Christian Union Universities
Hello CU Caritas Cornerstone Partners and other friends of the ministry,
Welcome to 2021!
We’ve been reading 1 Samuel over Zoom together during the break. The faith of Hannah, the intimacy between God and Samuel, the failures of Saul, God’s incredible promises and grace to David, and so much more have been instructive and encouraging.
Welcome to 2021!
We’ve been reading 1 Samuel over Zoom together during the break. The faith of Hannah, the intimacy between God and Samuel, the failures of Saul, God’s incredible promises and grace to David, and so much more have been instructive and encouraging.
And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. - Luke 2:10–11
Dear CU Martus Cornerstone Partners and other friends of the ministry,
This story of the shepherds and the angels has always been a favorite. Maybe because the scene is so vivid. Or because it was such a stark contrast between field work and supernatural glory. This is definitely a season where we needed the reminder of God’s Advent power amidst the extraordinary ordinariness of Covid-tide. Of course, it would look a little different: God’s power breaking through a Zoom call, or an angelic host gathering above a rather lonely Franklin Field. God’s breaking into history is our hope. He came through 2000 years ago in the birth of Christ. He is trustworthy to come through again when Jesus will return and bring restoration and renewal to all things.
Dear CU Martus Cornerstone Partners and other friends of the ministry,
This story of the shepherds and the angels has always been a favorite. Maybe because the scene is so vivid. Or because it was such a stark contrast between field work and supernatural glory. This is definitely a season where we needed the reminder of God’s Advent power amidst the extraordinary ordinariness of Covid-tide. Of course, it would look a little different: God’s power breaking through a Zoom call, or an angelic host gathering above a rather lonely Franklin Field. God’s breaking into history is our hope. He came through 2000 years ago in the birth of Christ. He is trustworthy to come through again when Jesus will return and bring restoration and renewal to all things.
Dear Cornerstone Partners and friends of CU Lux,
All of us are prone to forget the things God has done for us. We need reminders. When Joshua led God’s people towards their new home, they had to cross the Jordan River ( Joshua 3:15-16). God parted the waters, and His people walked through on dry land (v. 17). To create a memorial of this miracle, they took twelve stones from the middle of the riverbed and stacked them on the other side (4:3, 6–7). When others asked what the stones meant, God’s people would tell the story of what God had done that day.
All of us are prone to forget the things God has done for us. We need reminders. When Joshua led God’s people towards their new home, they had to cross the Jordan River ( Joshua 3:15-16). God parted the waters, and His people walked through on dry land (v. 17). To create a memorial of this miracle, they took twelve stones from the middle of the riverbed and stacked them on the other side (4:3, 6–7). When others asked what the stones meant, God’s people would tell the story of what God had done that day.
Dear CU Libertas Cornerstone Partners and other friends of the ministry,
We hope you’ve all had a wonderfully refreshing and blessed Thanksgiving! Here at Brown, the ministry has so much to be thankful for this semester. CU Libertas continues to see the Lord work in the hearts and minds of our students. Despite the difficulties we’ve all faced during this abnormal season, students are seeing the fruits of faith toughened by extenuating circumstances, they’re sharing the gospel in creative ways with family and friends, and they’re relying on one another through prayer and new expressions of communal bond.
We hope you’ve all had a wonderfully refreshing and blessed Thanksgiving! Here at Brown, the ministry has so much to be thankful for this semester. CU Libertas continues to see the Lord work in the hearts and minds of our students. Despite the difficulties we’ve all faced during this abnormal season, students are seeing the fruits of faith toughened by extenuating circumstances, they’re sharing the gospel in creative ways with family and friends, and they’re relying on one another through prayer and new expressions of communal bond.
Dear CU Lumine Cornerstone Partners and other friends of the ministry,
With Thanksgiving behind, the Christmas holidays ahead, and the semester coming to a close in a few weeks, we are grateful for the Lord’s hand that has guided CU Lumine this academic semester. As you may remember when the ministry reached out for prayer in September, there were so many unknowns. But in the midst of the unknowns, God proved Himself to be faithful.
With Thanksgiving behind, the Christmas holidays ahead, and the semester coming to a close in a few weeks, we are grateful for the Lord’s hand that has guided CU Lumine this academic semester. As you may remember when the ministry reached out for prayer in September, there were so many unknowns. But in the midst of the unknowns, God proved Himself to be faithful.
