The spring semester is underway here at Brown University. Students have already made it through their first round of midterms as they work hard to prepare for the ones to come. I wanted to take a moment to highlight one story that has encouraged me during these beginning weeks of the semester.
The Spring semester is fully underway here at Columbia; and as our students prepare to endure midterm season, God continues to be faithful through our ministry to them. We’re thankful to God for the Spirit’s work in our Bible courses, Illumina meetings, and discipleship time with our students. The Spirit is indeed at work on Columbia’s campus. One of the ways we are seeing this is by a lifestyle of seeking God on display through daily prayer gatherings happening early morning. Morning prayer is an inter-fellowship gathering that is growing in number and fervency. Join us in asking God to bring significant change to Columbia through these students’ faithful pursuit of God.
About a month into this semester, Bible courses, Vita, and prayer groups are meeting regularly, and are continuing to be a source of encouragement for our students as they seek God. Our outreach team began a new activity this semester which we have called “Mocha Mondays,” in which we hand out free coffee and hot chocolate at one of the libraries on campus. Along with this, we are also offering free books and mugs. We also have plans to show a documentary on campus about the dangers of the hookup culture, which is so common among college students. The goal is to promote a conversation about sexuality and God’s design for us as men and women.
Depending on where you reside, it may start to look and even, smell, like... well, Spring!? If you live in the Northeast, it’s definitely does not look nor smell like anything but the dead of winter. But, I digress. The wonderful thing about the seasons is that whether you like it or not, they are inevitable. Seasons change. From the “deadness of winter” we will most inevitably move into a season of new life, or Spring.
"…this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ - Acts 2:16-21
The flurry of the Winter Retreat (on gospel and mental health) and restarting Bible course groups has settled down into the substance of Acts, Seeking God Lifestyle, and Vocational courses. God’s Word is the gospel-truth needed for disciples living in God’s presence, being missional with God’s gospel, and doing God’s work. With the medley of Bible courses, keeping track of the preparation has been a daily scramble.
In a study of Judges that I’m involved in, there are a few lessons that jump out each week - lessons that have stood the test of time from before there were kings in Israel to 21st century New York. These insights make me regularly question my operating assumptions about faith and the world around me.
by whit hazelton
In October 2018, Christian Union’s online ministry, Day and Night, again led Christians from across America—not just students—in The Great Experiment, a month-long effort to pursue God wholeheartedly for spiritual renewal. A record 4,500 Christians across America signed up to carry out a five-part commitment involving increased morning and evening prayer and Bible reading (inspired by Luke 18:1-8), daily repentance (Hebrews 12:1,2), obeying the Holy Spirit (Psalm 143:10), elevated faith (Joshua 1:8-9), and evangelism (Acts 1:8).
Fasting: Personal Torture or Connection with God?
On Wednesday February 27, Christian Union New York hosted a salon on the important, though not overly popular, spiritual discipline of fasting. With Lent commencing on March 6, this discussion, led by Professor Amy Davis Abdallah of Nyack College, explored the biblical underpinnings of fasting, best practices, and its connection to Lent. Over thirty attendees were present.
Get Involved
If you would like to get involved with CU New York, please email: cunewyork@christianunion.com.
Salon with Professor Amy Davis Abdallah
On Wednesday February 27, Christian Union New York hosted a salon on the important, though not overly popular, spiritual discipline of fasting. With Lent commencing on March 6, this discussion, led by Professor Amy Davis Abdallah of Nyack College, explored the biblical underpinnings of fasting, best practices, and its connection to Lent. Over thirty attendees were present.
Professor Davis suggested that one way of looking at the Fall is to see it as Adam and Eve breaking a partial fast, choosing a forbidden food over total reliance on God. Jesus then redeemed this wrong at the start of his ministry by successfully fasting, declaring before the tempter that “One does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul who seeks him.
It is good that one should wait
quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
— Lamentations 3:25,26
He will explore Augustine and "Sanctified Ambition".
Registation is live for the CU Cities Conference, taking place June 21-22, 2019. Register today at CU Cities Conference.The conference theme is "Courageous in the Ways of the Lord." New and seasoned professionals, and graduate students, are warmly welcome. Speakers are announced each week. Revealed speakers are...
BY LAUREL COPP
CHRISTIAN UNION MINISTRY FELLOW
AT BROWN UNIVERSITY
It is difficult to say no. Particularly to yourself. Donna and Tom, two government employees on NBC's television show Parks and Rec have an annual "Treat Yo Self" day in which they allow themselves to be selfish. They pamper themselves, treat themselves to expensive and useless items, and do whatever makes them happy. What makes Tom and Donna's "Treat Yo Self" day so apropos is that these two, more than any other characters on the show, clearly treat themselves all the time.
It is the natural inclination of the human heart to be selfish.
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
— John 15:13
Brown Student Artists Explore Meaning Together
Sarah Camp
Director of Marketing and Communications
Students involved in Christian Union at Brown recently collaborated with several campus ministries to execute on an engaging, arts-based outreach concept.
Brown senior Lydia Haile performs
The multi-faceted exhibit took place on February 6. Students secured a gallery in the student union and put out a request for submissions across Brown and RISD. The show would include painting, music, and poetry, and artist talks.
Join thousands in the Great Experiment, March 1-10.
You are invited to take part in The Great Experiment, a ten-day commitment to seek God with thousands of other Christians across America.
Learn more and sign up at CU Day & Night.
Geoff Sackett
Christian Union Ministry Director
Cornell University
Moments away from giving birth to our third child, my wife’s blood pressure dropped significantly. With two nurses, her doctor, and me by her side, her words to us in that moment were, “I feel like I am dying.” I feared the worst, but fortunately my fear was soon allayed. She was given medication, her blood pressure rebounded to a healthy range, and she, and our son, made it through safely. Speaking from my own point of view (the only point of view I can speak from), my wife’s desperate situation touched one of my concerns. It touched my concern for her. A particular emotion, specifically the emotion of fear, enabled me, we might say, to ‘perceive’ my wife’s distress.
What Emotions Are For
Freely borrowing from Christian philosopher Robert C. Roberts, we can say that an emotion is a ‘perception’ of a ‘touched’ concern (Roberts, 11).
2019 Christian Union Summer Getaway
Join Christian Union leaders, staff, alumni, friends, and ministry partners (and their families) for the third annual Christian Union Summer Getaway, July 13 - 20, 2019. Enjoy the beautiful CAMP-of-the-WOODS, in the Adirondack Mountains in Upstate New York, for a week of spiritual and physical refreshment. Registration is now open at www.CUSummerGetaway.orgChristian Union's friend Eric Metaxas will be there, and he invites you to join him!
Learn more about the getaway details:
Thankful for Son's Engagement with Christian Union
"My wife, Miryan, and I met at Penn (many more years ago than either of us would care to admit). Miryan found the Lord there. Our oldest, Matthew, is a sophomore transfer (from Rice) who just finished his first semester as a Politics, Philosophy, and Economics major at Penn’s School of Arts and Sciences.
When he left our home in Los Angeles last year and headed to school, one of our most fervent prayers for Matthew was that he might find a committed community of faith, willing and able to confirm, strengthen, and encourage him in his walk.
I pray that you are having a blessed start to the new year. Much of the month of January was spent diligently planning for the rest of the year and identifying new student leaders for next year. Columbia students recently returned from vacation after Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, and we are gearing up for another semester of fruitful ministry. Here are ways that you can be praying for us:
