January 2023

Dear CU Lumine Cornerstone Partners and friends of the ministry,

On behalf of all the staff and students at Christian Union Lumine, let me wish you a Happy New Year. We pray you had a restful holiday season.

By the grace of God we were able to have a vibrant, impactful Fall 2022 semester. In the past semester, we saw 85 students join for Bible Course, averaged over 40 students at our weekly Leadership Lecture Series (Illumina), heard from great speakers like Dr. Lydia Dugdale (Author & Physician), Tim Goeglein (Former White House Advisor) and so many others.

Starting in October, students gathered daily at 9am to pray for the campus and ask God to bring revival to Columbia. We held numerous outreach and social events, hosted many one-on-one meetings in person over Oren’s coffee or a Milano’s sandwich, handed out copies of Lee Stroble’s “Case for Christ” to students on campus and so many other activities! It was a full semester!

I am also very excited to share that CU Lumine has brought on a new Ministry Director, Craig Holliday. Craig is a native New Yorker and brings decades of experience in the for-profit world and non-profit. Most recently he serves as one of the Pastors at Brooklyn Tabernacle. You will be hearing more from Craig in the next prayer newsletter!

We could not do this great gospel work without you. As we get ready for a new semester, would you please join us in praying for:

1. Ministry Director, Criag Holliday: Pray that God would anoint him and use him to lead CU Lumine in this next chapter. Pray for God’s wisdom and favor to rest on Craig!
2. Student Body: Pray for the students as they get a few weeks of break before they come back to campus. 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. Pray that they would experience God’s peace as they return back to campus. Pray that God would help them grow in Christian community with other friends and be encouraged in this season.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Revival on campus: We are trusting 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 classes start for Spring 2023, we would meet students on fire for Christ.

Thank you for your love and partnership with CU Lumine. We could not do this without your prayers.

Stan Thomas
Ministry Director
Christian Union Lumine