Why College Is Better when You Choose to Lead: Cruz Williamson Discusses Servant Leadership at ORU

Cruz Williamson
Hometown: Houston, TX
Business Administration

 

 

Effective leadership begins with the courage to step forward and begin to lead. This, however, is only the beginning because leadership isn’t a one-and-done decision. To become a great leader tomorrow, you have to lead again and again today.  

“Again and again” is how ORU’s Cruz Williamson leads at ORU. He doesn’t choose to lead in just one position; he doesn’t simply check the box and move on. Every year since his sophomore year, Cruz has sought out a role of impact and responsibility at ORU, serving as a resident advisor (three times), a missions leader (twice), and as a team leader of ORU’s park/basketball evangelism outreach.

“What I’ve discovered through leading,” Cruz said, “is that leadership isn’t what most people think it is. It’s not the head of a team or the big man on campus or the person in control. Good leadership is servant leadership; it teaches you patience, integrity, and humility. You learn to lead by example, which can be difficult because it forces you to ask ‘Why am I doing this?’ As a servant leader, you’ll be brought low so that you can then be brought high.”

Becoming a Global Leader

Cruz and the "Redeem Team" at an ORU Missions trip in Barcelona, Spain

At ORU, servant leadership isn’t confined to campus; it’s not limited to clubs and classrooms and student life. Yes, you’ll find it in all of these places, but at ORU, servant leadership doesn’t stop there. Every summer, as part of ORU Missions and Outreach, students like Cruz step into the world and lead where love is needed. Last year, Cruz led a Missions team to Barcelona, Spain, where a group students ministered to and connected with area residents through basketball.

“The year before,” Cruz said, “I was the assistant leader for Team South Africa, and it was amazing. Then last summer, I was team leader for Team Spain [a/k/a Redeem Team], which worked with a ministry called Upgrade Sports. Through basketball, we made one-on-one connections and built relationships with people in Barcelona. It gave us the opportunity to preach the story of Jesus.”

As part of the trip, Cruz says that Team Spain literally “stepped” into their ministry. Acting on an idea from Cruz’s dad (Don Williamson), everyone on the team wore the same shoes with Romans 8:37—“We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us”—printed on the back. But there was more to the shoes than just basketball.

“All nine of us,” Cruz said, “had the exact same shoes, and our plan was to give them all away. When one of us felt led by the Holy Spirit, we’d gift the shoes to someone, explaining to them what the verse meant. We gave them away out of love, and it was a great way to minister to the people of Spain.”

Team Spain [a/k/a Redeem Team] holding sneakers with Romans 8:37—“We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us”—printed on the back."

Uncomfortable, Life-Changing Growth

Cruz acknowledges that leadership, whether serving in a dorm, basketball court, in community service, can make you uncomfortable. As a Mission’s leader, he says he’s had some challenging moments. As a Missions leader, his service has stretched Cruz and grew him as a person. The benefit of servant leadership is the opportunity to step outside your comfort zone, and while servant leadership will surely make you uncomfortable, Cruz says it will ultimately change your life. 

“If you want a different perspective on how to see the world,” Cruz said, “then you should join ORU Missions. You’ll be humbled, and you’ll see what it really means to serve and to lead with love. From the outside, someone might only see a trip or a destination, but as an ORU Missions leader, you’re going to deepen your relationship with God, and you’ll experience tangible moments with Christ-loving people.”

To read more stories, visit ORU's Student Stories.

UNIVERSITY BRIEF

ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 16 years of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor’s level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 160 nations from 2019 to 2024 to be whole leaders for the whole world.

The Wall Street Journal ranked ORU as the #8 university in the nation for student experience and one of America's Best Colleges (2025). This new category rates the best colleges in the U.S. to have a great experience while attending. This ranking is powered by one of the largest-ever independent surveys of verified college students and recent graduates in the United States. Niche has recognized ORU as one of the top 25 most diverse colleges in America, the # 1 best Christian college in Oklahoma, and the # 1 in Oklahoma for diversity. Princeton Review ranked ORU as the best regional college, and College Raptor ranked ORU as a Hidden Gem in the Southwest. Heritage.org classified ORU as a great option for families prioritizing freedom, opportunity, and civil society.

ORU has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as:

• #1 in Undergraduate Teaching
• #2 in Most International Students
• #3 in Best Value
• #6 in Best College for Veterans
• #7 in Best Regional Colleges in the West

For more information, visit www.oru.edu.