Friends,
Freshmen Welcoming Campaign may be over, but God’s work in and through Christian Union at Brown University is in full swing! Since last I wrote to you, we — the Christian Union faculty at Brown (Matt Woodard, Ministry Director; Laurel Copp, Ministry Fellow; Justin Doyle, Ministry Fellow) and student leaders — have concluded our month-long Freshmen Welcoming Campaign with our annual Fall Retreat.
This year, on the weekend of October 7 — 9, we ventured two hours north of Providence to Lakeside Christian Camp in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Nearly 40 students joined us there for our largest retreat to date. Our focus for the weekend was Trusting God, a theme we considered together through three separate teaching times, discussions and individual reflection. That theme was also reflected upon during the free-time on Saturday afternoon as students took part in a low-ropes course in which students were challenged to trust one another through a series of obstacles.
In all, the Fall Retreat was an amazing time of seeing God at work in the lives of these students. Over and over I heard students sharing about their need to become more vulnerable before God and other believers, asking what in their lives needs to be surrendered more fully to Christ and, as in all our retreats so far, just how much more connected they feel to this local community at Brown that we call Christian Union. Praise the Lord for a weekend to dive into his Word, get into one another’s lives and worship the living God with one another! Students’ lives were surely transformed for the sake of the gospel through it!
As you join me in praising God for a successful Freshmen Welcoming Campaign and Fall Retreat, would you please pray with us for the following:
- Incoming Freshmen: Our focus in the first few weeks of the semester has been to welcome and love the incoming class of students. We have had many events and one-on-one meetings in which student leaders and we, the Ministry Fellows, have been able to invite these freshmen into the Christian Union community. Pray that God continues to move in powerful ways as we meet these new students, connect them with other students and, ultimately, as we strive to help them grow deep roots into the realities of the gospel.
- Bible Courses: As I’ve mentioned in past prayer emails, we’re teaching the Gospel of Mark this semester. Please pray that God would guide and direct us, the faculty at Brown, as we prepare and teach this wonderful Gospel. Pray that students’ hearts and minds would be receptive to this rich Word, and that their lives would forever be transformed into the likeness of Christ through study and discussion.
- Student Leadership Team: Now that we’re moving into the regular rhythms of ministry following Fall Retreat, our student leadership team — about 20 students who lead various aspects of the ministry — will begin meeting more regularly to pray, plan and implement their ideas. Please pray that they would grow close to one another for the sake of the gospel. Pray that God’s Spirit would move powerfully in and through them as they shepherd the ministry and reach out to the surrounding campus with the hope of the gospel. And pray for us, the faculty, for wisdom and strength as we guide and shepherd these leaders.
Thank you for your prayers and support as we take part in this wonderful movement of God here at Brown University!
Yours in Christ,
Justin Doyle
Christian Union Ministry Fellow
Brown University
Please note: if you would like to receive regular updates on how to pray for Christian Union's work at Brown, please email prayer@christianunion.org.
