Yale University
Dear Prayer Partners,
Happy new year! Since you last heard from us, we’ve had time away from work with family to celebrate the Lord’s incarnation (what’s better than a Sunday Christmas?!) and spent time with all Christian Union faculty at our winter staff conference, pressing into the Lord in prayer for our campuses and nation. We are so grateful to minister at Yale with Christian Union and thank you for your partnership in this ministry!
Dear Prayer Partners,
Happy Christmas!! It is amazing to think that another year, by God’s grace, has come and gone. As we bid farewell to our students, our ministry staff here at Yale have also undergone significant transition: this month we bid Chris Matthews, our founding ministry director, and his family farewell after 6.5 years at Yale.
Dear Prayer Partners!
Thank you for your prayers and support of Christian Union at Yale. Shortly after I sent the last prayer email, one of you encouraged me to keep on spiritually “mothering,” and later that day a student confessed some sin to me, asked for my advice and help to get out of the situation and then said to me, “Thank you for being my mom that I can tell things to” (as opposed to her mom that she can’t tell things to).
Dear Prayer Partners,
Thank you for your ongoing prayers and support! The semester is officially at its midway point, and that means many tests, papers, problem sets (“p sets”)…and lots and lots of stress.
Dear Prayer Partner,
Thank you for your prayers! The first month of school is certainly the most taxing for us as staff and it is an incredible blessing and encouragement to know that a great cloud of witnesses (you!) stand behind our efforts in the most important work of all (prayer). We could not do what we do without you!
Dear Prayer Partners,
The fall air is noticeably "in the air" as mornings are cooler and the streets of New Haven are alive again. Christian Union's ministry here at Yale has kicked off the new semester with a pre-retreat of students leaders. We got away for three days together to hear from one another about all that God had done in each student's life this summer, as well as what we hope He will do at Yale this fall. There was great enthusiasm and energy for prayer and outreach--both critical aspects of a thriving ministry this year.
Dear Prayer Partner,
It's hard to believe that it's almost August and time to welcome another group of freshmen at Yale! Our summer Bible study on Genesis has gone well and engaged the students on campus with tools for studying God's Word, while engaging them on topics such as human origins and the problem of evil. Please pray that students here at Yale, and those far away, would be emboldened to live more fully for Christ and serve Him faithfully at Yale in the coming year.
Since 2011 CU Lux has worked to bring spiritual transformation and renewal to campus by seeking the Lord, growing in knowledge and love of His Word, and thoughtfully engaging Yale with the gospel.
The high-caliber ministry faculty at CU Lux teach intellectually rigorous Bible courses, disciple students one-on-one, and coach students to develop as Christian leaders.
CU Lux also offers conferences and retreats each semester and a weekly leadership lecture series called Rooted, which features great worship, talks from compelling speakers, and space for students to grow together in fellowship.
New Haven, Connecticut
Jeff Walsh
Ministry Director
Jeffrey Walsh is a retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant with over 23 years of experience as a Military Police Soldier, Educator, National Director of Police, and leadership education. He is also an ordained Christian minister with a lifetime of experience in pastoral ministry. He has served in various assignments and attachments worldwide with the U.S. Army National Guard Bureau, the 5th Special Forces Group, and the 169th Regional Training Institute. Jeffrey spent the last ten years in senior leadership positions, including National Director and Subject Matter Expert of Military Police Education and Leadership and Senior Leader of Advanced Leadership Training Programs.Jeffrey is an expert in spiritual care and reducing destructive behaviors like suicide, sexual assault, and domestic violence. He has trained military leaders across North America in his former role as the National Military Law Enforcement Subject Matter Expert and Connecticut State Equal Opportunity and Sexual Assault Program Coordinator. He is pursuing his Doctor of Ministry at Alliance University in New York City, with prior education in Biblical Theology and Pastoral Ministry from Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs. Jeffrey's overseas combat experience has earned him numerous service awards, including the Bronze Star medal with Valor and four presidential unit awards. His passion for serving others stems from a personal journey of healing and transformation through the Spirit of God.
Chitra Kovoor
Christian Union Ministry Fellow
Born and raised in India, Chitra has a BA in Psychology and Sociology and an MBA. After work in the corporate sector, she moved with her husband to serve the church in the UK. While raising three children and supporting her husband in ministry in Derby, Birmingham and Bristol, she managed a graduate center run by University of Birmingham and the Selly Oak Federation of Mission Colleges, UK, offering training in the areas of management, leadership development and cross-cultural mission. She was also involved in university ministry during her time there.
Three years ago, in another continental maneuver, they found themselves in New Haven USA, following God's call to ministry in the city. Chitra encountered Christian Union through its then student executive members and was drawn to the mission and vision of CU for university contexts such as Yale. Investing in the development of young Christian student leaders, who could have a profound influence for the glory of God in the US and beyond was a powerful vision and Chitra felt the strong call of God to actively participate in it. She has worked as a Ministry Fellow with CU Lux for over 6 years.
To see her students grow in faith during their time at Yale and discover more of the immense potential that God has designed for each of them brings her great joy!
In her free time, Chitra enjoys playing tennis, walking, exploring the subject of nutrition, cooking healthy, and being hospitable. She loves stocking up the ‘Mouse’(the student hangout space) with a variety of teas and other delicious things. So stop by to meet her for a cuppa, snack, and a chat!
Michael Racine
Ministry Fellow and Writer
Michael Racine has been with Christian Union since 2017, first as a Ministry Fellow at CU Lux, and then as the writer of a series of Christian Union Bible Studies, the first three volumes of which were released by Tyndale House Publishers in 2022. Having written full-time during the COVID-19 pandemic, he was delighted to get back on campus in the fall of 2022 and resume his work with the students of CU Lux.
Michael was highly involved in campus ministry as an undergrad at Brown, leading worship, co-leading small groups, and graduating with a concentration in Religious Studies. Upon graduation, he moved to Hunan, China, where he taught English for two years at a public middle school and led a small house church. Michael later headed English teaching and curriculum development for a college scholarship program in Haiti, then taught for a year in Spain before returning stateside to study at the Yale Institute of Sacred Music.
He earned his M.Div. from Yale in 2015, and besides his work with Christian Union he has been an active musician, singing, playing, and directing in a range of settings and styles from Renaissance polyphony to funk. He currently serves on the worship team at Vertical Church in West Haven.
Bethany Walsh
Administrative AssistantBio coming soon.
Sharing a Vision to Transform Yale
The alumni board is an alumni-led organization which will inevitably play a vital role in the future of the ministry at Yale University. The alumni board is committed to furthering the development of programs focused on alumni as it furthers the following objectives: advance the work at Yale University, transition graduates well, develop Christian leaders and bring revival.
Kia K. Quinlan '16
Chair
Edward Duffy '75
Board Member
Jin Li '21
Board Member
Stuart Monk '19
Board Member
George Taylor '68
Board Member
Contact Us:
AlumniEngagement@ChristianUnion.org.