Dear CU Vita Cornerstone Partners and other friends of the ministry,
Greetings from Ithaca! We appreciate your prayers and the opportunity to update you on the ministry at Cornell! Most of our students have returned home to complete their work virtually and as we reflect back on the semester, we praise God for his goodness and grace to us in the face of very difficult circumstances. Our Bible courses finished strong and added new members every week throughout the semester. The Gospel of Mark gave us the opportunity to draw near to Jesus and gain confidence in Him and his work for us on the cross. Our weekly prayer meeting also finished on a strong note, with one freshman committing to start her own student-led prayer meeting in the spring. Also, two freshmen had such a meaningful experience in their Bible course that they are feeling led to co-lead a freshman Bible study next year. The sense of community at the Mott center continued to build throughout the semester, with students congregating there for not only Bible courses and prayer meetings, but also small social gatherings and studying. While there is still a lot of uncertainty about the year ahead, one thing is for sure, the Lord is at work in these amazing students!
Thank you for praying:
Thank you for partnering with us in prayer for Cornell and the students of Christian Union Vita!
Blessings,
The Faculty and Students of CU Vita
Please note: if you would like to receive regular updates on how to pray for Christian Union's work at Cornell, please email prayer@christianunion.org.
Greetings from Ithaca! We appreciate your prayers and the opportunity to update you on the ministry at Cornell! Most of our students have returned home to complete their work virtually and as we reflect back on the semester, we praise God for his goodness and grace to us in the face of very difficult circumstances. Our Bible courses finished strong and added new members every week throughout the semester. The Gospel of Mark gave us the opportunity to draw near to Jesus and gain confidence in Him and his work for us on the cross. Our weekly prayer meeting also finished on a strong note, with one freshman committing to start her own student-led prayer meeting in the spring. Also, two freshmen had such a meaningful experience in their Bible course that they are feeling led to co-lead a freshman Bible study next year. The sense of community at the Mott center continued to build throughout the semester, with students congregating there for not only Bible courses and prayer meetings, but also small social gatherings and studying. While there is still a lot of uncertainty about the year ahead, one thing is for sure, the Lord is at work in these amazing students!
Thank you for praying:
- For student leaders, that more students will step up to lead with a willingness to serve their friends and the Cornell community in the coming year.
- For our freshmen, thanking God for them and praying they will continue to develop solid friendships and be encouraged by the ministry and the message of the gospel.
- For our students, that they will keep Jesus first in their hearts and minds, confident in Him as they finish their studies for the semester and get ready for winter break, and that God would bless them on their winter break and give them a vision for the spring semester.
- For Cornell University, that the virus infection rate would remain low, and that revival would come with many across the campus coming to know and trust Christ for salvation, and for wisdom in planning the spring semester with respect to Covid.
- For our staff, that we would have opportunities to encourage our students while they are away on winter break, and that we would prepare well for the spring semester.
Thank you for partnering with us in prayer for Cornell and the students of Christian Union Vita!
Blessings,
The Faculty and Students of CU Vita
Please note: if you would like to receive regular updates on how to pray for Christian Union's work at Cornell, please email prayer@christianunion.org.
Dear CU Vox Cornerstone Partners and other friends of the ministry,
Greetings to everyone from Hanover and Christian Union Vox. Classes are over and the on-campus students have returned home for finals and a much-needed break. We entered the fall with great uncertainty and many questions but God richly provided and we experienced a connected, joyful, and exciting term. It was a boon to have freshmen students on campus and to see them grafted into the community here. In addition to the Class of 2024, the junior class (2021) was on campus and it was a blessing to reconnect in person after a virtual spring and summer term.
Greetings to everyone from Hanover and Christian Union Vox. Classes are over and the on-campus students have returned home for finals and a much-needed break. We entered the fall with great uncertainty and many questions but God richly provided and we experienced a connected, joyful, and exciting term. It was a boon to have freshmen students on campus and to see them grafted into the community here. In addition to the Class of 2024, the junior class (2021) was on campus and it was a blessing to reconnect in person after a virtual spring and summer term.
And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see Him, just as he told you. Mark 16:5-7
Dear CU Gloria Cornerstone Partners and Friends of the Ministry,
We pray that you have had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you are reminded of all of God’s good gifts in your life. The CU Gloria Team is grateful for your support and we are especially grateful for Jesus’ empty tomb! This fall we have been journeying through the Gospel of Mark with many Harvard students in our Bible courses. Mark’s gospel ends with the incredible announcement and proclamation of the resurrection of Jesus, which is our hope. It is this gospel of the living Christ we proclaim that motivates us as we continue to love, serve, counsel, coach, and teach our students God’s word.
