February 2023

Dear CU Vita Cornerstone Partners and friends of the ministry,

I’m Dr. Marcus Buckley, and as the new CU Vita Ministry Director, I first want to say thank you for your support of the great work God is doing on campus here at Cornell University. It is an honor and a privilege to be a part of this effort for the Kingdom, and I’m grateful that God has opened this door of opportunity. I have served as lead pastor for nearly 29 years, and I am truly excited for this new journey that the Lord has for my family and me. My wife, Lea Ann, is also on the CU Vita staff as the Administration/Ministry Associate, and we are genuinely excited to be here in Ithaca.

I’m also thankful specifically for Jim and Liz Thomforde, who have both done extraordinary work here among these students and have helped CU Vita become the thriving ministry it is today. In addition to establishing a tremendous foundation of faithfulness, I am pleased to say that they will remain on the team here at CU Vita and will continue to impact students for the foreseeable future as the Lord wills.

As I only arrived on campus toward the end of February, I am still getting up to speed on all that is in progress. That being said, I am already aware of several things that I ask you to pray for fervently:

1. Endurance: pray for our leadership as they faithfully lead Bible courses and prayer groups, as well as minister outside of these planned events in countless ways.
2. Strength: The needs are great, and the burdens our leaders carry are equally weighty.
3. Wisdom: We know that God is the only source of true wisdom; pray that each student involved in CU Vita responds to every opportunity to minister, evangelize, and disciple others with godly wisdom and discernment.
4. Resources: As the number of opportunities to minister to students grows, so too do the financial resources needed to ensure we are able to rise to each challenge and to do so with excellence.
5. Opportunities: May the Lord continue to bring people across our paths in need of the gospel, and may we be faithful at each point of contact.

Again, thank you so much for your support in what God is doing here through CU Vita. Let me also say that I am here for you, and would love to have the opportunity to pray for you and minister to you in any way I can. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me if I can be of any assistance.

What a joy it is to serve the Lord in all of the various ways He calls and equips us. May you find joy and strength as you walk with and for Him.

Marcus Buckley, DMin.
Ministry Director
Christian Union Vita