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The most recent articles, videos, blog entries, and more that have been added to ChristianUnion.org.

James Fields
Christian Union Ministry Director
Princeton University

The Word of God is full of paradoxical statements, such as: “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:35); “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me and the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:35); “….whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave to all. For even the Son of Man did come to be served, but to serve, and give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:43-45). Many of the aforementioned teachings of Jesus are commonly referred to as paradoxical teachings. According to the Merriam Webster’s dictionary, a paradox is “something that is made up of two opposite things that seem impossible but is actually possible.” In other words, a paradox is a seemingly self-contradictory statement containing truth that joins two opposites.

CU Cities Conference 2019

https://soundcloud.com/christianunion/2019cucities_collinlyndseyseale-simpletoolsforestablishingthekingdominyourworkplace6222019-72619-446-pm

The goal is to have a simple plan for caring for your coworkers that leads to establishing God’s Kingdom where you work and live, all while not getting you fired. Join as they share practical tools from beginning a conversation all the way through to forming a new believer church in the workplace, tell current stories of what God is doing in these spheres, and practice in live simulation.

CU Cities Conference 2019

What is the interface between physical and mental health and a spiritually full life? What is burnout? What is the spiritual perspective on grit? How do you move from being trapped in complacency or barely competent at work, into a life where your work becomes part of something extraordinary as you are supernaturally led through each day of your life?

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.

“And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city...” Jonah 4:11.

We’ve been studying the great little book of Jonah this summer in Cambridge. You know Jonah, right? It’s the little, little book between Obadiah and Micah that chronicles a season in the life of a very reluctant prophet by the same name. When you think about the story, it doesn’t reflect well upon its supposed author. But those four short chapters hold great insight into so many great themes: the character of God, justice and mercy, missions, calling, and so on.

As long as serving God fit into Jonah’s goals for Israel, he was fine with God. As soon as he had to choose between the true God and the god he actually worshiped, he turned on the true God in anger. Jonah’s particular national identity was more foundational to his self-worth than his role as a servant of the God of all nations. The real God had been just a means to an end. He was using God to serve his real god.
-Tim Keller, The Prodigal Prophet

Greetings from Cambridge,

Jonah is a fascinating read to say the least. This summer, over twenty students have immersed themselves in a Wednesday night bible study as staff and alumni have passed the teaching baton and led some interesting and challenging discussions. The prophet’s identity and idolatry issues at first seemed foreign and obtuse to us; but as we have lingered over the text we have begun to see ourselves and recognize our own distorted proclivities. Thankfully, the true protagonist emerges, and God’s very person and character takes center stage.

Dear Friends and Partners of Christian Union at Penn,

“The joy of the Lord is your strength” - Nehemiah 8:10

There is much to be thankful for during these summer months, and many reasons to rejoice. But our greatest joy is the Gospel of grace - God’s Kingdom coming in power through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. July is a sweet season of small group studies with students, professional development, and opportunities for retreat. We have already begun planning for our (fast) approaching Freshmen Welcome at the University of Pennsylvania. Our students have been intentional in developing a strategy for the fall campaign, even as our 4 executive leaders are meeting via Skype from Botswana, San Francisco, New York, and Philadelphia! Would you please pray with us for the following:

In the past six weeks more than 630 students graduated from our university ministries to pursue graduate school or enter the workplace. From our first ministry at Princeton to our most recent at Stanford, and including our graduate ministry at Harvard Law school these young men and women are in the midst of exciting transitions - most of them into the workplace.

The Magnetic Pull of God’s Presence

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

“Thus says the LORD of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities. The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the LORD and to seek the LORD of hosts; I myself am going.’ Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’” — Zechariah 8:20–23 (ESV)

Christian Union Cities Podcast

Christian Union Cities is a ministry to professionals in the nation's most influential cities, beginning with New York and Washington, DC. The institutions and networks that most shape our cultural values and norms are centered in just a handful of cities—and a similarly small group of professional spheres play a key role.

How do we engage redemptively in our vocations and communities to the end that they more fully reflect the intent God has for them rather than reflecting the brokenness of the world? How do we build the kind of thriving networks of thoughtful, proactive Christians toward this end?

These podcasts will explore these questions with a range of guests who can illuminate them from a variety of industries and disciplines.

Click here to learn more about Christian Union New York.

Click here to learn more about Christian Union DC.

Listen Here

*Soon to be launched on iTunes and Spotify

About the Hosts

Engaging the City is co-hosted by Scott Crosby, Ministry Director, Christian Union New York City and Christian Union Washington DC, and Kate Farrar, Director of Development and Donor Relations.