Greetings in the matchless name of Jesus! I am thankful for your love and partnership with Christan Union Lumine at Columbia University. Because of your committed giving and prayers, we are seeing students’ lives transformed by the gospel.
After a very short break, the students started their spring semester on January 11th. You might be encouraged to know that some students have physically returned to campus. Though the majority of classes are still online, it was awesome to see students safely moving back to Wien, Wallach, EC, John Jay, and Hartley. It was so good to see students connecting and getting together on campus to fellowship, pray, and study God’s word all in the first week back!
CU Lumine is back in the swing of things. We have started Bible courses for this semester. We are studying the book of Acts with sophomore and junior students, a Vocational Bible course with seniors, and the Seeking God Lifestyle Bible course with freshmen. I am so excited to have Columbia and Christian Union alum Taylor (Troutt) Willis join us as a volunteer Bible course leader. Taylor graduated from Columbia in 2018 and will be helping teach the freshman Bible courses this semester.
We’ve also held our first two LLS discussing two important topics: God’s Providence and Growing in Prayer. The student executive team and ministry team leaders are also putting together various fellowship and social events for students to connect and grow in community. This is going to be a full semester and we are truly believing God to awaken hearts and transform lives!
As we get deeper into this semester, would you please join us in praying for:
- Student Leadership: Pray for the present student leaders and the new ones that will be selected in the coming weeks. Pray that God would bring the right students to take up the mantle of leadership and continue the good work of the gospel on Columbia’s campus.
- Staff: Please pray for Taylor Willis and me. Pray God would give us wisdom and favor as we minister to the student body at Columbia.
- Students with CU: As I mentioned, more students will be on campus this semester. Pray for God’s favor when we meet 1-on-1 with students. Also, pray that the students will be able to manage their time well and give priority to studying God’s word and seeking His face in prayer.
- Spiritual hunger and thirst: Pray that the students would have a deep hunger for the things of God: prayer, worship, Christian community, reading scripture. Pray also that they would grow deeper with their Christian community.
- Raising up new financial partners: we know that we can’t do this ministry without supporters like you. Join us in praying that God would bring new Christ-minded friends of this ministry to help rebuild CU Lumine at Columbia through their financial support.
- Revival on campus: a pandemic is not a deterrent for God to move in a mighty way. Pray that God would continue to open eyes to respond to His call of grace and bring about a mighty wave of peace, joy, and transformation so when campus reopens, we would meet students on fire for Christ.
Thank you for your love and partnership at CU Lumine. We could not do this without your prayers.
Grace and Peace,
Stan Thomas
Ministry Director
Christian Union Lumine
Please note: if you would like to receive regular updates on how to pray for Christian Union's work at Columbia, please email prayer@christianunion.org.
