Cruse News

Wow—How can it be June already! Is it me or does this year feel like it’s flying by? I trust you guys are enjoying your summer or winter break, depending on where you live! I always tend to think that things will slow a bit for Worshipworks Ministries/Cruse Institute, but it’s usually a false sense of reality! We are definitely gearing up for a packed summer of missions and ministry!

As I speak, we are on our first international trip since March of 2020! Helsinki Finland! We have been looking forward with great anticipation to a powerful week with our friends, Pastors Tomi and Sanna Lehto and the River Church Helsink for their summer conference June 19-26 that will impact many in Finland and other Scandinavian countries as well. Its gonna be a blowout! We will be sending photos to our socials so watch for updates of this glorious time—8 days, 2 meetings a day of Heaven on Earth!

Upon returning from Finland the last of the month, we have less than 24 hrs at home to wash and repack and we head to Livingstone Zambia to join our dear friends, Phil and Sharon Smethurst and Overland Missions for their week of revival and impartation June 3-8 for their missionaries launching out to the far flung corners of the globe! 

Dear friends and partners, we want to take this opportunity to thank those of you that have supported us in this missions endeavor.  We are believing God for a huge return on all you’ve sowed and that salvations, healing, impartation will abound in you and for you because of your generous giving!

I’m reminded of this powerful scripture in 3 John verse 5 which says—

5 Beloved, it is a fine and faithful work that you are doing when you give any service to the [Christian] brethren, and [especially when they are] strangers.

6 They have testified before the church of your love and friendship. You will do well to forward them on their journey [and you will please do so] in a way worthy of God’s [service].

7 For these [traveling missionaries] have gone out for the Name’s sake (for His sake) and are accepting nothing from the Gentiles (the heathen, the non-Israelites).

8 So we ourselves ought to support such people [to welcome and provide for them], in order that we may be fellow workers in the Truth (the whole Gospel) and cooperate with its teachers.

Will you covenant with us this month to pray for Worshipworks? We are asking the Lord for safe and easy passage to and from these countries and that His Kingdom would be lifted up and glorified through us as we worship the King of Kings…AMEN! We are asking the Lord for a fresh sound of heaven to be released in the earth and a great harvest of souls that would change homes, lives, and communities all over this world!

Until next time, 

Ps Joe and Becky Cruse

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Summer is here!

Hello dear friends,


Who’s looking forward to summer? (my hand raised..maybe both hands) 🙂 Joe and I both love the summer so much.  Childhood memories evoke lots of good feels of playing outside till dark, eating watermelon outside under the shade trees because it’s too hot in the house (no central AC) and swimming with your friends at the little community pool for .10 cents a day because no one had a pool in their backyard in those days!  Sometimes, we long for a return to the slower paced life of our childhood. 


Well…obviously that’s not gonna happen but when your entire family is in ministry, you take summer days together when you can get them and this month, we started a bit early. All of our kids and grandkids came for a visit this past weekend and ohhhhh, what joy it brought…along with lots of wet towels, poolside fun and a strawberry shortcake (not plan approved…hahahaha)  for Poppy’s 68th birthday! 


Listen—the Cruses all work hard and we love to play hard and sometimes we take big family trips (aka Disney last year) but as the “grands” get older and the responsibilities of life push full steam ahead, it get’s harder to squeeze family time in. But no matter what comes, we still value our family and making time for one another is still a priority.  


Years ago, the Lord gave us an idea, a message if you will, on the power of T.E.A.M. The acronym was Together Each Anointed to Minister and we have shared it all over the world.
The very first team (please don’t go all crazy theologically) was the Trinity—God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit who all were at creation.  Genesis 1:26 says, “God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth.”  Three distinct but One together.


The second team God instituted was the family—Adam and Eve.  There’s a collective power that happens when a man and woman come together as one—exponential power! And it was with our children coming along through that union, we discovered the power of the family as a unified team! One of the things we always felt important was that our children take ownership in the vision God had given us! And I’m so so so glad to say, all 3 of our children love the Lord, serve the Lord in a full time capacity and have raised their own to love and serve the Lord as well! 


