Looking to God for Guidance

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”*

She was pretty, vivacious, and intelligent, looking forward to receiving a college degree in psychology. Her parents had high hopes for her and were caught off guard when she shared the news that she wanted to join the full-time staff of a Christian organization that had a ministry on her campus.

Coming from an agnostic background, Kirsten Beeler had accepted Christ into her life during her junior year at UCLA. In her own words, she was “looking for a foundation that wouldn’t fail.” Discovering that Jesus was not a myth and that she could have a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus was a great turning point in her life.

 When Kirsten began getting involved with the Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru) ministry at UCLA, she met a woman on staff who faithfully mentored her for the next two years. By the time she graduated, she knew that she wanted to spend her life helping others grow in their relationship to God.

Her mother and father were against it, saying that she was “wasting her education” and that raising her own support would be “begging.” However, at the age of twenty-two, she became a staff member of Cru, embarking on what would become a lifelong career with that organization. 

Cru is a non-profit Christian group that was started in 1951 by Bill and Vonette Bright on the UCLA campus. Today the organization has expanded to over 5,300 college campuses worldwide and has many branches including high school, military and prison ministries, Athletes in Action, Cru Creatives (the arts), Family Life and the Jesus film project.

The vision of Cru is to reach individuals with the good news of Jesus Christ and then prepare them to tell their family and friends about Him. This resonated with Kirsten, who was excited at the prospect of mentoring other university students and making a difference in their lives.

From her first assignment, which was split between the San Jose State and Stanford University campuses, she learned to trust God for everything. The director of the ministry at San Jose State and his wife became great friends, encouraging and supporting her in her new endeavor.

 She went from San Jose to Utah, then back to California, where she worked in Orange County as a secretary to the director of the Athletes in Action program from 1977-1990.          

“I never would have chosen Athletes in Action,” she said. Nor would she have chosen to work as a secretary! However, she was inspired by the director, Dave Hannah, who “was an incredible visionary and saw how athletes could be discipled and reach others with the gospel.”

Kirsten’s strength was in the area of “human resources” and eventually she became more involved in the lives of female athletes. When the opportunity came about to switch roles and become a publicist for the music ministry of Cru, she spent two weeks praying before deciding.

Although this was completely new to her, she trusted God for direction. Besides working in publicity and staff development, she had the opportunity to travel with choirs to Manila and the former Soviet Union in the early 1990’s. It was an exciting time, especially since the Soviet Union was beginning to dissolve politically. People not only greeted them enthusiastically but were open to hearing the gospel and hungry to receive Bibles.

Eventually Kirsten moved back into the Athletes in Action ministry. Now based in Ohio, she devotes her time to caring for staff members who are over 55 years old through its Legacy division. As someone who understands seniors, she encourages them to continue using their gifts, wisdom and experience to mentor and inspire others.

 “There’s never a time when people don’t need you to be Jesus to them,” she shares.

 Senior staff members going through major life changes, such as when a spouse develops dementia, need care and a person to whom they can go. With Kirsten’s help, they can realize their value and importance in God’s kingdom at this stage of their lives.

 Still filled with the love of God and a passion for sharing Christ with others, Kirsten does not have plans to retire. She loves the work that she does.

Thank you, Kirsten for your faithfulness in serving our Lord. You made the right decision! *Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

For more info on Athletes in Action, go to www.athletsinaction.org