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Cornell Alumnus Is Thankful for Christian Union’s Impact
By Zachary Lee, Cornell ’20
Being involved with Christian Union for four years at Cornell taught me all about translation. No, I did not translate the Bible from ancient Greek or Hebrew (although that could be a Bible Course idea!), but rather through Christian Union, I learned what it meant to take the restorative and life-giving truths that had nurtured me in my Christian walk and contextualize them to people from other backgrounds without compromising the integrity of the message.
Donaldson ’23 Relies on Christ to Overcome Adversity
By Anne Kerhoulas, Staff Writer
2020 didn’t go as planned for anyone. But for the class of ’23, it was uniquely disappointing. The pandemic cut into the long-anticipated college experience of making new friends and living in the dorms as first-year students, and for Gabby Donaldson, it meant missing a whole season of playing on the Harvard women’s basketball team.
Christian Union Associate Produces Timely Documentary
By Tom Campisi, Managing Editor
Once a month, Christian Union New York convenes local pastors for an intense, fourteen-hour time of prayer, fasting, Bible reading, and seeking the Lord. Christian Union Founder and CEO Matt Bennett leads the meetings, along with Dimas Salaberrios, a Christian Union ministry associate and a bold Christian leader in New York City.
Santavicca ’73 Serves with Other Alumni on CU Vita Board
By Anne Kerhoulas, Staff Writer
The year of 1969 might call to mind images of anti-war protests, Woodstock, or landing on the moon, but for Ed Santavicca it was the year he experienced a revival on Cornell’s campus. Arriving as a freshman in Ithaca, New York, Santavicca’s world was saturated with the cultural upheaval of the Vietnam war, rigorous academics, and a very limited understanding of God.
UPenn Class of 2021
Throughout Noah's freshman and sophmore year at UPenn, he pursued his dream of becoming a fighter pilot. However, in the spring of his senior year he received devastating news that he was medically disqualified to fly due to a minor health issue. The first person he called was a fellow Christian Union Bible Course member followed by his Bible Course leader.
Christian Union Alumnus Founds NYC Design Studio
By Anne Kerhoulas, Staff Writer
Strategy is the name of the game for Cody Min, the founder of Astronaut Monastery, a creative studio operating out of New York City.
With the tagline of “Making work that thinks and thinking that works,” Min, the company’s head of new business and strategy, has created a sleek and successful firm serving clients like Hyundai, the popstar Kesha, Cole Haan, Rowing Blazers, Disney-ABC, Samsung, and Uniqlo. Min’s creative work today is deeply rooted in his faith, which was cultivated through the ministry of CU Martus (formerly called Penn Faith and Action or PennFA).
Andy Crouch: "We Are Not Going Back"
The past year has shaken every corner of our world. But Andy Crouch saw a lot of what is happening today coming back in March of 2020. Crouch, the partner of theology and culture at Praxis, made a few prescient statements about the length of the looming pandemic, the cultural shifts that were coming for us, and, most importantly, saying, “We are not going back.”
CU Lumine Hosts Evangelism Workshops
Kelly Parks, Staff Writer
At its core, evangelism is the act of sharing the good news of Christ with others so that they might come to have new life and have it to the fullest. As society has become increasingly secular, however, evangelism has become a less comfortable topic for many Christians. Although evangelism is sometimes synonymous with preaching on a street corner, we should certainly not overlook the equally powerful act of sharing Christ through personal witness.
Grow Deeper in Your Faith
Many in New York wish they were stronger in their walks with God and want to be empowered to step out in faith to make a difference in their world. Christian Union New York exists to help. The ministry serves professionals in the city, Christian Union alumni, Christian Union Cornerstone Partners, and their peers.
The foundation for ministry is one's personal relationship with God, a relationship that requires an investment of time and constant cultivation. Christian Union has found that short, focused times of drawing near to God have an incredibly positive impact, providing Christian strength and renewed vision. As a result, it has developed a series of simulcast events designed to provide this sort of opportunity for believers (and their friends) nationwide.
Introducing Christian Union Fire Retreats
Above: A small group that met in Manhattan as part of a recent national CU Fire Retreat.
A Christian Union Fire Retreat is a unique one-and-a-half-day simulcast gathering for the rejuvenation and inspiration of Christians. Typically, these retreats are offered several times per year.
Rather than convening in one large group in one location, CU Fire Retreats allow believers to invite friends over to enjoy the simulcast content — and small group interactions — in the comfort of their own homes or churches. During a CU Fire Retreat, these small groups will enjoy access to great teaching that will spur them to seek God, dig into (and discuss) God's word in an in-depth way, worship, and pray together for the duration of the 1.5 days.
A CU Fire Retreat is an investment in learning what God is like; spiritual rejuvenation, and receiving a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit. Attendees experience an incredible spiritual strengthening to stand faithfully in Him and be used by Him to see their families, communities, and nation impacted for Christ. Relationships among attendees are profoundly deepened as they seek the Lord together for His purposes in their lives.
