Christian Union Universities
May 30, 2020 and May 31, 2020
Christian Union Lux, Christian Union's ministry at Yale, hosted a virtual reunion for the Class of 2014 and the Class of 2015 on May 30, 2020 from 4:00 - 5:00pm EST.
Christian Union Lux hosted a virtual reunion for all alumni on Sunday, May 31, 2020 from 4:00 - 5:00pm. Christian Union Lux invited participants from all classes, all denominations, and all Christian ministries to this annual event. Thanks for joining us!
Learn More
For questions about how to get involved with alumni groups or Christian Union Lux on campus, contact Christian Union's VP of Alumni Engagement Christine Foster: christine.foster@christianunion.org.
May 16, 2020
Christian Union Martus, Christian Union's ministry at Penn hosted a virtual reunion on May 16, 2020 at 4:00 PM EST.Christian Union Martus invited participants from all classes, all denominations, and all Christian ministries to this annual event. Participants had the opportunity to connect with other Christian alumni, visit with current students, and meet the Christian Union ministry faculty and staff.
Thanks for joining us for a time to connect and encourage one another during this unique time in our nation's history.
Learn More
For questions about the Christian Union Martus reunion hosted by Christian Union, contact Christian Union's VP of Alumni Engagement Christine Foster: christine.foster@christianunion.org.
For the past month, the students and faculty have been living through a new norm as all classroom instruction and ministry interactions have been moved online. The students are finishing up the final week of classes and getting ready for final exams. NYC has been getting some positive news with the number of COVID-19 cases going down, but there are still a lot of unknowns. In the midst of unknowns, we continue to hold on to God and the truth that He is still in control. We are seeking the Lord for His wisdom and direction for Christian Union Lumine at Columbia University. Thank you for your continued prayers for the work on this campus. Here are ways you can be praying for us this month:
Greetings,
As we conclude Week Four of the spring term here at Dartmouth we are thankful for the ways that God is working in spite of our students not being on campus. We are seeing strong Bible Course attendance, new students joining our BCs, students stepping up to lead worship, create devotions, and care for each other.
As we conclude Week Four of the spring term here at Dartmouth we are thankful for the ways that God is working in spite of our students not being on campus. We are seeing strong Bible Course attendance, new students joining our BCs, students stepping up to lead worship, create devotions, and care for each other.
“For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God…
— Romans 8:22-27
Greetings from Cambridge!
At a time when our individual and collective fate could not be more uncertain, our good instinct is to pray, but this is only half of the battle. What should we even pray for? Most of us have more questions than we have answers. When a pea soup fog descends, even familiar streets may fail us. Enter the eighth chapter of Paul’s epistle to the Romans. The verses quoted above are stunning. If the best prayer we can muster in our weakness is a groan of anguish, we might be content simply knowing that God hears us. But these verses say so much more. God not only hears our cries but he enters into our grief. No wonder Paul tells us in chapter 12 to “rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn”, thereby mirroring the Spirit’s response to us! Our faith-filled groan—akin to “Thy will be done”—is being answered accordingly because the Holy Spirit is already interceding on our behalf.
— Romans 8:22-27
Greetings from Cambridge!
At a time when our individual and collective fate could not be more uncertain, our good instinct is to pray, but this is only half of the battle. What should we even pray for? Most of us have more questions than we have answers. When a pea soup fog descends, even familiar streets may fail us. Enter the eighth chapter of Paul’s epistle to the Romans. The verses quoted above are stunning. If the best prayer we can muster in our weakness is a groan of anguish, we might be content simply knowing that God hears us. But these verses say so much more. God not only hears our cries but he enters into our grief. No wonder Paul tells us in chapter 12 to “rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn”, thereby mirroring the Spirit’s response to us! Our faith-filled groan—akin to “Thy will be done”—is being answered accordingly because the Holy Spirit is already interceding on our behalf.
How would you complete this sentence? “These are ______________ times.”
Confusing?
Messed up?
Scary?
How about the word, extraordinary? Would you use that word to describe the reality that we are in right now? We find ourselves isolated and quarantined while we see life as we once knew it morphing in front of our very eyes. Our world is changing or, at least, it’s different in this season—introverts are flourishing in isolation, while extroverts are struggling; people are reconnecting with long lost friends virtually, while we are separated from our … friends. And I don’t know about you, but I’ve stopped watching the nightly news program because I don’t want to hear these words again — “Another record-breaking number of deaths in the last 24 hours…” But that’s the reality that we are living in currently.
Confusing?
Messed up?
Scary?
