We’ve been reading Exodus this summer and just finished the ten plagues, God’s deliverance of Israel through the Red Sea, and the beginnings of Israel’s journey to Mt Sinai. The students on our most recent Zoom call were dumbstruck at both the Egyptians and the Israelites. Which makes less sense: that Pharaoh and the Egyptians, who had ten times experienced firsthand the awesome power of the Lord, were foolish enough to follow the Israelites into the Red Sea? Or that the Israelites, who had seen the same and had been delivered from Egypt by the hand of the Lord, time and time again doubted the Lord's goodness and power and thought he was leading them to their death in the wilderness? How desperate is our human condition, no matter what tribe we are from! We need grace to perceive and respond rightly to God and his mighty deeds! And praise God that He offers eyes that will really see and ears that will really hear through our Lord Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit.
We’re so grateful for your partnership in prayer with us, and would love for you to pray for some of the following:
- Our pre-retreat is approaching on September 15-17. Just before students move back on campus and classes begin, we’ll spend these days seeking God together, reconnecting with each other, and preparing to welcome incoming students to campus and into Christian community. Because of COVID, both freshmen and sophomore classes will be new to on-campus life—roughly half the undergrad population! The opportunity to welcome, befriend, and love new students this coming fall is significant. Please pray for our pre-retreat and for our efforts to share the love of God with these new students.
- Though we tire of COVID, it is still a significant factor in the decision-making of Stanford’s leaders. Please pray for Stanford’s administrators, as well as for local, state, and national leaders, that they may make decisions that most promote the flourishing of those under their care, and so that “we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Timothy 2:2).
- Our family (Justin, Kate, Keira, Joy, Janner, and Liv) are moving this month back to Palo Alto in order to minister in person to Stanford students once again! Praise God for this provision! Please pray that God would provide a wonderful new home for us to live in and minister from, that he would keep us during the various stages of our move, and that our children would be encouraged and full of faith during the process.
Warmly in Christ,
Justin Woyak
Senior Ministry Fellow
Christian Union Caritas
Please note: if you would like to receive regular updates on how to pray for Christian Union's work, please email prayer@christianunion.org.