One huge praise is that Ministry Fellow Tyler Parker has led yet another student, a golfer, to Christ in mid-November. Hallelujah! CU Gloria also celebrates finishing the Gospel of Mark together in our Bible courses as well as the Sky-prayer gatherings which have been happening weekly under the faithful leadership of the Seeking God Ministry Team. CU Gloria was also really blessed to host some great Doxas this fall, under the incredible leadership of the Doxa Ministry Team, you can watch some of the videos of our speakers here.
The week before Thanksgiving the CU Gloria Team was able to meet with freshmen to say goodbye outside Peet’s Coffee in Harvard Square. While everyone was socially distant and masked, it was still a wonderful time of connecting with students. Most of the freshmen are back home now for the semester and will not be returning to campus for another 9-10 months. Please pray for the challenges many of them will be facing at home and with having to do online classes. It is a challenging season for all our students and your prayers for their spiritual, mental, and emotional wellbeing are coveted.
Thanks to your generosity many students continue to be ministered to regularly, and especially for the ones who have come to Christ this year, their lives will never be the same. Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and investment in what God is doing at Harvard.
Pray with us for the following:
Thank you for your prayers and support,
The CU Gloria Faculty
Dear CU Gloria Cornerstone Partners and Friends of the Ministry,
We pray that you have had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you are reminded of all of God’s good gifts in your life. The CU Gloria Team is grateful for your support and we are especially grateful for Jesus’ empty tomb! This fall we have been journeying through the Gospel of Mark with many Harvard students in our Bible courses. Mark’s gospel ends with the incredible announcement and proclamation of the resurrection of Jesus, which is our hope. It is this gospel of the living Christ we proclaim that motivates us as we continue to love, serve, counsel, coach, and teach our students God’s word.
One huge praise is that Ministry Fellow Tyler Parker has led yet another student, a golfer, to Christ in mid-November. Hallelujah! CU Gloria also celebrates finishing the Gospel of Mark together in our Bible courses as well as the Sky-prayer gatherings which have been happening weekly under the faithful leadership of the Seeking God Ministry Team. CU Gloria was also really blessed to host some great Doxas this fall, under the incredible leadership of the Doxa Ministry Team, you can watch some of the videos of our speakers here.
The week before Thanksgiving the CU Gloria Team was able to meet with freshmen to say goodbye outside Peet’s Coffee in Harvard Square. While everyone was socially distant and masked, it was still a wonderful time of connecting with students. Most of the freshmen are back home now for the semester and will not be returning to campus for another 9-10 months. Please pray for the challenges many of them will be facing at home and with having to do online classes. It is a challenging season for all our students and your prayers for their spiritual, mental, and emotional wellbeing are coveted.
Thanks to your generosity many students continue to be ministered to regularly, and especially for the ones who have come to Christ this year, their lives will never be the same. Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and investment in what God is doing at Harvard.
Pray with us for the following:
- That God would bless and work through the co-ed winter Bible study we will be starting during Winter Break.
- That the students would continue to stay plugged in and connected to Christian community, especially during the prolonged time of separation.
- That students would be intentionally seeking God during winter break and advancing spiritually.
Thank you for your prayers and support,
The CU Gloria Faculty
Please note: if you would like to receive regular updates on how to pray for Christian Union's work at Harvard, please email prayer@christianunion.org.
Christian Union Nova Partners and Family,
Here we are at the end of the most unique semester that any of us at Christian Union has ever faced. Classes at Princeton moved along through the semester as usual, but for the first time, there were no hangouts at Frist, no long walks to Whitman College, no ultimate frisbee games at Poe Field, or reading a book in Prospect Garden. No Ivy League championships from our amazing sports teams, and no theater productions that bring laughter. This year was filled with screen time, virtual environments, and online interactions instead. This semester is one that will never be forgotten by those who experienced it, but hopefully not for merely the reasons mentioned above.
Here we are at the end of the most unique semester that any of us at Christian Union has ever faced. Classes at Princeton moved along through the semester as usual, but for the first time, there were no hangouts at Frist, no long walks to Whitman College, no ultimate frisbee games at Poe Field, or reading a book in Prospect Garden. No Ivy League championships from our amazing sports teams, and no theater productions that bring laughter. This year was filled with screen time, virtual environments, and online interactions instead. This semester is one that will never be forgotten by those who experienced it, but hopefully not for merely the reasons mentioned above.
Hello CU Caritas Cornerstone Partners and other friends of the ministry,
At the ministry’s Psalms and Prayer night last Sunday—the post-Thanksgiving final event of the quarter—a student shared Psalm 73. In a good way, we can’t shake the final verses:
