Bill was born in Oklahoma in 1921. His dad was a cattle rancher.


Bill attended Northeastern State University in Oklahoma and enlisted in the United States Navy in 1942.

After the war, Bill moved to California and founded a candy company he named “California Confections”.

While building his company he attended the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, where, under the influence of Bible teacher, Henrietta Mears and a young Billy Graham, he became an evangelical Christian.



In 1946 he sold his candy business and entered seminary to study the Bible.

In 1948 he married and afterwards returned to Los Angeles. While working with several churches on their student outreach programs, he became convinced that a different approach was needed.


In 1951, he and his wife, Vonette, started Campus Crusade for Christ at UCLA. The organization soon became the largest and most effective Christian college ministry in the United States.


In 1975, Amy and I were asked to host Bill and Vonette Bright at a conference hosted by Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky.

There was immense excitement about the Bright’s visit.

At the time they were among the most famous Christian leaders in America. Amy and I joined in the excitement but were equally nervous.

Bill and Vonette were unfailingly gracious. They exhibited no ego and demanded nothing. They were famous and powerfully influential but treated us (and everyone else) with consistent kindness.

Bill even recruited me to join his staff.

Whatever position God has blessed you with, always treat people with kindness. You express God’s love by how you work with another person.



The Bible says in John 13:35, “By this shall everyone know you are my disciples, if you love one another.” NIV

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