Born
to Mary Lee and Forest Dale Bright, October 19,
on their ranch five miles from Coweta, Oklahoma.
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1921 |
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Graduates from Coweta High School. His first seven
years of schooling are in a one-room schoolhouse.
In
high school Bright excels in academics, student,
government, journalism, drama, debate and oratory.
He also wins a national Future Farmers of America
oration contest with speech entitled "I Dare
You." |
1939
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| Bachelor
of Art degree with honors from Northeastern State
University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. He was student
body president, yearbook editor, and chosen outstanding
graduate by faculty and students. |
1943 |
|
| Moves
to Los Angeles and begins Bright's California Confections,
a specialty-food purveyor catering to leading department
stores and epicurean specialty shops across America.
Visits Hollywood Presbyterian Church for the first
time. |
1944 |
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| Accepts Christ through
the influence of First Presbyterian Church in Hollywood,
Dr, Louis Evans, Sr. and Dr. Henrietta Mears; and
embarks on extensive personal study of the Bible.
|
1945 |
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| Marries Vonette Zachary
of Coweta on December 30. |
1948 |
|
| Bill
and Vonette sign their "Contract with God,
" soon after God gives Bill the vision for
a great spiritual movement beginning by reaching
the leaders on college campuses of the US and
later the world. A 24-hour prayer chain is started
and Campus Crusade for Christ is born. More than
250 UCLA students receive Christ in the first
year. |
1951 |
|
| Campus
Crusade for Christ staff serve on 4 campuses in
three states; Dr. Bright develops "God's Plan",
a 20 minute presentation that was the forerunner
of the "Four Spiritual Laws." |
1952 |
 |
| Continual refinement
of "God's Plan for Your Life" produced
the Four Spiritual Laws which emphasized God's love
as the first principle rather than man's sinfulness.
|
1957 |
 |
| Dr. Joon Gon Kim begins
Korean Campus Crusade for Christ. |
1958 |
|
| First "Lay Institute
for Evangelism." Kundan Massey launches Campus
Crusade for Christ in Pakistan |
1959 |
|
| Campus Crusade
for Christ is active on 40 us campuses and in
3 countries. |
1960 |
“
|
| "Berkeley
Blitz" officially Crusade's first national
week long convention. More than 700 students and
faculty members receive Christ. Dr. Bright writes
"How to Love by Faith" the first of
the 10 Transferable Concepts series. Canadian
and European ministries begin. |
1967 |
|
| Bill Bright writes
"Revolution Now." Campus Crusade for
Christ is active in 32 countries |
1969 |
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| Explo '72 at the
Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. |
1972 |
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| Religious Heritage
of America presents Dr. Bright with its International
Churchman of the Year award for his worldwide
ministry to youth. |
1973 |
|
| Explo '74 in Seoul,
South Korea. Dr. Bright receives honorary doctorate
from Los Angeles Bible College and Seminary. |
1974 |
|
| Here's Life America
"I Found It" campaign reaches approximately
85% of Americans by mobilizing more than 300,000
Christians from 15,000 churches in 246 cities
by 1977. |
1975 |
|
| In a survey of
35 experts from the religious and secular press
conducted by Christian Century magazine, Dr. Bright
is chosen as one of the ten most influential personalities
in American religion. Here's Life, "I Found
It" campaigns begin in more than 100 countries. |
1978 |
|
| JESUS, a film
account of the life of Christ based on the Gospel
of Luke, premieres in 250 theatres. It becomes
the most-translated motion picture in history
and the single most important tool for accelerating
the gospel worldwide. Bill Bright helps to found
the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.
By the end of the 70s Campus Crusade for Christ
is active in 71 countries. |
1979 |
|
| With Pat Robertson,
Bright co-chairs "Washington for Jesus"
a gathering of more than 200,000 Christians according
to New York Times estimates, who march and pray
in the nation's capital for spiritual revival.
|
1980 |
|
| Dr. Bright received
the Golden Angel Award as International Churchman
of the Year. Dr. and Mrs. Bright receive the Jubilate
Christian Achievement Award for outstanding leadership
and dedication in furthering the gospel through
the work of Campus Crusade for Christ and the
Great Commission Prayer Crusade. |
1982 |
|
| President Ronald
Reagan proclaimed 1983 as "Year of the Bible."
Bill chaired the campaign. KC83, an evangelism
and discipleship training conference in Kansas
City, Missouri. |
1983 |
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| Explo '85, a worldwide
video conference links an estimated 300,000 delegates
at 98 conference sites on five continents with
the help of 18 satellites. |
1985 |
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| Dr. Bright receives
honorary doctorate from Pepperdine University. Campus
Crusade for Christ launches NewLife 2000, bringing
Campus Crusade for Christ ministries under one umbrella
in cooperation with Christians worldwide, with a
goal of bringing at least 1 billion people to Christ
by the year 2000. |
1987 |
|
| Dr. Bright wins the
Gold Medallion Book Award presented by the Evangelical
Publishers Association for Witnessing without
Fear. Bright has written more than 50 books
and booklets, many translated into other languages
and distributed worldwide. All royalties and honorariums
are designated to the Campus Crusade for Christ
ministry. The first Thursday in May is officially
designated as The National Day of Prayer. Vonette
Bright and Pat Boone serve as co-chairman and Campus
Crusade for Christ provides the primary impetus
behind recognition of the day. |
1988 |
|
| Bright begins
a weekly nationwide television program, Keys to
Dynamic Living. Money magazine rates Campus Crusade
for Christ the No. 1 religious charity for efficient
use of funds. The ministry stays at or near the
top in subsequent years.
|
1993 |
|
| Bill Bright does
his first 40-day fast and issues a call for prayer
and fasting for revival in America. More than
600 Christian leaders meet for the first Fasting
& Prayer meeting. Dr. Bright completes 40
day fast each year through 2000. Annual Fasting
& Prayer meetings continue and beginning in
1998 incorporate satellite broadcasting to include
thousands in America and around the world. Bill
Bright, with other notable Christian leaders signs
the "Evangelicals and Christians Together"
document. Co-founder of The Alliance Defense Fund,
a legal-aid organization. |
1994 |
 |
| Bill Bright receives
the Templeton Prize for progress in Religion.
Given by investor John Marks Templeton to recognize
the spiritual dimension overlooked by the Nobel
Prize, the Templeton Prize is the largest annual
financial award-more than $1 million. Dr. Bright
gives the money away to promote the spiritual
benefits of prayer and fasting. Bill Bright is
inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
|
1996 |
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| After
founding the ministry 50 years ago, Dr. Bright
prepares to turn over the presidency of Campus
Crusade for Christ to Dr. Steve Douglass. To date,
Campus Crusade for Christ has ministries in 191
countries.
|
2001 |
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| Dr. Bright earned
the Lifetime Achievement Award from National Religious
Broadcasters.
|
2002 |
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| On
July 19 William R. Bright entered heaven.
|
2003 |
|
For
more information about Bill Bright go to BillBright.com
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