How about the word, extraordinary? Would you use that word to describe the reality that we are in right now? We find ourselves isolated and quarantined while we see life as we once knew it morphing in front of our very eyes. Our world is changing or, at least, it’s different in this season—introverts are flourishing in isolation, while extroverts are struggling; people are reconnecting with long lost friends virtually, while we are separated from our … friends. And I don’t know about you, but I’ve stopped watching the nightly news program because I don’t want to hear these words again — “Another record-breaking number of deaths in the last 24 hours…” But that’s the reality that we are living in currently.
Ministry continues at Penn, and we are continually thankful for your support, encouragement, and prayers during this odd but ordained season. While there are moments of anxiety and uncertainty, there are also moments of deep joy and hope. I am so proud of how our students have responded to life in 2-D…while some digital fatigue may have arrived, they are fighting the good fight both academically and in their spiritual disciplines and fellowship. Here are just a few reasons for praise:
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In this midst of this difficult time, thank you for your continued prayers and financial support. We are thankful that we stand together as brothers and sisters in Christ, even as we face many challenges as a country and as a ministry. Our ministry in Princeton continues to be greatly affected by the novel coronavirus. The coronavirus has hit home most profoundly for us with two students having already lost family members to the virus. We are grieving with these students. Beyond these tragic loses, all our students are still adjusting to the new realities and seeking to show resilient faith during this time. For some, the transition home has been especially difficult as they have been put back into difficult home and living situations.
In this midst of this difficult time, thank you for your continued prayers and financial support. We are thankful that we stand together as brothers and sisters in Christ, even as we face many challenges as a country and as a ministry. Our ministry in Princeton continues to be greatly affected by the novel coronavirus. The coronavirus has hit home most profoundly for us with two students having already lost family members to the virus. We are grieving with these students. Beyond these tragic loses, all our students are still adjusting to the new realities and seeking to show resilient faith during this time. For some, the transition home has been especially difficult as they have been put back into difficult home and living situations.
Dear Prayer Partners,
Blessings on each of you.
I’ve personally felt grief from not being able to meet “in the flesh” with students since before spring break. We miss the joy of having coffee, sharing meals, and seeing them in the ministry center or around campus. We miss the joy of in-person conversation, encouragement, and prayer. But, the Lord reminded me recently that much of the New Testament was also a product of “distance ministry”. The Apostle Paul wrote letters to instruct, teach, bless, and train other individuals and churches that he loved and wanted to be with, but the circumstances just didn’t allow it. Several letters were even written when he was in house arrest in Rome. In spite of the circumstances, though, Paul maintained incredible joy and hope, and the letters that he penned still nourish our souls today. Our God is surely never wasting and always working.
As you remember our ministry at Yale, please pray that:
1) Our ministry would thrive, even while scattered abroad. With the help of technology, we have still been gathering for Bible Courses, prayer, discipleship, leadership coaching, and more. Pray for the Holy Spirit to FILL our Zoom meetings!
2) God’s Kingdom come & will be done at Yale. May the Holy Spirit prepare our hearts and Yale’s grounds for a greater, fuller work of the Lord once we return to campus. We’re depending upon Him!
3) God would raise up a new wave of “Cornerstone Partners” to support us through prayer and giving. Our team at Yale and on every campus will be reaching out broadly to share more about our current need in light of COVID-19, what God has been doing, and ways to partner with us in the work. We’ll need grace and favor in these conversations.
Thank you for your prayers on our behalf!
Don’t be anxious & keep rejoicing,
Clay Cromer
Ministry Director
Christian Union Lux
Please note: if you would like to receive regular updates on how to pray for Christian Union's work at Yale, please email prayer@christianunion.org.
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,
5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord
(1 Corinthians 1:4-9).
In our Vocational Preparation Bible course with seniors (which continues to meet over Zoom as students are dispersed across the country), we were recently discussing how to steward our talents for Christ. When we become members of the body of Christ, the talents God has given us take on new significance. The Holy Spirit “breathes” on them, as it were, to hone, develop, and deploy those talents for the advancement of Jesus Christ’s wonderful purposes. Our talents are like puzzle pieces that—however impressive (or unimpressive) on their own—become increasingly beautiful as the Holy Spirit fits them into the glorious story of God in Christ.
5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord
(1 Corinthians 1:4-9).
In our Vocational Preparation Bible course with seniors (which continues to meet over Zoom as students are dispersed across the country), we were recently discussing how to steward our talents for Christ. When we become members of the body of Christ, the talents God has given us take on new significance. The Holy Spirit “breathes” on them, as it were, to hone, develop, and deploy those talents for the advancement of Jesus Christ’s wonderful purposes. Our talents are like puzzle pieces that—however impressive (or unimpressive) on their own—become increasingly beautiful as the Holy Spirit fits them into the glorious story of God in Christ.
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