Christian Union Fall Conference Energizes Yale Students
Students involved with Christian Union’s ministry at Yale College displayed a penchant for prayer and a sensitivity to promptings of the Holy Spirit in the fall semester.
“There is a corporate sense of expectation for God to move in more profound ways,” said Clay Cromer, ministry director of Christian Union Lux.
Among the highlights of the new academic year, twenty-seven students trekked to the Incarnation Center in Ivoryton, Connecticut in October for the ministry’s annual fall conference. Guest speaker David Taylor shared ways to strengthen leadership abilities through prophetic empowerment. Taylor, an itinerant minister from Kansas City, Missouri, encouraged students to learn to listen to the voice of God, especially when it comes to evangelistic endeavors.
Taylor spoke about tapping into the gifts of the Holy Spirit, particularly as they share their faith on campus.
In 1 Corinthians 12:1, the Apostle Paul instructed, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.” Such gifts include utterances of wisdom, knowledge and prophecy.
Students were counseled that they should pray for spiritual anointing and wisdom as they share the Gospel. “Everybody can do this because God does speak,” said Cromer.
In addition, Taylor, who has more than three decades of experience in prophetic ministry, met individually with students who requested prayer. Through group and private sessions, plus illumination of key Scriptures, Taylor helped to demystify the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
As such, the students returned to campus recharged and inspired. The core lessons from the retreat “helped us to see the power of the gifts of the Spirit in evangelism,” said Cromer.
Cromer also expressed appreciation for growth in the ministry’s Bible courses in the fall semester. About 80 students are signed up for 11 weekly courses focused on Colossians.
In addition, the ministry’s Leadership Lecture Series have offered students a variety of dynamic speakers. In early September, Christian Union Teaching Fellow Nick Nowalk presented an overview of Colossians, which provides a glorious reminder of Christ’s accomplishments upon the cross and His supremacy.
Also during September, Yale doctoral candidate Tom Schmidt’s three-week series focused on the historical reliability of the New Testament. The author and former secondary teacher holds three advanced degrees from Yale, where he is wrapping up a doctorate in religious studies and ancient Christianity.
In October, Christian Union Ministry Fellow Ava Ligh, Columbia ’99, spoke on the importance of evangelism. In November, Yale alumna Stephanie Bean ’17 probed faith in the face of mental illness. Bean, who is pursuing graduate studies in Yale’s Divinity School, talked about the challenges of dealing with anxiety and depression as a Christian.
In other activities, the students manned book tables throughout the semester, where they handed out free copies of C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity and Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale’s Why Suffering?: Finding Meaning and Comfort When Life Doesn’t Make Sense. To kick off the year, the students distributed 700 copies of Luke’s gospel along with care packets of snacks, fruits and chocolates.
“There was a positive response,” said Michael Racine, ministry fellow.
As well, the students continue to devote most Wednesdays to periods of fasting and prayer and then meet together for an evening meal. Throughout the semester, they also enjoyed a slate of festive social activities, including a caramel apple study break, pumpkin-carving contest, and movie night.
Cromer paused to express appreciation for the ways the students reflect a strong desire to create community and reach out to classmates. “I’m thankful to God for the people He has brought to Campus and our opportunity to love them and walk with them in the fellowship of a Christian community,” he said.
“I’m really pleased with the leadership culture the students have taken upon themselves to cultivate and keep.” As importantly, “our students are thirsty to commune with God through prayer,” said Cromer. “The students are really asking themselves some deeper, tougher questions and coming away with challenges to live faithful lives on campus.”
