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The Petersen's Story
Scott is a Field Strategy Coordinator for Unto (formerly GAiN USA), the humanitarian branch of Cru. Their goal is to equip Cru national teams to build spiritual movements by integrating compassionate care and the proclamation of the gospel. He currently travels to and coordinate projects in Mali, Chad, the Gambia and Liberia.
Mary serves as the Global Crisis Manager for Cru and also in the Staff Care department. For seven years now, Mary has had the responsibility of equipping Cru teams across the world to prepare for and respond to crisis situations. She works closely with both US and international Cru leaders and coordinates a team of 13 regional crisis managers.
Scott grew up in Denver and attended Belcaro Evangelical Free Church (which became FCC). A couple years after high school and after going through a time of struggle and searching, he came to a point of full commitment to the Lord after hearing a sermon by Walter Eriksen, who was pastor of Belcaro at that time. Shortly after Scott went to UNC in Greeley and got involved with Campus Crusade for Christ, discovering a gifting and calling towards a ministry of evangelism. After college he joined the staff of Campus Crusade, going first to Boston College, then Temple University in Philadelphia.
Mary was raised in a Catholic family, but had never understood the gospel. In college at the University of Michigan she encountered a young woman who had a dynamic relationship with the Lord and who shared the gospel with her. Mary had observed the life of this woman for some time and was ready to accept the Lord. She was involved with Campus Crusade at the University of Michigan for the next 4 years. After college Mary joined the staff of CCC, serving in Pennsylvania and Delaware.
Scott and Mary met in 1982 in the context of Cru, and were married in 1984. Both had been developing a heart for reaching Muslims and we pursued that with Cru and investigated moving to North Africa, but were encouraged to move to France in order to reach North Africans in an open setting. Together, they served in France for 21 years in a ministry of evangelism and discipleship, focusing on North Africans.
In 2010, Scott and Mary returned to the states and, after a transition, moved into our current roles. We have 4 grown children who were raised primarily in France and now live in the States.