The third team was the Body of Christ! the Family of God—as we love our fellow man and serve them and point them to the goodness of our Great God, much can be accomplished! As my husband says, “the devil thought he had won when Christ died on the cross, but all of the born again family of God are his biggest nightmare! Christ died so many could become sons and daughters, or “little anointed ones/Christians”! THANK YOU JESUS!


And lastly, the fourth team we find is the local church, the local community of like minded believers. We are more powerful together than we could ever imagine. That’s why the writer of Hebrews warns us in Hebrews 10:25 “Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.


So…as we head into the Memorial Day weekend next week, let’s remember to enjoy our families this summer, but let’s not forget the power of faithful church attendance and community! And thankfully, the Lord doesn’t take summer break but is with us continually as we acknowledge His presence and His power in our lives!


Have a blessed Summer!

Ps Joe and Becky

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Happy Resurrection Weekend!

Hello Everyone—

As we approach this coming Resurrection Weekend, I’m reminded of our Lord’s ultimate purpose on earth—He came to give His life as a ransom for us all. His whole purpose was to die for the sins of mankind—can we even fathom the gravity of that “call”—that purpose—that destiny? On Good Friday of this weekend we remember His death and rightly we should never forget! But thank God for resurrection power and for Pentecost! Not just that He died a gruesome and painful death but the same power that raised Christ from the dead quickens us and makes us alive in Him! And…that SAME power not only makes us alive but empowers us to do the same works He did! HALLELUJAH!

Which brings me to this dear reader—Do you know your God given call? You weren’t put on this earth to merely take up space or breathe air but God’s call upon your life is real and the sooner you begin pursuing the call, the greater impact you will have in this life!

I want to recommend our online school, www.cruseinstitute.org as a place to begin pursuing the call of God in your life! Even if you don’t have a place to minister at this point, your preparation for the call is vital! 

We are currently preparing for our fall semester and want to remind everyone that Cruse Institute offers a Church Scholarship Program designed to provide instruction for current staff or interns. 

School starts August 22nd—so don’t delay! Reach out to us ASAP! You will be glad you did!

In closing, I share this powerful verse in Romans 8:11 (AMPC)

 And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you.

Happy and Blessed Resurrection Weekend!

Ps Joe and Becky Cruse

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Just some personal thoughts…

Can I be totally honest right now? I’ve met so many people that needed change in their lives, (whether emotionally, physically, spiritually, or financially) and when you offer help or hope for change they respond with, “Hmmm….let me pray about that!” What? Pray about growing in their walk with the Lord, pray about becoming more responsible in areas of personal development?


My friends, there are some things you DO NOT need to pray about! Pray about decisions for your future spouse, career goals, making Jesus Lord of your life–but not about making choices that will give you a longer life span or make you a better parent, friend, co worker! God wants us to grow in every area of our lives. He tells us in 1 John that we will be like Him when we see Him and folks, I believe we have a part to play in how we cross that final finish line!
Several years ago, I was facing a serious physical challenge, brought on by poor choices throughout the years while traveling on the road. My food choices, sleep habits, and stress levels were causing severe challenges in my body. The diagnosis was a back surgery with a rod and pins and yet I felt in my heart I needed to pray and ask the Lord what I should do.
One morning in prayer, I felt the Lord say, go to Isaiah 40:31 “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” And then I hear HIM say, “you will RUN and not get weary, you will WALK and not faint—I will heal you because you know me as Your Healer but I’m asking you, “WHAT ARE YOU PREPARED TO DO”? In other words, he was asking me to take responsibility for my healing! At that point, I knew the Lord would do his part if I would do my part. I embarked on a journey to better health that has served me so well. I have gotten my life back and my youth has been renewed!


Can I challenge you today? I promise I am speaking the truth in love! With God’s help, you can do HARD things! If you need help in your emotional journey, invest in some good Christian counseling. If you need help spiritually, talk to your Pastors and leaders. Ask them to provide accountability for you in the areas you are struggling with. If you struggle in the area of finances, enroll in Christian financial classes, such as Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. And if you struggle physically, I know of a great Health Coach (me) who would love the privilege of introducing you to an optimal journey to supernatural health!
You can “pray” but you can also be proactive and move the ball forward towards victory in every area of your life! Just a thought.

