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

Christian Union's Engaging Lecture Series at Columbia

For more than two hundred years, Columbia University's motto has been: "In Thy light shall we see the light," based on Psalm 36:9. But according to Jim Black, Christian Union's director of undergraduate ministry at Columbia, each fall the university explains the motto and its true meaning incorrectly during freshmen orientation.

"Students are told that the meaning of the motto is 'by the light of you (incoming freshmen), we will all see the light.' That is a terrible misrepresentation of the biblical text," Black said.

At its weekly leadership lecture series, however, Black and Christian Union's ministry at Columbia are rightfully shining the light where it truly belongs—on Jesus Christ.

Ministry Welcome Events for Young Professionals

Christian Union's ministry for professionals in New York City hosted a series of events to welcome freshly minted graduates of leading universities to the commercial capital of the world.

This summer and fall, Christian Union New York City held receptions aimed at providing young professionals with spiritual and practical support systems as many settle into new careers, especially in Manhattan's financial sector.

"We're intentionally helping people connect. Some people who come here are self-sufficient and some who come are overwhelmed," said Scott Crosby, director of Christian Union New York (CUNYC).

Part of the seeking God lifestyle involves incorporating frequent and fervent pray into our daily lives. There are no ‘quick fix’ prayers that can replace the important process of learning to pray to God from the sincerity of our hearts. However, as humans, we need initial guidance, since we are innately formed to learn through example. In an article entitled ‘Seven Simple Daily Prayers’, writer Marshall Segal lays out seven ideas to help enrich and enliven our personal prayer. He pulls his tips from the Psalms, citing verses and then detailing them with explanation and personal experience.

Knaus '17 Has a Heart for Refugees

by Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer

aimee-knaus2

A University of Pennsylvania upperclassman is using her international upbringing, fluency in Arabic, and passion for supporting the vulnerable to aid an influx of refugees arriving in Philadelphia.

"I want to make a difference by helping people, so they can see God's love through me, especially with their tangible, practical needs," said Aimee Knaus '17, who grew up with her American family in Jordan and the Togolese Republic.

"God definitely set me up for it. God has me at Penn for a reason."

The First Amendment is receiving a massive amount of pushback, not just from a specific group, but by the culture as a whole. Trevin Wax, in his article ‘4 Cultural Trends Leading to the Decline of Religious Liberty’, states:

Intellectual Engagement

Hendricks '17 Works on Law Degree as Undergraduate

Rob Hendricks, a member of Christian Union's ministry at Cornell, has become the first undergraduate ever to be accepted to the Cornell Law School. He is simultaneously a senior at Cornell and a first-year law student.

Ministry Celebrates First Graduating Class

Three years ago, faculty with Christian Union's ministry at Harvard Law School, Coram Deo, began reaching out to students and sojourning with them as they integrated faith and law. In May, the ministry celebrated, by God's grace, steady growth since its inception and the graduation of some of its original members.

"Emotions of both joy and sadness well up in one's spirit as we both celebrate our graduates and mourn their departure from local campus life," said Jim Garretson, Christian Union's ministry director at Harvard Law School.

by Scott Crosby, Director of Christian Union New York

"...the key actor in history is not individual genius but rather the network and the new institutions that are created out of those networks."
− To Change the World, James Davison Hunter

networks-culture

One of Christian Union's core values is Networked and Engaged Leaders. These values describe the elements of activism and effectiveness necessary for leaders to accomplish spiritual objectives that are deeply transformative in scope and depth. There is awareness that individual efforts alone will not be sufficient, and that there is a paradigm both in history and in the Christian faith that recognizes the network as a key element of change.

Dear Partners in Prayer for Cornell,

Thank you for praying for students in our ministry in November—the time to focus on answers to prayer with thanksgiving!

Q & A with Dr. Mac Pier

Mac Pier is the founder and chief executive officer of the New York City Leadership Center. Christian Union: The Magazine recently interviewed Dr. Pier regarding his insights on the transformative power of movements and networks.

For the last five years, Dr. Pier and the New York City Leadership Center (NYCLC) have hosted Movement Day, an annual conference that has gathered ministry and marketplace leaders to inspire gospel movements and collaborative ministry in cities around the world. In October, representatives from 86 countries convened in Manhattan for Movement Day Global Cities. The three-day conference addressed the refugee crisis, human trafficking, poverty, fatherlessness, and under-performing education.