At Penn State University in 1980, four young men were so moved by a vision to win the world for Christ that they decided to prove a point. If they could minister for a year in Libya, the most militant Muslim country on earth, they would demonstrate that no country on earth is closed to the gospel. They intended to return with a call for others to join them in seeing the world evangelized, even in the most difficult and uninviting situations.
Twenty-four other students committed to support the four pioneers with prayer and encouragement. All those involved signed a pledge to give their entire lives to make disciples of all nations "wherever and however God leads, giving priority to the peoples currently beyond the reach of the gospel." This pledge became known as the Caleb Declaration.
After a year in Libya, the four returned to challenge other students to involvement. Their model was Caleb, who returned from the "promised land" to challenge his fellow Israelites to "by all means go up and take possession of the land ... the Lord is with us" (Numbers 13:30, 14:9).
Several of the original 28 'Calebites' formed the organization that became Caleb Project, primarily as a network for mobilizing students and providing them with the support and encouragement they would need to keep their commitment to the completion of world evangelization. In the first decade more than 5500 people signed the Caleb Declaration.
In 1986 Caleb Project received into its fold a fledgling young 'traveling team' program designed to take the message of the Great Commission to campuses and churches across the United States. In time, more than 50 Caleb Project Traveling Teams would go out, typically for a semester at a time, representing the needs of specific agencies, giving dynamic presentations, and meeting with students and other believers seeking further involvement.
In 1987 a ministry called Joshua Project, originally part of World Christian Magazine, became part of Caleb Project. Dozens of teams were trained in ethnographic research techniques and sent to the world's unreached cities and peoples to 'explore the land' and mobilize believers for prayer and outreach in these places.
In 1991 Caleb Project moved from Pasadena, California to Littleton, Colorado. As the ministry grew in size and maturity, its focus gradually moved away from reaching students to serving churches and partnering with existing ministries, although it maintained its focus on raising up pioneers and reaching those with least access to the gospel.
Caleb Project's work came to include staff and ministries focused on follow-up and networking, church mobilization, and people-specific advocacy. Caleb Project staff were involved in facilitating and providing administrative support for many Perspectives on the World Christian Movement courses, leading prayer journeys, working with networks like Praying Through the Window and the AD2000 Movement, and consulting with church leaders.
Although Caleb Project had produced regular newsletters, a number of prayer guides and other resources over the years, the ministry was able to take a big step forward in excellence and influence with the establishment of a media department in 1995. In years to come Caleb Project would become known for its excellent materials including videos, prayer materials, and resources for mobilizing children, many of which are available today in the Caleb Resources store.
In 2000 Caleb Project launched an international office in the Netherlands (later relocated to England) to serve alongside the church in Europe.
In July 2006 Caleb Project merged with ACMC, forming a new organization later named Initiative360. Due to a number of difficulties and challenges the new organization did not survive, but ceased operation the following February. A number of its ministries were adopted by the mission agency PIONEERS, which had seen the effectiveness and unique contribution of both ACMC and Caleb Project in the years of their interweaving history and wanted to see both ministries continue.
