Dear Friends and Partners of Penn,
My family is new to Philadelphia and Christian Union at the University of Pennsylvania, and at times it seems as though we’ve crammed 3 years into our 3 months here. But what a joy it has been. We have seen God working in the students of Penn, in the churches of Philly, and in the ministry team here of which I’m overjoyed to be a member. Thank you for your continued prayers for myself and my family, and the prayers for the other new Ministry Fellow, Kelly Schaaf, and her family, and Ministry Director Justin Mills and his family.
As Justin reported last month, 2 of our Penn Faith and Action (PennFA) students launched a pro-life group on campus. They have formed a solid team of pro-life advocates, including other members of PennFA. Two of those “Quakers for Life” team-members (PennFA women) used side-walk chalk to share the cause of the unborn on Locust Walk, the main pedestrian thoroughfare on campus. The message was compassionate and powerful. Quakers for Life needs our continued prayers as their message of “caring for the least of these” was met recently with scorn and vitriol from a number of other Penn students. In Proverbs 31 we read this: “Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” In the conversations on campus by Quakers for Life, they directed those who had questions about the care of women to Alpha Care Ministries in West Philadelphia, an alternative pregnancy organization formed by members of Tenth Presbyterian Church. Pray that Quakers for Life would grow in influence, that women and men at Penn would have ears to hear, and that lives may be saved.
In these post-election days, our students and staff need continued prayers as we navigate the rather choppy waters of a divided nation and campus. Christ brings the Gospel of reconciliation. Wisdom and Biblical clarity are required as we minister to those who are hurting and fearful, and towards those who are thankful for the results of the presidential election. Pray that our conversations would be “always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that [we] may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4). Adding to the already tense mood, a GroupMe message was anonymously sent to African-American Penn freshmen this past week. Pray that those students would find advocacy and support from brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray for our PennFA students as they minister to those who have been affected. And praise God for the support and care we’ve seen from our PennFA student leadership as they point to the “refuge, a strong tower” (Psalm 61) - Christ Jesus.
PennFA has recently started Friday Conversations, an outreach ministry seeking to bring the Gospel to those on and around campus. Our students have met a variety of individuals, including Muslims, atheists, and agnostics - and even the joyous encouragement of other believers - on walks through campus and along Walnut Street (the heart of Penn’s business district). We have had the opportunity, by God’s grace, of speaking the Gospel of hope to many individuals, and we praise God that we’ve had an audience who is willing to hear! PennFA is committed to not only living the Gospel, but in speaking it in grace and truth. For “how then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Romans 10). Pray for much fruit as the Gospel is proclaimed.
This weekend, and prior to Thanksgiving break, various PennFA activities are keeping us busy and focused on the One to whom we owe all thanks. Fellowship activities are planned for Friday night (a dodgeball tournament!), concerts of various individual students in PennFA (including the New Spirit of Penn Gospel Choir), and a PennFA Thanksgiving potluck on Saturday - with a week-long fast prior thereto. There is much to be thankful for.
As the semester winds down, and as the students begin preparation for their final exams, pray that they would lean on Jesus, the “author and perfecter of their faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross” (Hebrews 12). Pray that our students would be reminded that they are His joy! (Zephaniah 3.17). Pray that their affections for Christ would only increase over the holiday season. Pray that they would be encouraged in their local churches in their time away from campus. Please pray for their rest and refreshment, that as they return to campus from Thanksgiving break (and later from the semester break), their passion for the exaltation of Christ would be increased.
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.
