusade staff and students spread out to share the gospel booklet, "The Four Spiritual Laws". I found myself going through the booklet with five girls at a time and asking them to make personal commitments to Jesus. As I looked around I saw that there were so many people wanting to accept Jesus that everyone sharing the 4-Laws was leading a small group of people to Christ at the same time.

While preparing my talk, I saw from our prayer letters that God had been faithful to send me on a mission trip with Tom every 5 years. In 45 years I've been on three trips to Africa, two to Asia, two to Europe, one to Australia, and one to Russia. On the trips to Russia and Botswana, we took our sons with us.

One memorable day for me in Botswana, our team of a dozen adults and many high school and college students had taken the bus out of the city. We were to witness directly to people with gospel booklets at a roadside shopping area. I felt awkward because the others quickly formed-small groups and I was left out. I wandered by myself and then stood near a corner shop.

A woman working inside came to the doorway and called out "Why are you in my country?" I told her that I was in Botswana to share a small booklet that explains how to know God. I showed it to her and she wanted to know if I was selling it. I told her "no" and asked if she wanted to hear about it.

She took a break from her work and listened intently. After I shared how she could know Christ, she said, "I need this booklet. It is so wonderful." She was thrilled when I gave it to her and said she couldn't wait to share it with all her family.

A major event that affected my walk with the Lord was a revival that God sent while we were at Cru Staff Training in Colorado in 1995. Nancy Leigh DeMoss spoke on willingness to be broken before the Lord. After her talk she asked people to take any step of brokenness the Lord put on their heart. Prayer, repentance, and confession went on for 3 days until the conference ended.

I still love doing art and women's ministry and look forward to my coming years working in this way with Cru.