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“And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city...” - Jonah 4:11.
You know Jonah, right? It’s the little, little book between Obadiah and Micah, that chronicles a chapter 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 short four chapters hold great insight into so many great themes: the character of God, justice and mercy, missions, calling, and so on.
The last month at Harvard College has brought many changes, though not any changes that are out of the ordinary. As we send out the seniors that have shaped ministry at Christian Union Gloria for the past four years, daily life slows down and we are able to reflect on the last year and begin to plan for the next. It is truly a privilege to partner with students at Harvard as they navigate college life and to continue with them through young adulthood. As this is my first full academic year on faculty, I am especially grateful for the ways Christian Union works to not only raise up Christians who lead well, but also to continue connecting them and pouring into them even after they graduate.
It has been a pleasure connecting with some of you recently over the phone or in person to update you on the work of Christian Union's leadership development ministry at Penn. Thank you for your time and desire to learn more about CU Martus.
In a season when so many individuals attending influential universities across America are experiencing chaos and division, God is using CU to powerfully unite and impact the lives of our students. It's truly inspiring to witness these future leaders faithfully pray, fast, and grow in their faith through diligent study of God's word.
We can see God moving in a mighty way, as we continue to cry out for revival. Recently, we partnered with other ministries to present “ONE," a night of exalting the Lord in unity through prayer and worship. Remarkably, over 200 students joined us at Meyer Green, as praise and prayers filled the air in the heart of Stanford’s campus. The evening concluded with students making life-changing decisions to give their lives to Christ!
The 2023-2024 academic year has come to an end at Columbia University, and Christian Union Lumine has been blessed by all that God has done on campus through the ministry. Most of our students have either gone home, traveled across the country for internships, or traveled abroad during the summer.
We have seen our student leaders do amazing work during the semester with weekly outreach initiatives to reach their peers with the gospel. They have encouraged the community of believers to fast, pray, and seek God for revival on their campus.
Is Culture Reshaping Religious Affiliation and Freedom in America?
by Christian union, first published in 2021; edited and revised 2024
Religious freedom is an expectation and reality in our country, but with a major shift in the cultural understanding of identity, some experts argue that religious freedom may be evaporating before our eyes. In an article from Gospel Coalition Australia entitled "Has Religious Freedom Had Its Day," writer Akos Balogh examines the cultural changes that are quickly reshaping the freedom of the Church in the west.
Our students began the month of May by taking their last finals and heading out for their summer plans. Many are pursuing internships, and some are working and studying around the world. Just this past week, I was able to connect one of our current students who is working in Japan this summer with an alumnus from our ministry who lives and works in Tokyo! What a blessing to have such an incredible alumni network at Princeton and through CU Nova.
At the end of the year, many students shared testimonies with us about their experience in our Bible courses. One student remarked, “I think my involvement in CU Bible Course has been the most impactful and beneficial thing to my spiritual walk.” Another said, “This community has given me my favorite memories of Princeton.” It’s amazing to see our students grow in love for the Lord and for each other throughout the year as they engage with CU Nova.
“Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” -Matthew 18:19-20 ESV
When Jesus says that he’ll be among us, he really means it! God fulfills his promises. And in accordance with our united prayers, he has been so present at Dartmouth this past term. From hosting our evangelistic event for the whole campus (thank you for your prayers!) to providing personal ministry for over 30 students, we’ve seen God move. The level of fervor in Christian Union Vox’s students this spring has been extraordinary! From prayer meetings lasting until 2am to 10-day fasts to spontaneously worshiping the Lord together, God is on the move at Dartmouth! And it comes because God fulfills his word: when we seek him together, he shows up!
Greetings from Providence!
As the stillness of the summer begins on campus, I am praising the Lord that although our leaders are spread out in different areas across the country this summer, several of them are currently completing internships in Washington, DC. It’s amazing how the Lord has strategically kept our transformative leaders connected, even away from campus life. Knowing that several of them would be together, they planned ahead to connect with each other through meal times, prayers, and devotionals. Amaya Allen (Vice President) and Giselle Gonzalez (Campus Kindness leader) met up in DC and spent time with one another. I give glory to the Lord that He keeps these important bonds strengthened through the love and power of His Holy Spirit.
Aligning Our Hearts with the Heart of God
by Christian union, first published in 2018; edited and revised 2024
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?"- Luke 16:9-11 (NIV)
It is no secret that the priorities of Jesus regularly riled up the religious leaders of His day. Jesus’ proclivity for welcoming the disreputable “sinners and tax collectors” into relationship and community became a particular target of their ire and scorn. The series of four parables in Luke 15:1-16:15 function in tandem to show Jesus’ radical inclusion and acceptance of such unbeloved people as deeply consonant with the shape of God’s coming kingdom in the world.
Luke 15:1-2 plays the set-up role for the four outrageous parables that follow, each building in dramatic intensity, in clarity of a scandalous message, and in subverting and violating what almost universally holds for common sense in a fallen world. The “therefore” in 15:3 indicates that the four stories illustrate why He “receives sinners and eats with them” in His home. Likewise, Luke 16:14-15 provides a climactic summary, gathering up the main point of the parables. It turns out that the Pharisees despise Jesus’ priorities because they are “lovers of money” and thus on the wrong side of the God’s purposes in creation—in spite of how they pose piously before human beings, masking their true motives for their abhorrence of such unclean sinners.
Yet it is only in the final parable that Jesus’ apology for His kingdom-shaped ministry appears in all of its shocking beauty. Strangely commended by the business owner he has just swindled (16:8), the dishonest steward’s motives and actions tend to confuse the reader. In what way does his behavior reflect Jesus’ ministry? How are we supposed to imitate Him? Clearly, not in being greedy or dishonest over financial matters per se (we are to be “shrewd” like him (16:8), yet while being as innocent as doves, as in Matt. 10:16). Yet to stop there would be to miss the whole point.
