November 2017

Dear Friends and Partners of Christian Union at Penn,

As our students’ minds turn to prepare for finals, final papers and holidays, we ask for continued prayers for the gospel’s introduction and discipleship of Penn students to grow as followers of Christ in the world. As the semester is sunsetting, pray that students will persevere in both trust in Christ and studies. 
I, Fuji, write this prayer letter on my third week of serving Christ at Penn. Though I am a newbie on Penn campus, I grew up in the Philadelphia area (with some years in Boston for undergrad and seminary studies and one year in NYC). The call to Kingdom ministry with Christian Union has been an answer to my family's extended prayer to the God who calls. Thankful to participate in the life of the campus and partner with Tucker and Kelly. I seek your prayer for the family as we transition from serving the local church into a season of new ministry and life. Pray also for possibly moving from the far suburbs to somewhere closer to campus.

Continue to pray with us for the gospel to deepen in participants in Bible courses. From Lessons Seven and Eight of the Philippians Bible course, the thesis passage has been a comfort and a positive challenge: “And be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:9-11). Pray that the gospel’s comfort will continue to challenge students to press on to share in Christ’s death and resurrection.

Pray that the underclassmen would solidify as regulars in Bible courses and be growing in leadership teams.

Pray that campus connections will be made through our Thursday practice of Christian love and kindness through sharing no-strings-attached donuts on Locust Walk. (We now seem to have regulars who look forward to it.) The following day, during the same hour, we follow-up with apple cider (now dispensed hot) and conversations about Jesus. Pray that our heart for evangelism will land the gospel on hearts.

As an update, we just had an all-campus worship co-sponsored with Christian fellowships. (What a rocking time in worship and the preaching of the gospel that overcomes earthly hopes and fears with the hope and fear of God through Jesus.)

Pray for social justice practiced through Quakers for Life (started by three CU students concerned for the life of the unborn) and as we partner in prayer with AlphaCare (crisis pregnancy care in West Philadelphia).

Thankful for your partnership in prayer to the God who hears and does the work of gospel ministry, and for your continued support. May the Spirit engage Christian Union to make Christ known for those who will become believers in Christ, for believers to all the more deny self and sacrifice as Christ denied himself and sacrificed for us, and that students will grow as servant leaders who sacrifice for the world for the sake of the gospel.

Fuji Kim
Ministry Fellow 
Christian Union at Penn