Syracuse Cru is a caring community passionate about connecting people to Jesus Christ!
Our mission
At Syracuse University, ESF, and surrounding campuses, we want to create an environment where everyone can dive into life’s deepest questions; Can I know God? Why is there hatred and injustice in the world? Will I ever be happy and truly satisfied? By having spiritual conversations, we hope to share about the love of God and the grace he extends to us through his son, Jesus.
For those who believe Jesus to be their Savior, we believe a community of Christians on campus can help deepen your faith. By encouraging one another toward love and good deeds (Heb 10:24), we can help one another more closely resemble Christ and his character in college. Together, we can grow as disciples of Christ and learn how to share the story of redemption with our friends, classmates, and family.
Finally, as you graduate, we hope you will have established a firm foundation for your faith. You will have grown through discipleship, asked hard questions in community groups, and learned the importance of being involved in a local church. Wherever you head after college, you’ll be ready to invest in the people and places God brings you.
our history
Cru was founded in 1951 by Bill and Vonette Bright on the UCLA campus as 'Campus Crusade for Christ'. Since then, it has expanded to over 2,400 campus' in the United States. Further, Cru is now an international ministry and can be found in more countries than McDonalds!
Meet our Staff Team
John and Bonnie Yelverton
John and Bonnie Yelverton have been serving with Cru in Syracuse since 2012. Both of their lives were changed by Jesus in college, so it’s a privilege for them to be back on campus helping students find joy and peace through relationship with God. They both enjoy being outdoors, swing dancing, eating Bonnie’s delicious baked goods and spending time with their three adorable kids. Though neither are from Syracuse originally, it’s grown on them over the years and they are grateful for their neighborhood friends and their church community at Eastern Hills Bible Church.