Founder Gerald Derstine’s first overseas mission outreach was to the impoverished island nation of Haiti. Now a second generation of leaders oversees more than 260 churches, 80 schools, feeding programs, clinics and orphanages throughout the land. The Family Church at Christian Retreat helped build a home for widows, and a new pediatric hospital is nearing completion.  

Since 1964, Gospel Crusade has planted approximately 200 churches, along with medical clinics, vocational schools and feeding programs throughout Honduras, thanks to the pioneering efforts of the late missionary Jean Isbell. Today, Jean’s son, Rev. Dan Isbell, gives leadership to the mission, further advancing the Vision and training leaders. Gospel Crusade has generated massive amounts of humanitarian relief to those left homeless in the wake of Hurricane Mitch, and regularly schedules short-term mission teams there to build churches, dig wells, distribute aid or help in the medical clinics.

Gospel Crusade's outreach to the Philippines began with Gerald Derstine's first missionary journey to the Orient in 1961. While visiting a Bible School in the Philippines, he met Claudio and Hosanna Cortez, who through the assistance of this ministry established the Far East Bible Institute, a school where native Filipinos are trained to be missionaries to their own people.

While administrator of Gospel Crusade Missions, Carmen Linder founded His Love in Action Deaf School in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Carmen started a deaf school in 1989 with 30 teenage students attending vocational classes.  After years of working with the school, more than 100 students have graduated from this program.

Many of the graduates are now holding good jobs.  Most importantly they have come to know Jesus as their Savior. 
Their mission statement is to present Jesus to teachers, students and their families and to give their students an opportunity to live a successful life. 

Gospel Crusade has strongly supported Israel with prayer, ministry teams and finances over the past three decades. Several families from Christian Retreat have moved their families there to love and support the people of that land.