Pastor Becky

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Cruse News

Hey Everyone,


After some serious time away from our blog—WE’RE BACK! Yes, it’s been a few since we last chatted, but sometimes life comes fast, as you well know.

Without reaching back too far, and for the sake of boring you with dramatic details, we came through 2020 relatively unscathed, though the patriarch of our family, Joe Sr, stepped over into his eternal reward, not from C**** but because he finished his course and decided it was time for him to go. Though we miss him, our dear mom Nancy, has stepped up to oversee, pray, stand, believe and speak over her family in a powerful way!


2021 was an absolute over the top blessing! God’s direct word to us at the start of the year was, “You’ve known me as Jehovah Jireh, Your Provider, but this year, you will know me as El Shaddai, the God that is more than enough and wow, did we ever see His over the top hand of blessing and favor like never before. Time nor space will allow me to tell of the glorious things the Lord did for us but we are grateful for his manifold blessings in our lives.


Which brings us to 2022—a watermark year for us! In October of this year, we will celebrate 50 years of full time ministry together! Our JUBILEE YEAR! Oh..and if last year was incredible, we can only imagine what HE has in store for us this year!


January was an explosive start with our friends, Pastors Todd and Katie Holmes at The River Tri Cities in Johnson City TN.  It was a privilege to minister with Ps Todd, Evangelist Tony Suarez, and Evangelist Ted Shuttlesworth.  And wouldn’t you know it? Bro Ted prophesied over us that land was coming into our hands! Now, he had no idea, but when we began the year, the Lord spoke to us about 50 acres and though we hadn’t spoken it to very many, we knew in our hearts the Lord had a home for us! We have a dream for property to house the ministry, set up a feeding center, host intern students studying at Cruse Institute (this would include opening the school for in person learning as well as online)  and a place to have weekend conferences, nightly worship, etc and the list goes on.  


Nope—we are not even thinking retirement but more like “refirement” (is that even a word?) and if that isn’t enough we have about 3 missions trips in the plans for June and July! (more on these opportunities later)


So—as you can see, we still have big things to accomplish for the Kingdom of God.  And—how about you? This is the greatest time to be alive and He wants to work in you right now so He can work His works through you! Don’t look to the left or to the right but keep your eyes on Jesus! It’s how we’ve lived our whole lives and The Same God, Master Designer of the Universe, will unfold heaven in your life! You can trust Him!

Be Blessed- Ps Joe and Becky Cruse

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Thailand Updates and a New Semester Begins at CIFTA

Hello Everyone–

Perhaps you saw some of the photos from the meetings we were apart of with Pastor. Lao in Bangkok Thailand this past weekend. We’ve been going with him for over 12 years and we are always amazed at the hunger of the Thai people. The venues have gotten much larger through the years and the influence and anointing has certainly increased. It’s just so refreshing to see people growing in God, music teams growing in their gifts and friends we’ve made through the years growing in their walk with the Lord. The altars were full every service with many hundreds coming to receive Christ and everyone in attendance having hands laid upon them. It’s such a privilege for us to go and experience the move of God in this land. We want to express our appreciation to our friends, Pastor Varun and Da Laohaprasit for allowing us to be a part of the team. It’s life changing for us every time we go.
We are also beginning a new semester at Cruse Institute for the Arts. Students from the US, Thailand, South Africa and Fiji are joining us this semester and we believe it’s gonna be the best one yet! If you know of anyone interested in furthering their heart for worship and ministry, send them our way! Classes are still just $99 per class and we can add students through the first two weeks so it’s not too late! We are so excited about this intake of students—can you tell?
We are busily preparing for this upcoming weekend in Vancouver WA with Pastors Bryan and Laura Davenport and the Heritage Church family. We can’t say enough about these guys! They love worship and family and are some of the coolest folks we know! In fact, we’ve adopted their family as our own. Love love love them for sure. If you live in the area, come join us this Sunday. Click on the church link above for more details.
As we close, we are reminded of this verse—1 These 1:2-3 says, “We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ”
Thank you dear friends and readers! You’ve blessed us so much. Thank you for your prayers and your support! We will catch up with you again soon—Blessings! Joe and Becky
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Let’s try this again 2018

Hello everyone! After a brief…hmmm…okay, not so brief hiatus, we are going to try to do a much better job this year keeping up with our blog. The days pass quickly and the travel and ministry opportunities fill every waking moment but we also know that many friends and supporters of this ministry love to hear from us.

