It is with a heavy heart that I write to you this afternoon.
Facing difficult COVID-related financial shortfalls from donors unable to sustain their normal giving this upcoming year, CU made the difficult decision to lay off over 30 people across our organization last month. This has affected every campus where CU ministers, including Yale. Therefore, we are saying goodbye to Jane Hendrickson and Michael Racine right on the cusp of what was already shaping up to be a challenging semester for ministry. As I have expressed to our CU Lux community, these 2 servant-leaders have glorified God so well in their work. Jane, a 6-year veteran has been a highly-competent, faithful, loving, servant-hearted leader helping this ministry continue on true to its mission over many, many seasons. She has gone above and beyond to serve each of our individual students, the ministry at Yale, and the broader CU organization. Michael, with 3 years on our team, has brought academic excellence, theological depth, and a compassionate heart to our campus and organization. He as inculcated in others a real heart for seeking God with his well-measured and God-centered words in teaching and everyday conversation. Blessings to you, Michael, as you transition to another role in Christian Union.
Please take a moment to reach out to them and express your thanks, love, and gratitude. Despite this heavy news, our whole team is holding fast in faith together for God’s next steps both for Jane and Michael, but also for Chitra, our students, and me.
Here’s how you can pray:
- Pray for Jane & Michael —for God’s comfort in a time of loss & providence in their transition.
- Thank God for our virtual CU Lux Pre-Retreat held in late August. We had 19 students dialing in, ranging from on-campus to Korea!
- Pray for Chitra and me as we call students to step up in discipling their peers, assisting with Bible courses, and running ministry teams in greater ways this year.
Seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness, and everything will be added to you,
Clay Cromer
Ministry Director
Christian Union Lux