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Senior’s Faith Sustains Her during Abrupt End to On-Campus Semester
by francine barchett, cornell ’20
Nigerian-American. Singer/Blogger/Poet. Future physician/scientist. All are apt descriptors for Iyaniwura Olarewaju, a recent Cornell graduate in biological sciences who had an unexpected end to her senior year.
From reading and re-reading President Martha Pollack’s urgent email imploring students to leave campus, to completing her finals through “Zoom University,” Iyaniwura’s COVID-derived life has been at times “like an eerie dream.”
Life's Deepest Questions; Prayer and the Pandemic; Love What's Near; A Protestant Apocalypse? A Full-Brain Faith: Neuroscience and Spiritual Growth; We Dare Not Ignore The Devil and more, in this issue of Christian Union's bi-monthly email brief.
"For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness."
— Ezekiel 34:11-1
"For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness."
— Ezekiel 34:11-1
Dear CU Libertas Cornerstone Partners and other friends of the ministry,
We are so grateful for your prayers in this unusual season. Typically we would be beginning to have coffee with freshmen at Thayer Street restaurants and setting up shop at a table in Ratty or V-Dub, for our regular discipleship meetings with students.
We are so grateful for your prayers in this unusual season. Typically we would be beginning to have coffee with freshmen at Thayer Street restaurants and setting up shop at a table in Ratty or V-Dub, for our regular discipleship meetings with students.
Dear CU Lumine Cornerstone Partners and other friends of the ministry,
What a year this has been, particularly for university students. When the pandemic started unfolding in March and Columbia University was forced to go virtual, we were all holding out that Fall 2020 would be the reset we needed. But instead of our students moving into John Jay, Schapiro or Ruggles or connecting with new freshmen during NSOP (New Student Orientation Program), we are mapping out what ministry can look like virtually.
What a year this has been, particularly for university students. When the pandemic started unfolding in March and Columbia University was forced to go virtual, we were all holding out that Fall 2020 would be the reset we needed. But instead of our students moving into John Jay, Schapiro or Ruggles or connecting with new freshmen during NSOP (New Student Orientation Program), we are mapping out what ministry can look like virtually.
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).
Dear CU Vox Cornerstone Partners and other friends of the ministry,
Greetings from Hanover and Christian Union Vox. We just finished our summer term (virtually) and have a two-week break before the start of the fall term and the beginning of another academic year. It would be an understatement to say this year will be different here in Hanover. Only half of the student body will be on campus this fall with both freshmen and juniors returning to Hanover. There will not be any fall sports, clubs have been curtailed, and large-scale gatherings are on hold. Campus life will look vastly different and the traffic on the Dartmouth green will be diminished. In spite of these challenges there is much to rejoice over and much work to be done. Please be praying for us in these specific ways:
Greetings from Hanover and Christian Union Vox. We just finished our summer term (virtually) and have a two-week break before the start of the fall term and the beginning of another academic year. It would be an understatement to say this year will be different here in Hanover. Only half of the student body will be on campus this fall with both freshmen and juniors returning to Hanover. There will not be any fall sports, clubs have been curtailed, and large-scale gatherings are on hold. Campus life will look vastly different and the traffic on the Dartmouth green will be diminished. In spite of these challenges there is much to rejoice over and much work to be done. Please be praying for us in these specific ways:
Isaiah 43:19 “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
Dear CU Gloria Cornerstone Partners and other friends of the ministry,
It is a new season and the weather is getting cooler and cooler as the fall is beginning to engulf New England. First year students are all moved in on Harvard’s campus, which looks very different from the campus freshmen have been arriving to for years. The students are quarantining for their first week, and following that, they will be adhering to strict guidelines within the Harvard bubble. Needless to say, what these new students are facing is unique, and our prayers for them to find community, thrive, and adjust to this new reality are all the more important.
Dear CU Gloria Cornerstone Partners and other friends of the ministry,
It is a new season and the weather is getting cooler and cooler as the fall is beginning to engulf New England. First year students are all moved in on Harvard’s campus, which looks very different from the campus freshmen have been arriving to for years. The students are quarantining for their first week, and following that, they will be adhering to strict guidelines within the Harvard bubble. Needless to say, what these new students are facing is unique, and our prayers for them to find community, thrive, and adjust to this new reality are all the more important.
Dear CU Nova Cornerstone Partners and other friends of the ministry,
I sit here today on the morning of the beginning of a year unlike any seen before on the Princeton campus. As you may have heard, the Princeton University administration decided to move to a fully remote model for classes this semester with no students on campus. And here on the final day of August, students begin their year at Princeton in a completely online format. Furthermore, as you have likely heard, Christian Union has gone through a vast financial transition where our ministry faculty has been reduced from eight full-time staff to three. Much has changed since our last interaction.
Hello CU Caritas Cornerstone Partners and other friends of the ministry,
In a week and a half, Stanford students will begin an academic year unlike any of the 129 before it. Only a few undergraduates with special circumstances will reside on campus; the rest will be scattered across the country and globe. The Stanford community will push technology to its limits in a valiant attempt to substitute physical with virtual presence. Please pray that the time required for these measures will be short, and that God will bring relief from the sickness, disunity, and hardship of these days!
In a week and a half, Stanford students will begin an academic year unlike any of the 129 before it. Only a few undergraduates with special circumstances will reside on campus; the rest will be scattered across the country and globe. The Stanford community will push technology to its limits in a valiant attempt to substitute physical with virtual presence. Please pray that the time required for these measures will be short, and that God will bring relief from the sickness, disunity, and hardship of these days!
Dear CU Martus Cornerstone Partners and other friends of the ministry,
A semester unlike any other begins in just under a week. This year we will gather on Zoom instead of on Locust Walk. Student leaders at CU Martus have been preparing and praying for a God-honoring start to the semester. Thank you for your continued prayers for us!
A semester unlike any other begins in just under a week. This year we will gather on Zoom instead of on Locust Walk. Student leaders at CU Martus have been preparing and praying for a God-honoring start to the semester. Thank you for your continued prayers for us!
