Christian Union Universities

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.

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.

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 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.

May 23, 2020

Thanks for joining Christian Union Gloria (Harvard College) at 2:00 PM EST for a virtual reunion.

Christian Union Gloria invited participants from all classes, all denominations, and all Christian ministries to this annual event. We enjoyed connecting with other Christian alumni, current students, and the Christian Union ministry faculty and staff.

Learn More
For questions about the Christian Union Gloria alumni opportunities, contact Christian Union's VP of Alumni Engagement Christine Foster: christine.foster@christianunion.org.

May 30, 2020

Christian Union Gloria Law (Harvard Law), Christian Union's ministry at Harvard Law School hosted a virtual reunion on May 30, 2020 at 12:00 PM EST.

Christian Union Gloria Law invited participants from all classes, all denominations, and all Christian ministries to this annual event. We loved the opportunity to connect with other Christian alumni, current students, and meet the Christian Union ministry faculty and staff. Thanks for joining us!

Get Involved
For questions about how to get involved with Christian Union Gloria Law on campus or as an alumni, contact Christian Union's VP of Alumni Engagement Christine Foster:christine.foster@christianunion.org.

Hello from Palo Alto!

As I write this, our students have wrapped up Winter Quarter finals, and are enjoying their spring break in locations around the globe. Well, that was the plan at least. As we all are now living with the reality of this global pandemic, we are facing the new reality of change, disappointment, and anxiety. Life interrupted.

We, like all campuses, are in the midst of great uncertainty and transition. In spite of that we are encouraged by the excitement our new student executive team has for ministering to students during this time. Please pray for our, and their creativity as we find new and effective ways to connect with students who are spread over the country and the world.

It’s amazing how quickly things are changing daily in the midst of this pandemic. Columbia University has officially moved all its classes online and the majority of students are no longer on the campus. These are unprecedented times and there are a lot of unknowns. In the midst of unknowns, we 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.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
— James 4:13-15

Greetings from Cambridge!

Having logged some serious miles in life, my appreciation for James’s rather harsh warning has increased at a pace commensurate with the erosion of any illusion I have ever had of earthly security and self-sufficiency. When the calendar turns at the first of the year I no longer ask, “what do I need to work on?”—as if the question of resolutions doesn’t always haunt my life(!)— but instead I wonder, “what in the world will 2020 bring?” Then and now I am praying that we will be faithful, faith-filled and take Jesus up on his invitation to pray (John 15:7-11).