Dear Friends and Partners of Penn,
The second semester is in full swing and the students are now preparing for mid-term exams this week and next. Incredibly, spring break is a mere 3 weeks away, and both students and Ministry Fellows are ready for a break.
New Penn Faith & Action (PennFA) Executives have been selected and have begun identifying Ministry Team Leaders (MTLs). Please pray that the Exec team would lead with humility, and that they would pursue holiness in their lives. Pray that they would have wisdom in selecting MTLs, and pray that the MTLs would pursue that same humility and holiness.
As mentioned in previous prayer letters, Quakers for Life (a pro-life student group started by a group of PennFA students) has continued to be a voice for the unborn on campus. They have received a great deal of criticism from the weekly Penn newspaper, but have been bold in their witness. In recent weeks, Quakers for Life took part in a forum with the Penn Polybian Society — a non-partisan political discussion group. This included a debate with a recently formed pro-choice campus group. Quakers for Life presented with great skill and sensitivity, and even had the opportunity to share the Gospel with students after the discussion. Continued prayers are appreciated for their continued work.
Also, PennFA took part in a panel discussion at Penn’s LGBTQ center on the topic of human sexuality and gender. Prayers for those who heard the panel discussion would be greatly appreciated. As Christians, we are called to speak the truth in love, with the hope of people receiving the good news of Jesus Christ. In the discussion, our goal was to clearly articulate the traditional Christian view of sexuality and gender, but more importantly to call people out of unbelief in Jesus Christ. Join us in praying for students who are struggling with their sexual identity.
One of our Ministry Fellows, Ekemini Uwan, is speaking at the Jubilee Conference in Pittsburgh, PA, on February 25th. Pray that she would articulate clearly and boldly the reality of "the fall" — the reality of sin as a part of the story of redemptive history.
Many of our Bible Course students are non-believers or very young in their Christian faith. Please pray for C.F., J.P., J.M., as they wrestle with the deep questions of the faith. Also pray for all our students as they go through Bible Courses that work through the book of Acts, and the topics of sex and spirituality, and vocation.
As we approach the mid-term, please pray for energy and zeal for the Penn Ministry Fellows. Pray that our Friday Conversations evangelism would bear fruit. and that we would not grow weary in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Pray for revival here at Penn — that Christian students would have a renewed fire for Christ, and that those who don’t know Jesus would be saved.
Thank you for your prayers, for your partnership in this mission, and for your continued support of this ministry. By God’s grace, through the prayers of His people, Christian Union at Penn flourishes to the glory of Jesus Christ.
Tucker Else
Christian Union Ministry Fellow
University of Pennsylvania
Please note: if you would like to receive regular updates on how to pray for Christian Union's work at University of Pennsylvania, please email prayer@christianunion.org.
