Good News - November 2018

Years ago, Kelly Miller had an encounter that forever changed his perspective on being a God-honoring servant. “I was in Bangladesh in early 1990, meeting with the leader of a local Christian organization in hopes of help- ing the area’s poor. He asked me, ‘Kelly, truly, why are you here?’ I was taken aback by the question and responded with something like, ‘Well, to help you all…’ He smiled, gen- tly grabbed my arm and said, ‘Yes, we appreciate and need the money you all send as we cannot exist without it. But what we really want is mutual respect — not to be seen as needy beggars, but as God’s creation with talents and skills, with lives of possibility, just like you.’ “I was stunned by what he said,” Miller added. “His words changed my view of serving people and of how we should interact with others. Certainly, those of us with resources are called by God to share and help, but we should pursue those objectives with a view of respect and reciprocity. What can we learn from the world’s poor? Well, quite a lot. I can say without a doubt that every time I’ve worked in a developing country, the people I’ve spent time with have taught me so much, and usually it’s been centered around the quality of relationships — the very reason God created me and you!” This month, Kelly Miller takes a significant position in South Florida by joining Cross International as the relief and development ministry’s new CEO. As he takes the baton from the ministry’s retiring founder and leader, Jim Cavnar, Miller says he is excited to carry Cross International’s minis- try forward into a new phase of growth and service. To that end, he hopes to meet with local Christian leaders and build relationships with others who are working to spread the Gospel and help the poor worldwide. “I’m excited to be here. It’s an honor to be asked to pro- vide leadership for the next season of Cross International’s growth,” he said. “Strengthening and broadening our partnerships will be critical too. That ranges from our many field partners around the globe to those partners in the U.S. who support us financially and in prayer. I’m also looking forward to telling our story to new generations and encouraging them to join us in this excit- ing ministry and work.” Kelly Miller comes to Cross International with an extensive background in Christian ministry, including a leadership role in the international relief and development ministry, World Concern. His years of service have taken him to more than 30 countries, providing him with unique insights into the peoples and cultures of developing nations. At Cross International, Miller says he expects to expand these international relationships further for the benefit of the Church, both here and overseas. “I was attracted to Cross International by its dedication to the idea of partner- ships — and how deep and wide that commitment to partners is in the organiza- tion,” he said. “Now let’s be real, there are many Christian relief and development organizations serving the world’s poor through partnerships, but CI has a depth and dedication to its relationships that are rarely seen. For example, one of Cross International’s goals is for supporters in the U.S. to fully connect with the Chris- tian leaders serving overseas in order for them to see the specific impact of their giving. We’ll continue to put a strong emphasis in this area.” To Miller’s point, Cross International has become a popular choice among donors because it offers them the ability to fund very specific projects and receive extensive updates with photos, diagrams and maps, architectural plans, budgets, and compelling stories about the specific families and communities being helped through the outreach. Attracted by this ability to pursue tangible ministry projects and by the quality of Cross International’s follow-up reporting, churches and in- dividuals have partnered with the ministry to build homes, provide safe water, construct and equip schools, deliver medical care and fund self-help initiatives in dozens of developing countries from Haiti to Kenya, from Guatemala to the Phil- ippines. Cross International has also become a “go to” Christian ministry when natural disasters strike. Cross International’s method of distributing aid through existing churches and ministries is also cost-effective and an important support for pastors en- gaged in evangelism. Cavnar, who took part in the search for a new ministry CEO with other members of the Cross International board, sees Miller as a perfect fit for the decades ahead. “We saw Kelly’s strengths immediately,” Cavnar said. “He is man of God with a heart for the poor and the perfect combination of skills and experience to pur- sue our mission: to mobilize the global Church to transform the poor and their communities materially and spiritually for the glory of Jesus Christ. I’m confident Kelly will expand Cross International’s impact even further, blessing the poor and building Christ’s Kingdom in even more areas of the world.” More information about the ministry of Cross International and its global impact can be found at CrossInternational.org. Kelly Miller Selected to Lead Cross International Into Future Decades of Expansion and Growth In his role as World Concern’s director of global relief, Kelly Miller worked closely with Christian ministries serving the poor in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Many Cross International programs focus on the needs of vulnerable children, and its efforts through the years have fed the hungry, provided safe water and shelter to families, and educated the very poor.