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

California's De-Recognition of InterVarsity Raises Concerns

by Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer

San-Jose-State

Campus ministries are facing a mounting series of equal-access challenges from colleges across the nation.

Among the action, California's public university system recently denied recognition to InterVarsity Christian Fellowship because it requires student leaders to observe Christian beliefs.

In September, the California State University ended recognition for InterVarsity's chapters because they mandate student leaders to adhere to Christian doctrine.

"This could be the tipping point of other university systems moving in this direction, so that's why we are concerned," said Alec Hill, president of InterVarsity, in an article for Christianity Today. "It's as if the First Amendment now protects Greeks, but not religious folks, which is Alice in Wonderland stuff."

Edifying, Serving the Body of Christ

by Dr. Craig S. Keener

DRkeener-article

Paul declares that we are the body of Christ with many members. He then elaborates on some of the varied gifts God has graciously given us to serve the rest of Christ's body. Because Paul is simply offering samples, he provides several different lists that include a variety of ministries. These gifts for helping the other members in Christ's body include such diverse ministries as giving, teaching, prophesying, speaking wisely, healings, worship leading, and evangelism (Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:8-10, 28-30; 14:26; Eph. 4:11).

Paul nowhere distinguishes between what we might call supernatural and potentially natural gifts.

Dartmouth Students Pledge Devotion to Christ

by Eileen Scott, Senior Writer

Dartmouth-Greek

Dartmouth College, often seen as a poster school for parties and raucous Greek life, recently garnered media attention for sexual assaults, alcohol infractions, and abusive hazing practices.

However, there are a few voices crying out in the wilderness, and they are resonating from within a fraternity house.

A handful of Christian young men at Dartmouth have found a home at the Beta Alpha Omega Fraternity and, despite the debauchery associated with Greek life, have assimilated with their faith, morals, and dignity intact. And that, they say, is the result of prayerful preparation and intentional faith.

Columbia Pitcher Is a Leader with Christian Union

by Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer

Columbia-Baseball-Player

A pitcher on Columbia University's baseball team recently paused to reflect on his faith after he was among 11 players to win All-Ivy League status.

Adam Cline, who touts Christian Union's leadership development ministry at Columbia among his favorite collegiate activities, received the honor in May, less than a week after the Lions clinched the Ivy League Championship for the second season in a row.

"I pray before every game," said Cline,

Harvard Alumnus Embraces Christian Union's Holistic Approach

by Sarah Camp, Contributing Editor

Cimmarusti-family

For Harvard alumnus Tony Cimmarrusti and his wife Martha, supporting causes they care about is an endeavor to model the love of Christ, and it is something that "is a major fabric in the life of our family."

Cimmarrusti (Harvard '81, HBS '86) is CEO and co-founder, with Bryce Gray, of Majestic Capital Management. In a dynamic, wide-ranging career, he has worked on Wall Street and at the Chicago Board of Trade; developed real estate; led numerous family offices; and served as CIO for the Majesty Fund since 1995. He explains how he and his wife discern which charitable organizations to support,

Scholar Sheds Light on Campus Hookup Culture

By Luke Foster, Columbia '15

AscombeLecture2014

The first few weeks of classes are always an overwhelming time for new students on Ivy League campuses. The pace and pressures begin to mount; stress increases, if anything, faster than the workload. And these first weeks are also a proving ground for the moral and spiritual decisions that shape college experiences and lives to come. The party and hookup culture plays a major role. It's easy to think that hooking up is the only way to have fun, and many students from Christian backgrounds turn away from their faith to follow a seductive path.

At Columbia, the dark underbelly of the hookup culture has been vividly highlighted in recent weeks.

Princeton Ministry Fellow Leads Missions Trip

by Eileen Scott, Senior Writer

Uganda2014

A former basketball coach for an elite high school program, James Fields approaches ministry with the same intensity, helping university students achieve victory through Christ.

Case in point was a missions trip to Mawanga, Uganda, sponsored by Christian Union this summer. Fields, a Christian Union ministry fellow at Princeton, and Asha Garretson, a Christian Union ministry fellow at Cornell, led the missions team, which was comprised of six students from Cornell, Harvard, Yale, and Dartmouth.

‘Life in the Spirit and Life of the Mind’

Christian Union: The Magazine recently interviewed Quincy Watkins, pastor of the Neighborhood Church in greater Philadelphia, on the topic of spiritual gifts. Rev. Watkins previously served with Christian Union as a ministry fellow and worked at McKinsey & Company after earning an MBA ('95) in business at The Wharton School.

CU: How did you become a Christian and when did you embrace spiritual gifts?
QW: At the age of 15, I became a Christian in a small Pentecostal church. My first experience with spiritual gifts (at the age of 16) was both powerful and overwhelming. After an intense season of fasting and prayer, I experienced many visions and prophetic words about people and their circumstances. Over the years, I've learned how to harness and cultivate my spiritual gifts. I still have so much to learn. I'm humbled that God would use someone like me.

"It is good to give thanks to the LORD to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night." — Psalm 92:1

God Himself is Our Rest

By Matt Bennett
From ChristianUnion.org

In a hurried world, almost nothing is more precious than genuine rest. We long to have anxieties lifted, comfort provided, peace restored, and joy in abundance. God provides rest for the Christian who...
Read more or watch the video (4:29) here >

Transformation at Harvard

A Video Update (5:21)
From ChristianUnion.org

Harvard's original motto was Veritas Christo et Ecclesiae, or Truth for Christ and the Church.

While Harvard has drifted from her spiritual heritage and become highly secular, God is still at work. He is stirring up the hearts of Harvard students.

Watch this video update (5:21) on what God has been doing in students' lives at Harvard through the ministry of Christian Union.

God has been moving in remarkable ways in the lives of students and young professionals. This is an update on that story, and on what He has been doing through Christian Union at eight of America's most strategic universities, and in New York City.