What Participants Are Saying
“I’ve been enriched beyond words. I am now looking to God to do the extraordinary in the lives of those around me through earnest prayer. The weekend raised my spiritual temperature and sharpened my senses. I am ready for battle.” - Olga S.
“The event was enormously impactful. I was deeply convicted of my sin and the need to live wholeheartedly for God.” - Reid W.
“ I was very inspired by the prophetic words and the prayers I have received during the event. I believe they have a life changing impact on me.” - Maria W.
“All I want to do is tell all of my Christian friends about this weekend so that they can go deeper as well.” - Julia S.
Specifics
- CU Fire Retreats are held in a home, church, or other comfortable location. Participants sleep in their own homes and travel to the location each morning.
- The group fasts together for increased closeness to God and spiritual power. The discipline of fasting has aided Christians in their walks with God since the beginning of the church. As a matter of fact, the common practice of Christians for the first five hundred years of the church was to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays. If a particular CU Fire Retreat involves a meal, the small group will share the meal together.
- Because the group size is limited, the ministry asks that each participant commit to being present for the entire retreat from Friday evening through Saturday evening.
- There’s a minimal registration fee. Other expenses are paid by Christian Union and the host.
Learn More!
To learn more or to get involved, please visit CUFire.org or contact Grace Ann Arvey at Graceann.Arvey@christianunion.org.
Grow Deeper in Your Faith
What is the CU Fire Retreat?
CU Fire Retreat is a simulcast spiritual retreat where small groups of Christians across America meet for 1.5 days to seek the Lord together for spiritual rejuvenation. All groups follow the same schedule and watch simulcast messages 4 times during the retreat. Some groups meet in person, usually at someone’s home, and other groups meet virtually via Zoom.
How do I participate?
Hosts invite their friends to join their CU Fire Retreat group, either in their home, at their church, or even via Zoom. A host guides his/her group to follow the CU Fire Retreat schedule and watch the simulcast portions of the retreat. Anyone can apply to host a CU Fire Retreat group. If hosts recruit at least four participants to their group, the hosts' registration fee is refunded.
How many people are in the small group?
Ideally 4-12 people, but larger groups can still take part.
How can I host a CU Fire Retreat?
Anyone can become a CU Fire Retreat Host. Christian Union provides you with everything you need to host, including a schedule, the retreat curriculum and a host manual to guide you through each portion of the retreat. You can register as a host through the registration page.
If you have questions about hosting, please contact Grace Ann, at (646) 350-4123. She will support you throughout the entire retreat.
Can I attend without hosting?
Yes, you can attend a retreat as a participant! If you have not been invited by a host, you can register to join a virtual open CU Fire Retreat group, where CU staff will place you in a virtual group led by a trained host in your time zone. Past participants have loved getting to connect with fellow like-minded believers in this way!
What is the schedule for CU Fire Retreats?
Typical Schedule
Friday
Welcome and orientationTestimonies
Teaching and Q&A (streamed)
Group Prayer
Saturday
Arrival and Welcome
Worship (streamed or on-site) and Group Prayer
Teaching and Q&A (streamed)
Two Hours of Reading the Bible
Discussion on the Reading
Group Prayer
Prayer for One Another
Teaching and Q&A (streamed)
Private Prayer
Listening to God
Meal: cooking, cleaning, and fellowship
Worship (streamed or on-site)
Teaching and Q&A (streamed)
Wrap-Up
Group Prayer
Can I come to CU Fire Retreat part of the time instead of the whole time?
What makes CU Fire Retreats so impactful is the amount of time spent seeking the Lord. If you are unable to attend the entire time, we encourage you to sign up for a future CU Fire Retreat when you can for the duration of the event.
What does CU Fire Retreat believe? Are they part of a denomination?
CU Fire Retreats are a ministry of Christian Union. CU is a non-denominational Christian ministry which works with Christians from all traditions who have repented of their sins and confess Jesus as Lord and Savior. CU’s mission is to support local churches, pastors, and Christians to seek the Lord for revival and reformation in our country. You can read our statement of faith and ethics here.
Who Teaches the Content at the CU Fire Retreats?
The speaker lineup not always the same, but the upcoming retreat's speaker lineup will be posted here.
Why is there a registration fee for CU Fire Retreats?
The registration fee helps cover the cost of the event. Even though the event can be joined online, there are still various costs associated with each CU Fire Retreat. These costs include external expenses such as website/platform/app fees, speakers’ honorarium, and marketing the retreat. The cost also includes internal expenses such as CU associates who organize CUFR and support hosts to make each group a success!
Where does the registration money go?
All registration fees go directly to the budget needed to produce each CUFR. If there are any funds raised that exceed covering the costs, direct and indirect, they will only go to furthering the ministry of CU and CU Fire Retreats, not to individual staff, ministers or groups.
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Register for our upcoming CU Fire Retreat here.
