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Bill Bright passed away in 2003, but his enduring legacy
continues. He was heavily involved in the development of this series
with his team from Bright Media and Jack Cavanaugh.
Known worldwide for his live of Jesus Christ and dedication to sharing
the message of God's grace in everything he did, Bill Bright founded
Campus Crusade for Christ International. From a small beginning
in 1951, the organization he began had, in 2002, more than 25,000
full-time staff and over 553,000 trained volunteer staff in 196
countries in areas representing 99.6 percent of the world's population.
What began as a campus ministry now covers almost every segment
of society, with more than seventy special ministries and projects
that reach out to students, inner cities, governments, prisons,
families, the military, executives, musicians, athletes, and many
others.
Each ministry is designed to help fulfill the Great Commission,
Christ's command to carry the gospel to the entire world. The film
Jesus, which Bright conceived and funded through Campus Crusade
for Christ, is the most widely viewed film ever produced. It has
been translated into more than 730 languages and viewed by more
than 4.5 billion people in 234 countries, with 300 additional languages
currently being translated. More than 148 million people have indicated
making salvation decisions for Christ after viewing it live. Additional
tens of millions are believed to have made similar decisions through
television and radio versions of the Jesus film.
Dr. Bright held six honorary doctorate degrees: a Doctor of Laws
from the Jeonbug National University of Korea, a Doctor of Divinity
from John Brown University, a Doctor of Letters from Houghton University,
a Doctor of Divinity from the Los Angeles Bible College and Seminary,
a Doctor of Divinity from Montreat-Anderson College, and a Doctor
of Laws from Pepperdine University. In 1971 he was named outstanding
alumnus of his alma mater, Northeastern State University. He was
listed in Who's Who in Religion and Who's Who in Community Service
(England) and received numerous other recognitions. In 1973 Dr.
Bright received a special award from Religious Heritage of America
for his work with youth, and in 1982 received the Golden Angel Award
as International Churchman of the Year.
Together with his wife, Vonette, he received the Jubilate Christian
Achievement Award, 1982-1983, for outstanding leadership and dedication
in furthering the gospel through the work of Campus Crusade and
the Great Commission Prayer Crusade. In addition to having many
other responsibilities, Bright served as chairman of the Year of
the Bible Foundation, and he also chaired the National Committee
for the National Year of the Bible in 1983, with President Ronald
Reagan serving as honorary chairman. When Bright was named the 1996
recipient of the one-million-dollar Templeton Prize for Progress
in Religion, he dedicated all of the proceeds of the award toward
training Christians internationally in the spiritual benefits of
fasting and prayer, and for the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
Bright was also inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in November
1996.
In the last two years of his life, Bright received the first Lifetime
Achievement Award from his alma mater, Northeastern State University.
He was also a co-recipient, with his wife, of the Lifetime Inspiration
Award from Religious Heritage of America Foundation. In addition,
he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from both the National
Association of Evangelicals and the Evangelical Christian Publishers
Association, which also bestowed on him the Chairman's Award. He
was inducted into the National Religious Broadcaster Hall of Fame
in 2002. Dr. Bright authored more than one hundred books and booklets,
as well as thousands of articled and pamphlets that have been distributed
by the millions in most major languages.
Bill Bright celebrated being married to Vonette Zachary Bright for
fifty-four years. They have two married sons, Zac and Brad, who
are both actively involved in ministry today, and four grandchildren.
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Jack
Cavanaugh
Jack Cavanaugh is an award-winning, full-time
author who has published sixteen books to date, mostly historical
fiction. His eight-volume American Family Portrait series spans
the history of our nation from the arrival of the Puritans to the
Vietnam War. He has also written novels about South Africa, the
English versions of the Bible, and German Christians who resisted
Hitler. He has published with Victor/Chariot-Victor, Moody, Zondervan,
Bethany House, and Fleming H. Revell. His books have been translated
into six languages.
The Puritans was a gold Medallion finalist in 1995. It received
the San Diego Book Award for Best Historical in 1994, and the Best
Book of the Year Award in 1995 by the San Diego Christian Writers'
Guild.
The Patriots won the San Diego Christian Writers' Guild Best Fiction
award in 1996.
Glimpses of Truth was a Christy Award finalist in International
Fiction in 2000.
While Mortal Sleep won the Christy Award for International Fiction
in 2002; the Gold Medal in ForeWord magazine's Book of the Year
contest in 2001; and the Excellence in Media's Silver Angel Award
in 2002.
His Watchful Eye was a Christy Award winner in International Fiction
in 2003.
Beyond the Sacred Page was a Christy Award finalist in Historical
Fiction in 2004.
Jack has been writing full-time since 1993. A student of the novel
for nearly a quarter of a century, he takes his craft seriously,
continuing to study and teach at Christian writers' conferences.
He is the former pastor of three Southern Baptist churches in San
Diego county. He draws upon his theological background for the spiritual
elements of his books. Jack has three grown children. He and his
wife live in Southern California.
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