September 2020

Dear CU Nova Cornerstone Partners and other friends of the ministry,

I sit here today on the morning of the beginning of a year unlike any seen before on the Princeton campus. As you may have heard, the Princeton University administration decided to move to a fully remote model for classes this semester with no students on campus. And here on the final day of August, students begin their year at Princeton in a completely online format. Furthermore, as you have likely heard, Christian Union has gone through a vast financial transition where our ministry faculty has been reduced from eight full-time staff to three. Much has changed since our last interaction.

Now, the unique task of the ministry faculty here at Princeton, as well as many of our other campuses, is to determine how to do college ministry without the presence of college students. Not only that, but we must do so with roughly 60 percent less ministry hours. A unique time indeed! God has tasked us with a semester that will rely upon him like no other.

Yet, there is hope! Not only do we serve a God who does not change and is the same yesterday, today and forevermore, but he is the God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Our God is a provider and can give us whatever it is we need for life and for godliness. And though we sit here with a monumental task before us, I want to encourage you with the fact that the students that God has raised up for such a time as this are up to the task. My ministry fellows are up to the task. And we call upon you, our prayer and financial support warriors to also be up to the task. I could not ask for a better set of student leaders who want to take ownership of their ministry and see revival occur on this campus. And I know that you should be praying for their leadership as they serve God faithfully in the midst of this pandemic.

Brothers and sisters, we need your prayers. We need your encouragement. And we desire your financial support as well. Please join with the ministry faculty in praying through the following items.

• Incoming first-year students will not have the opportunity to connect with our ministry in the same way they have in the past due to the lack of on-campus touchpoints. Please pray that we will find unique ways to reach them both for the gospel, and for engaging them in community.
• Many students will begin to feel the fatigue of an online presence in so many areas of their lives. Please pray that they can remain engaged and a part of a community. As you likely know, quarantine and isolation can be mentally, emotionally, and spiritually damaging to many.
• Our students will be taking on a greater responsibility with leadership at Nova this year due to the loss of staff. Please pray that they will take genuine ownership of their discipleship and that the Spirit would move mightily throughout our students’ lives for true transformation.
• With the financial issues facing our ministry during this pandemic, we are asking for new partners to join us in supporting our ministry faculty and our students. Please consider clicking the button below to join us in being a long-term Cornerstone Partner to help our faculty continue to reach Princeton for Christ.

As always, we thank you for your prayers and support. We would not be able to do what we do if it were not for you doing what you do to support us. We are so thankful to call you brothers and sisters in Christ. And we look forward to seeing what our Father will do through our service to see revival happen on this campus. Have a blessed day.

Yours in Christ,

Christopher Heslep
Ministry Director
Christian Union Nova