“All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”As we begin the liturgical season of Advent, we give thanks to God for the tenderness of heart our students have towards Jesus Christ as they extend His grace and peace and honor Him in the practice of righteous living.
- Matthew 28:18-20
After a semester of observation and interpretation of Paul’s writing to the Philippian church, students wrestled with what it means to apply the author’s words subjectively. Together, they were challenged to reorient, even more, from a worldly perspective to a kingdom of God mindset; from a carnal nature to the nature of Christ; from the old man to a new creation; and, from the superficial meaning of a fleeting life to purpose found in Christ alone. We’ve had to grapple with the posture of our hearts!
And while confrontation and self-awareness can be sobering, students embraced Paul’s call to still rejoice, because “the reward is always greater than the sacrifice” and because they are not alone in the process of growth. Within various silos of this community, the community sharpened one another through friendship and ardent prayer. As an example, one student leader was led to offer a time of impromptu prayer, and over 25 students showed up! I believe this is because Jesus is still at work in individual lives—and he works through your prayers!
So, thank you! Thank you for continuing to call on our Father for our young adults. Thank you for praying for Christian Union. Thank you for praying for Christian Union Nova. Specifically, we are believing God to:
- Remove the distractions that hinder spiritual growth;
- Nurture a love and hunger for more of Him in the heart of our students;
- Usher a smooth transition of student leadership into the new year; and, to
- Provide staff leadership and support that encourages our students.
Thank you for praying.
Agapé!
D. Qwynn Gross
Ministry Fellow
Christian Union Nova
Please note: if you would like to receive regular updates on how to pray for Christian Union's work at Princeton, please email prayer@christianunion.org.