As we begin our 46th year in full time ministry, (whew) we are even more aware of God’s goodness and His faithfulness in our lives. We absolutely love serving the Lord together and as He opens more and more doors of opportunity, we step right through them with joy and faith and love. It’s humbling to travel the world, meet the most wonderful people and realize that we have the privilege everyday of doing what most people only dream of. We are constantly reminded that it is not our doing, but it is HIS work in us and through us to build the Kingdom of God that keeps us going year after year. So, we hope to share each week or two some of the amazing things we get to enjoy and hope that you will follow us, pray for us and share our blog with your friends and family.

Two weeks ago, we were down in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas in a city called Weslaco TX. Pastor Marvin and Melissa Caldera pastor Pave The Way Church and though it’s just a few years old, they have a great group of folks that love the Lord and love revival. People were changed, healed and delivered in His presence and we believe God has great things in their future. Thank you dear friends for hosting us and blessing us.

This past weekend, we were in Bellevue WA to join New Hope International Church and our dear friends Pastors Varun and Da Laohaprasit in weekend services. What an amazing church these guys have. They absolutely love revival and Pastor Lao has been faithful to contend for revival for his church and international ministry for many years. Early Monday morning, we boarded the EVA Airlines plane bound for Bangkok Thailand to join Pastor Lao for revival meetings in Bangkok and Chiangrai, a city in one of the northern provinces. The meetings in Bangkok begin this coming weekend (more about these later) but the Chiangrai meetings just finished and were more than mere words can express. The hunger of the Thai people all over this nation never ceases to amaze us. In a predominately Buddhist nation, the Fire of God is shining brighter and brighter. Pastor Lao comes several times a year and the crowds have grown larger and larger. We are so honored and humbled to join him and the team here to be a part of what God is doing through Ps Lao and his ministry. The picture below is of the altar call Wednesday night. To God be the Glory! As you can see, God is at work all over the world. Follow us as we share more of the great things God is doing! Chat soon!

 

 

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Cruse News

Hey all–

 

Well, after quite a while of strange issues with our blog, we are back! Technology can be awesome and challenging–all at the same time. So, watch for updates and notes as we are now back up to speed and will be writing of the good things God is doing at Worshipworks Ministries and Cruse Institute!

We certainly hope you are getting a chance to enjoy the holiday season. While it can be hectic and fast paced, we have to make HIM the priority. I’m reminded of the scripture from Isaiah 9;6 that says,

“For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor,[a] Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

It is our prayer that you may know His Peace this holiday season and throughout the following year.

Blessings, Ps Joe and Becky

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Happy New Year from Worshipworks and Cruse Institute

Hello friends,

What a great start to 2014 for Worshipworks Ministries! We have officially launched CRUSE INSTITUTE FOR THE ARTS ONLINE! (www.cruseinstitute.org) There are some great young students that have enrolled from here in the US as well as Brazil and Thailand. And the good news is, we have extended this semester’s deadline until Friday evening, January 24th!

Some of the music courses include: Piano, Vocals, Bass, Guitar, Sight Singing and Ear Training, Contemporary Theory, Technical Production, Worship Lab 1A/B and others.

Some of the Bible courses include: Essential Elements of Worship, Biblical Finances, Principles of Leadership, The Anointing, and others.

The instructors this year are some of the finest young worship leaders and a few old ones as well! CIFTA is truly blessed and grateful!

The Friday deadline might be too quick but it’s not too early to be thinking about the fall semester. And remember—whether students want to take a full load in preparation for the music/bible degree, or just need to add to their skills, ALL COURSES ARE ONLY USD $99 + registration fee and the cost of books.

As you can well imagine, there’s been a scurry of activity here since the middle of November in preparation for the opening of the school. The Lord blessed us to be able to be here in Austin during the holidays but the travel schedule for Worshipworks is already in full swing.

