The inscription read:
January 1, 1946
Dear Bill,
Remember Christ’s words as you step forth in life: “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go forth to bear fruit.” Your life is a plan of God. Strive to become what Jesus Christ is willed you should become. Be patient as you wait for Him. God always uses the yielded life, but in His own way.
This Word will always be your dearest earthly treasure. It contains the mind of God, the way of life, the map by which you daily walk, the sundial by which you set your path, the balance by which you weigh your actions. Read it to be wise. Practice it to be holy. We should both love and live God’s Word. Make Jesus Christ King.
Preaching and teaching are only great as they make Christ great. In your ministry have no superior when it comes to exalting Christ. Let Christ be supreme.
[Signed] Your teacher in the bonds of great love,
Henrietta C. Mears
A year and a half later, Ms. Mears would lead Vonette Bright to the Lord. Nearly six years later in 1951, Bill and Vonette Bright would launch the ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ® — wed to the DNA of this note. “It is the genesis of who we are,” Brad Bright said. “A piece of our history.”
Ms. Mears created a huge piece of evangelical Christianity by influencing the future influencers, like Bill and Vonette Bright. Christian Century magazine called her “the woman who shaped the men who shaped modern evangelicalism.” From Hollywood Presbyterian Church, the educator lectured and wrote passionately about the Bible. Her book How to Study the Bible is still in print and has sold more than 4 million copies. She founded Gospel Light and Regal Books (publishing companies), as well as the National Sunday School Association and Forest Home, a Christian conference center in California still in operation.
It was there in 1947 — after a sobering message by Ms. Mears — three young men sensed a burning in their hearts to an “absolute consecration to Christ”: Bill Bright; Richard C. Halverson, who wrote 26 books and went on to become the chaplain of the U.S. Senate; and Louis H. Evans, Jr., who pastored at Bel Air Presbyterian and National Presbyterian in Washington, D.C.
Jim Rayburn (founder of Young Life), Dawson Trotman (founder of the Navigators) and Billy Graham were also directly influenced by Ms. Mears and her love for God’s Word and simple explanation of the gospel message. In 1949, Graham took his doubts about the Bible to Ms. Mears. The evangelist left his time with the educator certain of his calling. A few weeks later he launched his first and famous crusades in Los Angeles.
“Without my realizing it, I was being introduced to a kind of Christianity that was rare. I discovered a vital, dynamic, personal walk with the Lord.”
Bill Bright
The Brights lived with Ms. Mears for 10 years. Bill describes that time as deeply meaningful as they watched and learned: “Located near the UCLA campus, it was a perfect place for student meetings and all types of Christian gatherings. ... Without my realizing it, I was being introduced to a kind of Christianity that was rare. I discovered a vital, dynamic, personal walk with the Lord. Though I can never remember her teaching a class in soul winning, Dr. Mears led many people to Christ in my presence. When witnessing opportunities did come for me, it was only natural to do it the way I had observed her do it.”
Never once invited to preach in a pulpit, Ms. Mears’s Sunday school class hit 6,000 attendees at its height, and 400 people are said to have joined full-time ministry from her instruction.