Columbia University

June 6, 2020

Thanks for joining Christian Union Lumine (Columbia University) at 4:00 PM EST for a virtual reunion. Christian Union Lumine invited participants from all classes, all denominations, and all Christian ministries to this annual event.

Learn More
For questions about the Christian Union Lumine on campus or alumni opportunities, contact Christian Union's VP of Alumni Engagement Christine Foster: christine.foster@christianunion.org.

For the past month, the students and faculty have been living through a new norm as all classroom instruction and ministry interactions have been moved online. The students are finishing up the final week of classes and getting ready for final exams. NYC has been getting some positive news with the number of COVID-19 cases going down, but there are still a lot of unknowns. In the midst of unknowns, we continue to hold on to God and the truth that He is still in control. We are seeking the Lord for His wisdom and direction for Christian Union Lumine at Columbia University. Thank you for your continued prayers for the work on this campus. Here are ways you can be praying for us this month:

It’s amazing how quickly things are changing daily in the midst of this pandemic. Columbia University has officially moved all its classes online and the majority of students are no longer on the campus. These are unprecedented times and there are a lot of unknowns. In the midst of unknowns, we hold on to God and the truth that He is still in control. We are seeking the Lord for His wisdom and direction for Christian Union Lumine at Columbia University.

Greetings,

Midterms have begun, student schedules are packed and it’s still winter, but there is an excitement in the air with what God is doing at Columbia University through Christian Union Lumine. We are seeing higher turnout for our Leadership Lecture Series nights, impromptu prayer gatherings among the students and a feeling of community and togetherness even in the midst of all the transitions. Thank you for your continued prayers for the work on this campus. Here are ways you can be praying for us this month:

Greetings,

I pray that you are having a blessed start to the new year.

Christian Union at Columbia started 2020 with a new Ministry Director and some faculty transitions. The students recently returned from vacation after Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, and we are truly excited for this upcoming semester.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:15-20)

Greetings from New York,

We are thankful for the ministry of Lane and Michelle Young who moved back to the Midwest over the summer. Please join us in praying for a new Ministry Director for our Columbia team.

Greetings,

We’re in the final few weeks of what has been, a very productive semester. Earlier in April, we had Vince Vitale, a minister with RZIM, visit campus to make a compelling case for Christianity as a worldview. Vince showed how the Christian faith answers some of life's biggest questions surrounding origin, purpose, morality and destiny. We had both Christians and unbelievers in attendance, and Vince skillfully interacted with students, answering their concerns about Christianity. We received encouraging feedback from students about the event. One student in our ministry, currently wrestling heavily with doubt, remarked that the discussions over Vince's book and his event on campus helped make Christianity seem more believable.

We also have selected new student leaders for the upcoming academic year. We strongly believe that we have a new group of student leaders that are faithfully walking with Christ and are excited to serve Jesus and all of Columbia's campus. We thank God for the service of our leaders currently transitioning out of leadership, many of whom are seniors, getting ready to engage a new season of life after graduation.

Here’s how you can pray for us:

Pray for students as they enter into the final stretch of the semester, and as they prepare for final exams

Pray for our senior students as they near graduation and are feeling a wide range of emotions about what comes next

Pray for our new student leaders as they prepare to lead next year

Pray for staff as we prepare for the fall semester

Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

Bryant Parsons
Ministry Fellow
Christian Union at Columbia

Please note: if you would like to receive regular updates on how to pray for Christian Union's work at Columbia, please email prayer@christianunion.org.

“He is the Rock, His works are perfect,
and all His ways are just.
A faithful God who does no wrong,
upright and just is He.” (Deuteronomy 32:4)

Greetings,

We continue to give God praise for his work on Columbia’s campus through Christian Union. By His grace, we continue to minister faithfully in every way that He has called us. This semester,our major outreach initiative has been the book giveaway and discussions around Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale’s Jesus Among Secular Gods. The outreach culminates in Vince Vitale coming to speak at our Illumina. These book discussions have been aimed primarily at skeptics of the Christian faith. We held our first discussion a few weeks ago on the topic of Scientism. Non-Christians were in attendance, including a Buddhist student. Pray that these discussions would lead ultimately to conversions, and that Christians who attend may be strengthened in their faith.

Nathaniel Encounters God’s Diversity

Nathaniel tells his personal story, coming from a largely like-minded culture to the opposite in New York. He recognizes how adaptable and diverse Christianity can be through his CU at Columbia Bible Course.