Cornell University
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 Vita Cornerstone Partners and other friends of the ministry,
Thank you so much for partnering with us in prayer. Your prayers are being answered! God is working powerfully in so many ways and we rejoice in his unfailing love and faithfulness. Although the virus has limited our ability to gather together in many ways, attendance at our Bible courses has been strong and student engagement in the Word of God and prayer during these times has been very encouraging.
More students are added to our Bible course groups every week, including a freshman guy who had felt overwhelmed with his academics during his first two months at Cornell, but responded to my message last week and joined one of the men’s groups for the first time. The women athletes’ Bible course taught over zoom has grown from 15 women to 25! And one of those women, a freshman hockey player, has joined leadership and is helping head up our communications team.
The CU Vita ministry faculty members have also been meeting with three different students who are considering the Christian faith and/or fellowship for the first time. One of those students comes from an atheist/Hindu background and is meeting with me weekly to discuss the gospel and issues of faith and reason. Finally, the Mott Center is open again, bustling with various Bible courses, prayer meetings, and small group gatherings.
Thank you so much for partnering with us in prayer. Your prayers are being answered! God is working powerfully in so many ways and we rejoice in his unfailing love and faithfulness. Although the virus has limited our ability to gather together in many ways, attendance at our Bible courses has been strong and student engagement in the Word of God and prayer during these times has been very encouraging.
More students are added to our Bible course groups every week, including a freshman guy who had felt overwhelmed with his academics during his first two months at Cornell, but responded to my message last week and joined one of the men’s groups for the first time. The women athletes’ Bible course taught over zoom has grown from 15 women to 25! And one of those women, a freshman hockey player, has joined leadership and is helping head up our communications team.
The CU Vita ministry faculty members have also been meeting with three different students who are considering the Christian faith and/or fellowship for the first time. One of those students comes from an atheist/Hindu background and is meeting with me weekly to discuss the gospel and issues of faith and reason. Finally, the Mott Center is open again, bustling with various Bible courses, prayer meetings, and small group gatherings.
Dear CU Vita Cornerstone Partners and other friends of the ministry,
Christian Union Vita has begun to study the Gospel of Mark and it has been such an encouragement to see the steadfast love of God and our sure hope in “the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1). While it is true that economic, social, and political uncertainties abound in our country, our students and ministry faculty have an unshakable foundation and enduring peace through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has accomplished everything for our salvation.
Christian Union Vita has begun to study the Gospel of Mark and it has been such an encouragement to see the steadfast love of God and our sure hope in “the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1). While it is true that economic, social, and political uncertainties abound in our country, our students and ministry faculty have an unshakable foundation and enduring peace through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has accomplished everything for our salvation.
Dear CU Vita Cornerstone Partners and other friends of the ministry,
Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians has been a great encouragement to our team and student leaders over the past few weeks. While restrictions due to the coronavirus threaten to limit our normal ministry activity at Cornell, we have been reminded to remain steadfast and to pray (1:2-3), stay in God’s Word (1:5-6), and walk in the power and joy of the Holy Spirit (1:5-6), so that the gospel of Christ will sound forth (1:8).
Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians has been a great encouragement to our team and student leaders over the past few weeks. While restrictions due to the coronavirus threaten to limit our normal ministry activity at Cornell, we have been reminded to remain steadfast and to pray (1:2-3), stay in God’s Word (1:5-6), and walk in the power and joy of the Holy Spirit (1:5-6), so that the gospel of Christ will sound forth (1:8).
June 7, 2020
Christian Union Vita (Cornell University) enjoyed connecting with alumni at 2:00 PM EST for a virtual reunion. Christian Union Vita invited participants from all classes, all denominations, and all Christian ministries to this annual event.
Learn More
For questions about how to get involved as an alumni or Christian Union Vita on campus, contact Christian Union's VP of Alumni Engagement Christine Foster: christine.foster@christianunion.org.
Brothers and sisters in Christ,
We have begun our second semester at Cornell as students have come back from winter break. After a period of transition, we now have a new director on our staff. Greg Ray has come from Madrid, Spain, where he was doing missionary work to lead our team. As we move into this new stage, we look forward to seeing how God is going to work through the team on this campus.
Brothers and sisters in Christ,
It is hard to believe how much of this semester has gone by already. We have had a very productive year so far, as our new ministry team has settled into their positions. Bible courses are going very well, and we have had far more freshmen men involved this year than in previous classes, which has been an immense blessing for our ministry. As students get busier leading up to finals, we pray that they would stay focused and continue to be involved in Bible courses even as it becomes more difficult with time constraints.
Brothers and sisters in Christ,
It has been a busy month here at Cornell, as we have been welcoming this year’s freshmen and transfer students. We have also been reconnecting with all those who have returned to Ithaca after the summer. Throughout this Freshmen Welcoming season, we have done a number of events, led by our students, to reach out to those who are looking to be connected to Christian community. We just started our Bible courses, as well as large group meetings, and we all look forward to what God will do this semester on campus.
It has been a busy month here at Cornell, as we have been welcoming this year’s freshmen and transfer students. We have also been reconnecting with all those who have returned to Ithaca after the summer. Throughout this Freshmen Welcoming season, we have done a number of events, led by our students, to reach out to those who are looking to be connected to Christian community. We just started our Bible courses, as well as large group meetings, and we all look forward to what God will do this semester on campus.
Brothers and sisters in Christ,
As the summer has progressed, we have been hard at work preparing for the Fall semester. We are planning events for Freshmen Campaign, and have been meeting with our Exec team through Skype, about our teams and retreats at the beginning of the academic year. Along with this, there have been a lot of transition for us here. Geoff Sackett has moved onto other ministry opportunities, and I am now filling his position as we look for a new Ministry Director. We have also hired two new women’s ministry fellows: Liz Thomforde and Lisa Cooper.
As the summer has progressed, we have been hard at work preparing for the Fall semester. We are planning events for Freshmen Campaign, and have been meeting with our Exec team through Skype, about our teams and retreats at the beginning of the academic year. Along with this, there have been a lot of transition for us here. Geoff Sackett has moved onto other ministry opportunities, and I am now filling his position as we look for a new Ministry Director. We have also hired two new women’s ministry fellows: Liz Thomforde and Lisa Cooper.
Brothers and sisters in Christ,
We have come to the end of our Spring semester, and our students have mostly departed from campus. Seniors graduated and are preparing for new jobs and graduate school. Underclassmen are at summer internships, jobs, or are remaining on campus for various research projects. The summer is a time to prepare for the next year and is hopefully a time of rest for our students.
We have come to the end of our Spring semester, and our students have mostly departed from campus. Seniors graduated and are preparing for new jobs and graduate school. Underclassmen are at summer internships, jobs, or are remaining on campus for various research projects. The summer is a time to prepare for the next year and is hopefully a time of rest for our students.
