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Writers are responsible for their own work, but not for anythth have not themselves written, and in publishing them we do not ne0 ily imply that we agree with them because this is ajournal offree BUSINESS MANAGER The Texas Observer Advance /Rod Davis History’s Handful If riches can get you through the Pearly Gates, a few wealthy Texans, including Nelson Bunker Hunt and Clint and Anne Murchison of Dallas, are sure shots for paradise. They and about one hundred other wealthy Americans have joined a spiritual elite dubbed “History’s Handful,” so named by California-based Campus Crusade for Christ, which is trying to raise $1 billion in donations of $1 million each for an evangelical propaganda program aimed at just about every soul on the planet. The Campus Crusade has many ties with conservative religious economic interests in Texas, and perhaps for that reason chose Houston to kick off its fundraising in mid-May. Several hundred carefully invited guests attended the Jesus soiree, at Hunt’s invitation, and many seemed favorably taken with corporate religion, or maybe just the chance to do good works. Said Anne Murchison: “We’re here to raise money for all the little people, so it can go into the jungles like those in the Philippines. It’s not that this is exclusive. It’s just that we’re the ones with the bucks.” The money $170 million has been pledged, including $10 million from Hunt himself will fund a program called Here’s Life World, one of about two-score undertakings of Campus Crusade, an organization founded in 1951 by Dr. and Mrs. Bill Bright to carry out what the Campus Crusade calls “the great commission” to spread word of the Christian version of man’s fate. One of the ways an old message will be spread is via a modern medium. Several millions will go toward distribution, and translation into 163 languages, of the film “Jesus.” The movie has already been shown in the U.S., where it is marketed by Warner Bros.,. but Here’s Life World will have exclusive or shared rights in many foreign countries. Jones says hundreds of prints will be made and shown in Africa, Asia, etc. either by Here’s Life Today workers \(about 2,000 of the 11,500 Campus Crusade workers around the world are principally involved with Here’s groups of various denominations. The Jesus blitz will be tailored for education levels of various societies “an effort on many fronts at the same time in many ways,” says Jones. In some third world areas, basic oral and graphic presentations of Biblical teachings will be employed, while in countries with higher literacy rates, such as the nations of Western Europe, conventional advertising techniques may be used. Almost all the money, it appears, will go toward persuasion; that is, none of the $1 billion is slated toward providing food or self-help programs to the poor. “This is a distinctly evangelical effort,” Jones says. “We want to give people a chance to say yes or no to Christ, which we feel is the number one priority for everyone.” Besides, says Jones, Campus Crusade operates social assistance programs through other branches, principally the Agape Movement which, with a budget somewhat less than $1 billion, fields a few hundred religious-oriented nurses, doctors, agronomists, etc. in third world countries. Says Jones, “We try to concentrate on telling about the salvation of Jesus Christ. We do not seek to enter political or economic controversy.” . While this may be a sincere motive, it is also a subjective one. In Africa and Asia and Latin America, a missionary program known to be financed by the proceeds of foreign imperial wealth PUBLISHER, RONNIE MUGGER The Texas Observer Publishing Co., 1980 Incorporating the State Observer and the East Texas Demo .: which in turn incorporated the Austin Forum-Advocate: EDITOR Rod Davis ASSOCIATE EDITOR Matthew Lyon STAFF ASSISTANTS: Beth Epstein, Susan Reid, Bo CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Warren Burnett, Chandler Da Henry Faulk, Eric Hartman, Jack Hopper, Molly I01%; Jr., Kaye Northcott, Laura Richardson, Linda Lawrence Walsh, Alfred Watkins -2r.’ CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Keith Darinerniller, ric, Hans-Peter Otto, Alan Pogue, Bob Clare, Phyllis Frede, Rusii CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS: Berke Breathed, Jeff.* Dtu Ben Sargent, Mark Stinson :”3″N’N.`”N: A journal of free vo We will serve no group or party but will hew hard to the truth as find it and the right as we see it. We are dedicated to the whole truth, human values above all interests, to the rights of humankind as they foundation of democracy; we will take orders from none but our own conscience, and never will we overlook or misrepresent I serve the interests of the powerful or cater to the ignoble in spirit. Editorial and Business Office 600 West 7th Street, Austin, Texas 78701 Publisher’s Office P.O. Box 6570, San Antonio, Texas 78209 Published by Texas Observer Publishing Co., biweekly except for a three-week interval between issues twice a year, in January and July; 25 issues per year. Second-class postage paid at Austin, Texas. years, $49. One year rate for full-time students, $12. Airmail. foreign, group, and bulk rates on request. Microfilmed by MCA, 1620 Hawkins Avenue, Box 10, Sanford, N.C. 27330. POSTMASTER: Send form 3579 to: 600 West 7th Street, Austin, Texas 78701; 744310.113S 2 JUNE 20, 1980