All
HCFA Undergrads Give Seniors a ‘Commencement’
by anne kerhoulas, staff writer
The chaos of the developing pandemic and learning that the spring semester would conclude remotely could not deter students with Christian Union at Harvard (HCFA) from celebrating and honoring their graduating seniors.
While the campus shifted toward scenes of frantic packing, hastily thrown parties, and seniors clinging to last moments of their college experience, HCFA underclassmen mobilized to create a commencement ceremony for the departing graduates. They devised cardboard caps and personalized pseudo diplomas, a commencement speech delivered by an impersonated Barack Obama, and a real charge for those leaving campus to seek the Lord.
Nova’s Sending Team Focuses on Evangelism Training
by catherine elvy, staff writer
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, students involved with Christian Union Nova at Princeton University took a deep dive into evangelism.
During April and May, about fifteen students participated in video conference calls to discover how to share the Good News more effectively in their everyday lives, both on campus and beyond.
“God is doing something on our campus. Our prayer leaders have been praying about how to reach the campus,” said Christopher Heslep, ministry director at Princeton University.
Love from Libertas Moves Hong ’20 to Become Intern
by rachel mari, contributing writer
Jane Hong, a recent alumna of Brown University, is evidence that the light of the Gospel shines brightest in the darkest of times. Hong, a leader with Christian Union Libertas as an undergraduate, was blessed by its community of believers during COVID-19 restrictions and will serve as the ministry’s newest intern in the fall.
Originally intending to work at a dermatology clinic after graduation and before attending medical school, Hong felt called to intern with Christian Union. In March, when Brown closed due to the pandemic, she was unable to go home, but found comfort and encouragement in her Christian Union Libertas community. It was during this time that she felt led to consider becoming an intern.
Being Home When Home Is Hard
by daniel chabeda, yale ’20
Editor’s note: The following devotional was written by Daniel Chabeda, who served as a student president of Christian Union Lux at Yale University before graduating in May. This devotional was part of a series entitled “On Our Hearts, On Our Minds,” that encouraged the Christian Union community in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Caritas Is Engaged in Summer Bible Study
by catherine elvy, staff writer
Young adults involved in Caritas, Christian Union’s ministry to Stanford University students, are discovering new insights into the foundational truths of Genesis.
In late June, Ministry Fellow Justin Woyak began leading a virtual summer study devoted to unpacking the themes and wonders of the Bible’s first book. “There’s a lot to dig into,” said Woyak, Princeton ’09. “There are so many threads of the Bible’s storyline that begin here.”
A dozen students are participating in the online studies, which are held on Tuesday evenings and will continue into early September. Stanford students from varying collegiate stages are taking part in the calls, including two incoming freshmen.
Given the COVID-19 pandemic, Christian Union’s ministry team at Stanford moved the gatherings to an electronic format for summer 2020.
Senior’s Faith Sustains Her during Abrupt End to On-Campus Semester
by francine barchett, cornell ’20
Nigerian-American. Singer/Blogger/Poet. Future physician/scientist. All are apt descriptors for Iyaniwura Olarewaju, a recent Cornell graduate in biological sciences who had an unexpected end to her senior year.
From reading and re-reading President Martha Pollack’s urgent email imploring students to leave campus, to completing her finals through “Zoom University,” Iyaniwura’s COVID-derived life has been at times “like an eerie dream.”
"For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness."
— Ezekiel 34:11-1
We are so grateful for your prayers in this unusual season. Typically we would be beginning to have coffee with freshmen at Thayer Street restaurants and setting up shop at a table in Ratty or V-Dub, for our regular discipleship meetings with students.
What a year this has been, particularly for university students. When the pandemic started unfolding in March and Columbia University was forced to go virtual, we were all holding out that Fall 2020 would be the reset we needed. But instead of our students moving into John Jay, Schapiro or Ruggles or connecting with new freshmen during NSOP (New Student Orientation Program), we are mapping out what ministry can look like virtually.
Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians has been a great encouragement to our team and student leaders over the past few weeks. While restrictions due to the coronavirus threaten to limit our normal ministry activity at Cornell, we have been reminded to remain steadfast and to pray (1:2-3), stay in God’s Word (1:5-6), and walk in the power and joy of the Holy Spirit (1:5-6), so that the gospel of Christ will sound forth (1:8).
Subscribe Today
