The Arrowhead Story:
How Bill Bright Purchased the Campus Crusade for Christ International Headquarters Building

As mentioned in greater detail in the book, Amazing Faith, Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC) founder, Bill Bright, went “Water-Walking” in 1961, when his ministry had blossomed to a staff of over one hundred faithful “crusaders,” serving on over forty campuses in fifteen states. CCC had greatly exceeded its existing training facilities. One of Bill Bright’s longtime friends shared information concerning the availability of the Arrowhead Springs Hotel and Spa located in the San Bernardino Mountains. The fabulous 1,800-acre property featured a 136-room executive hotel formerly owned by the Hilton family, and included grounds containing private bungalows, tennis courts, swimming pools, a recreation house and stables. Arrowhead Springs had been listed for sale at a “bargain basement” price of $2,000,000, with an appraised value of more than triple that figure.

Upon Bill’s inspection tour, he broke away from his friends and found a quiet place in the abandoned hotel to kneel down in prayer. The Lord’s voice came to Bill saying, “I’ve been saving this for you.” The voice came to Bill as if through a loud speaker. With tears in his eyes, he immediately claimed Arrowhead Springs as God’s property, then prayed, “But how, Lord? How?” At that time, Bill’s organization had never had an extra dollar in its ten years of existence. For fourteen months, Bill, his wife, Vonette, and other members of the Campus Crusade Ministry prayed that God would provide the necessary funds in some supernatural or unusual way. Bill wanted God to do things in such an unusual and wonderful way that onlookers would realize that it could have ONLY been achieved through the miraculous grace and power of our Lord – bringing all glory to God. Borrowing $15,000 for the initial deposit, followed by a promise to pay an additional $130,000 down payment within 30 days, Arrowhead Springs became the international headquarters for the Campus Crusade Ministry.

Over the next years, God provided the funds necessary to keep up with the required monthly payments. Although sometimes these payments came literally within hours of their due date, the payments always came. God rewarded Bill Bright's “Water-Walk” with His unwaivering faithfulness and blessings beyond CCC's wildest imaginations.