January 2018

Dear Friends and Partners of Christian Union at Penn,

Praise God! Our students have returned safely to campus after Winter Break and our Bible Courses have had an excellent start. We currently have 13 Bible Courses meeting, with the possibility of adding an additional women’s course. We are thankful that God’s Spirit is moving among the students, bringing a sense of unity and hunger for God’s Word. Please pray that our students would have an increasing affection for Jesus and would translate that passion for Christ’s glory to tangible action on Penn’s campus.

One of our action items for this semester is to get each of our Bible Courses to collaborate on a service project in the city. Pray for our action to come where most needed, and that as we serve as the body of Christ, Christ would be glorified and our students’ faith would increase. Please pray that God would guard our students from self-righteousness, or pride in service, or service absent of the foundation of Christ’s presence and ministration. Penn, as with most of our universities, has a bent towards “doing good” without any real foundation for why to do good, other than an emotive sense of guilt or pride.

Over a dozen of our male students have started an accountability group that spurs one another on to sexual purity. A number of these students have started fasting (including 3 who are doing a 40-day liquid fast). Pray for insight as they seek God’s will, as they pursue righteousness, and as they encourage one another. And would you pray for revival here at Penn, that as our students are revived, they would more boldly proclaim the Gospel of grace.

Our newest Ministry Fellow, Dr. Fuji Kim, has quickly ingratiated himself with our students. He has led our ABCL training and has done an outstanding job. We praise God that our team is full (administrative assistant and volunteer Bible Course leader Mae Trieu is also doing an excellent job) and would ask for continued prayers for team cohesiveness, unity of vision/mission, and collegiality. I am particularly thankful for Kelly Schaaf and her going above and beyond with her teaching, discipleship, coaching, and modelling servant leadership to our students.

Philia (our LLS) has been a topic of prayer for our team, and would ask that you join us in praying for increased attendance. Pray that our students would enjoy the unity they experience on Thursday nights, and that they would be confident in inviting friends to hear wonderful speakers, to fellowship, to praise God – our worship team is doing a very good job leading our students – and grow in grace as we hear how faith intersects with the Academy.

Finally, please pray for our Friday evangelism efforts. Since August, we have had a table on Locust Walk where we offer prayer and Good News. Fuji has led this initiative and we are prayerful that our students join our Ministry Fellows in this important outreach. Pray that our students would own this effort, that their hearts would break for the lost, and that God’s Spirit would convict sinners and edify saints through this ministry. We have already had a number of opportunities to share the Gospel. Praise God for his opening ears and hearts!

Thank you for your continued prayers. And may God continue to bless you as the “apple of his eye” (Psalm 17). In Christ our King,

Tucker Else
Ministry Director
Christian Union at Penn