Ministries
Dear CU Lumine Cornerstone Partners and friends of the ministry,
“...Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.” (John 2:10-11)
We are officially in the Summer A Semester and have restarted in-person and online Bible courses for students. We are studying the Gospel of John and the above passage is from John 2 after Jesus performs His first miracle at a wedding in Cana. This passage led to a fruitful discussion about Jesus bringing overwhelming joy to those who obey and follow Him. In the midst of so many changes and unknowns this past year, it was an encouraging and timely truth for the students to remind their own hearts of how Jesus seeks to bring and give eternal joy to His followers.
Greetings from Ithaca! While we will miss our seniors, we are so happy to know that they are moving on from Cornell mature in Christ, eager to put the glory of God on display in their various fields, and equipped to lead and make an impact for Jesus all over the world. Please pray for them as they transition away from life at Cornell to various careers and graduate schools. Pray that they would know that God has a perfect plan for them and pray that they will find solid Christian fellowship and local churches where they can continue to grow and use their gifts and talents for God’s glory.
How did it get to be the end of the academic year already? The seniors will graduate on June 13th and it will be a few short months until the class of 2025 arrives in Hanover. In a year unlike any other, there is much to praise God for. “Small but mighty” is how I think about the class of 2021. They have shown remarkable endurance, flexibility, leadership, and grace. I am excited to see how God will use them in their new communities, but we are also sad to see them go. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” - Philippians 4:4
Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD, saying, “I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is his name.” -Exodus 15:1–3
Moses said those words in Exodus 15 after experiencing the deliverance of the Lord from the Egyptians, as a song of praise to the God who sees, saves, and provides for his people. We are grateful for God’s continued provision for our students, whom He has sustained this spring, our student leaders, whom God has continued to give vision to, and our ministry fellows, who have continued to serve and lead faithfully through a challenging season. We are ultimately grateful for God’s decisive act of deliverance in history through the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, where He reconciled us to himself by grace through faith and freed us from the power and penalty of sin. Hallelujah!
…as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. - 1 Peter 2:2-3
In closing another school year, Christian Union remains committed to the spiritual development of students by creating opportunities to seek God through prayer and the study of Scripture. For this reason, eight Princeton students participated in a “Seeking God Lifestyle Seminar” because there is an earnest desire to grow in Christ, not just during the school year, but throughout the summer, and for that, we give thanks to God!
Warm greetings from Christian Union Caritas!
This Friday is the final day of classes for the Spring Quarter. We praise God that the students we serve have made it through this challenging year!
We are blessed by the opportunity to update you on our ministry at Yale. Through God’s extraordinary grace, we concluded this academic year with a senior banquet, a celebratory event honoring the work of God in the lives of our graduates. We sent them into the world with gifts: a Yale mug, a book on Christian discipleship, congratulatory cards signed by beloved peers, and the charge to shine like stars in the universe by holding fast to the word of truth (Philippians 2:14-16). Our new mentorship program, which connects graduates with CU alumni and Christian professionals, will provide vocational support and keep graduates centered on Jesus, our bright Morning Star (Revelation 22:16).
How can you best pray for Christian Union NY this month? Pray with us!
As we intercede for New York, and because you are a committed follower of Jesus, I want to let you know of a group that has formed to seek the Lord passionately for the welfare of NYC and for this nation to cry out to God, repent together, and return to the Lord. This inner core group is the Christian Union New York Cornerstone Partners.
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.