This past weekend, we were blessed to be with our dear friends, Ps Frank and Parris Bailey and the wonderful people of Victory Fellowship in Metairie, LA. They have a wonderful college, Bethesda College, and we were privileged to teach one of their ITS classes on worship—a complete 8 week course in 3 days! Pastor Joe taught the Essential Elements of Worship Class and my goodness—hungry students coupled with the powerful classes on worship and BAM–Holy Ghost showed up in a BIG WAY! And then Sunday am and pm, we just saw the Lord move in powerful demonstrations of His presence with many answering the altar call and many coming for prayer. Thank you Lord—you are always faithful!

What’s coming up? So glad you asked! The travel itinerary includes Weslaco, TX—San Diego, CA—Los Angeles, CA—Ft. Worth, TX—Summerville SC—Jacksonville, FL—Shreveport, LA—Seattle, WA and that’s just February and March!!!

You know, the Lord spoke a word to us at the end of last year about His purpose, His plan, His path and His provision for 2014 and so we will close this update with those same words to you.

The Lord reminded us that He still had a purpose for WMI to be on the earth. At times, all of us tend to question whether God still has a purpose for us but I promise you—HE DOES. We aren’t too old, too young, too rich, are too poor. God still desires to use us to forward His Kingdom in the earth. And if there is a purpose, there is also a plan, but not just any plan—A MASTER PLAN—A HEAVENLY PLAN!

Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) says, “ For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope”.

And included in His plan is a path that we are to walk. His path for us could be a broad path or a narrow path but one thing’s for sure—it is a sure path. The Lord challenged us to get up every day and pray, “Lord, order our steps today. We desire to walk your path you’ve laid out for us.” We love Psalms 65:11—“You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance”.

Friends, please know you have a purpose, God has a plan, there is a path to walk and on that path, there is God’s provision!

In Genesis 22, Abraham was instructed by God to take his son Isaac and offer him as a sacrifice. Abraham had practiced following the Lord’s voice, building an altar and meeting God at the place of sacrifice. After years of living a lifestyle of worship, when God asked him to offer Isaac, he knew God would provide. It was a narrow path up to the place of worship but Abraham believed God. And you know the rest of the story—on that path of sacrifice, God’s provision was there!

V 13 and 14 (Amp) says, “Then Abraham looked up and glanced around, and behold, behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering and an ascending sacrifice instead of his son! So Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide. And it is said to this day, On the mount of the Lord it will be provided”.

May this year, 2014 be your greatest year as you fulfill His purpose, His plan, walk His path and find His provision—AMEN!

As we close, we must take a moment to thank those of you who have sowed sacrificial gifts to help us launch the school. We could not have done it without your generous gifts. Even though the school is up and running, it’s just the beginning. Have you ever heard of Kahn Academy? It is an online school totally funded by corporations like Microsoft and private donations. Because of the generous gifts of God’s people over the past year, we’ve been able to drop our course prices by two thirds!

Perhaps there are others who feel a stirring to be apart of raising up the next generation of worship leaders, pastors, teachers, and evangelists! Help us—we are faithful stewards and are providing quality education all around the world. Go to www.wmiglobal.org, click on contributions, and click “give to WMI”. As always, your gifts are completely tax deductible.

We covet your prayers as we teach, preach, and lead others into the presence of God. It’s with joy we write—cruse_worship_night_tessaj_044

Until next time—many blessings!

Ps Joe and Becky Cruse

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Christmas Greetings from Joe and Becky Cruse

Hello dear friends–

Greetings in the powerful Name of Jesus! We are home this month finishing up the online classes for Cruse Institute for the Arts (cruseinstitute.org) launch, January 13th 2014, recording a new instrumental project (Essence Vol 2) and taking a few weeks to rest and prepare for next year.

Thank you to so many who’ve prayed for us and sowed sacrificially. This has been the greatest year in the history of the ministry—we’ve ministered to more people and seen more saved than ever before. There is much fruit that’s been credited to your heavenly bank account–TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

We want to wish all our friends and partners a very Merry Christmas and many blessings for a prosperous 2014!

Joe and Becky Cruse

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PS Take a moment and check out our impromptu greeting from our last international meeting this past November in Sao Luis Brazil.

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