You Already Get It.

Dear Cru friends and fellow laborers in Christ,

Between us, we’ve spent more than 145 years on staff—and we’ve seen firsthand  the spiritually hard soil  in Europe. But recently, something unexpected has begun to grow: Hope along the Via Francigena.

Similar to the Camino de Santiago, this ancient pilgrimage route winds through Italy, drawing thousands each year. Many come disillusioned with religion but quietly longing—for meaning, healing, connection, or home. Along this road, we’ve found people amazingly open—eager to share their stories and willing to hear ours. We’ve seen tears, transformation, and a spiritual hunger that’s surprised even us.

Now imagine this:
A physical space along the Via Francigena where those sacred conversations don’t end when the walking does.

A place where:
• Pilgrims can rest, be known, and encounter the love of Christ in tangible ways.
• Cru staff can come to be refreshed, trained, and renewed.
• Long-term ministry can take root in this uniquely open corner of Europe.

That place is The Pilgrim House Project.

We’ve found a beautiful villa in Lucca, Italy—right along the pilgrimage route. It’s exactly the kind of space we’ve prayed for: strategic, welcoming, and full of possibility. We’re so close to securing it; we’ve seen God raise $1.6 million dollars through like-minded friends and partners. But we need help to get the keys in hand.

Here’s the challenge we’re inviting you into:
Our prayer is that 100 Cru staff and partners would give $1,000-$3,000 each in the next month or so. Together  we can make a huge step closer to getting the keys. Our hope is that you’d be among the first to welcome weary pilgrims to a house of rest.

Some of you may be able to give more. Others might want to team up with friends or your team to give together. However you’re led—through a gift, a prayer team, or spreading the word—we’d be deeply grateful. 

We believe this house will become sacred ground.
A place where weary travelers—both physically and spiritually—find rest, refuge, and the radical welcome of Jesus.

Will you help us open the door?

With hope and gratitude,
Shandra Galloway

Charmaine Lillestrand

Judy Nelson Lewis

Ron Sanders

**You can give now!

P.S. If this stirs something in your heart, we’d love to talk more. We can share details, answer questions, or dream together about what this space could become. (All our email addresses are cru.org.)