Muni ’20 Is a Bold Christian Leader for Caritas
by eileen scott, contributing writer
Caritas, Christian Union’s leadership develop ministry to Stanford students, has a new president. While the Kenyan is known for his bright smile and humility, he has a bold vision and exudes confidence when it comes to sharing his faith and encouraging his peers to seek God wholeheartedly.
Ask Robert Muni ’20 what makes him a good fit for the leadership role, and he emphatically will reply, “Jesus.”
![Pinson has taken ownership of her faith since arriving on campus. She is thankful that, through Christian Union, a lot of her questions about Christianity can be answered. “At Harvard, you have to approach it as almost an academic [discipline] to study,” she said. “Christian Union gives me an opportunity to ask questions without [fearing] judgment, and has helped me to develop answers to hard questions,” she said.](/images/content/photos/magazine/2019-Spring/HarvardSpringMag2019Small.jpg)
Pinson ’19 Aspires to Medical Career
by catherine elvy, staff writer
A student-athlete, Claire Pinson relishes opportunities to support her teammates. Helping others to be their best is also a practice the Harvard College senior hopes to take into the medical field.
“I was put on the team to touch the people around me,” said Pinson, a member of the women’s swimming and diving team. In addition to helping the Crimson make a splash at collegiate meets, Pinson ’19 also has a passion to express her faith, in and out of the pool.
The pre-med student, who grew up in a Christian household, has flourished in her faith walk since enrolling in Harvard, especially via the mentorship she has received from Christian Union’s ministry.
Students Step out to Lead Prayer Meetings
by francine barchett, cornell ’20
God entrusts His precious seconds, minutes, and hours to each of us. But how can we best use them? This semester two Cornellians who are active in Christian Union prioritized one day each week as God’s day. In those twenty-four hours, they rested from their studies, engaged in fellowship with other believers, and spearheaded an initiative to untangle what biblical rest and the Sabbath really mean.
Meet Klaudia Kokoszka and Alanna Staffin. Kokoszka is a junior economics and government transfer from Rutgers University and a relatively new Christian. In one short year, she has undergone a transformation; the Lord has given her an insatiable desire to understand His Word and share its love-infused message. Staffin, a leader with Christian Union’s ministry, is a graduating dairy science major.
Richards ’19 Is Poised for a Medical Career
by catherine elvy, staff writer
A Princeton University senior is jumpstarting a career centered around public service.
After arriving at Princeton, Denay Richards ’19 discovered a passion for volunteer initiatives, especially those on behalf of disadvantaged youngsters. “Community service is a key part of who I am and part of my mission as a Christian,” she said.
The Caribbean native also is majoring in molecular biology in preparation for a medical career, most likely in cardiothoracic surgery. Richards envisions herself participating in regular medical missions, especially to her native St. Lucia and other underserved countries.
Whiteman ’19 Has Draft Aspirations
by catherine elvy, staff writer
As captain of Yale University’s baseball team, Simon Whiteman is grateful for the opportunities his position has afforded him to add new chapters to the team’s rich history. Especially memorable have been the recent events that contributed to a “really big fall for our program,” said Whiteman ’19.
In late November, the team was in the spotlight as the nation mourned the death of one of its former captains, President George H.W. Bush, ’48. Weeks earlier, Yale baseball alumnus Mike Elias ’06 was named as the executive vice president and general manager of the Baltimore Orioles.
We have come to the end of our Spring semester, and our students have mostly departed from campus. Seniors graduated and are preparing for new jobs and graduate school. Underclassmen are at summer internships, jobs, or are remaining on campus for various research projects. The summer is a time to prepare for the next year and is hopefully a time of rest for our students.
The month of May represents the hope of warmer weather, the smell of budding flowers, and a season of newness for many people. If you’re a 3L HLS student, you’re thinking it’s the end of a 3 year-long chapter, and the beginning of the rest of your life. So much has gone into the last three years of law school — so much sacrifice, all the labor and investment into preparing for the life that is now staring back at you squarely. In just a few days, over 500 students will graduate with their degrees from Harvard Law School. Hundreds of young men and women will strive to make their mark and leave a legacy on and in the world in which they will strive to lead. There among them are those who hold a unique understanding of their law degrees as secondary to something of greater value — their call to honor God with their lives.
Dear Friends and Partners of Christian Union at Penn,
With classes complete at the University of Pennsylvania, our students are either preparing for graduation festivities or heading to homes and internships around the world. It has been a great year for CU@Penn, as we've seen students continue to grow in faith and leadership on campus and in the community. Our staff is also transitioning, from Bible course preparation and discipleship meetings to professional development and planning for next fall. Would you please join us in praying for the following?
My wife and I recently hosted a dinner party around a discussion of the book, The Wind in the Willows. Like many enduring children’s books, this one from Kenneth Grahame operates on several levels - engaging for children with talking animals, humorous mishaps, and obvious good guys and bad guys; and stimulating for adults with its themes of deep community, perseverance, and morality. As we discussed these aspects, our conversation slowly wound toward our own community of faith - do we see these same issues extant in our relationships and church? It was a rich time of reflection on the praxis of our faith - are we swimming in the stream, or just dipping our toes in the water? It’s awfully easy to just do the latter.
Ministry Fellow Christine Shin
How and when do you boast in weakness? The primary way in which God's power will be perfected in your weakness. Evangelize in weakness, so that Christ's power will be perfected in weakness.
"How many of us ask God to show up in power so that we can look good? God does not grant you power for you to look good, He does it so others will see Jesus."
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We will post clips from our speakers, pictures from our events, and announce upcoming events. Through our email list, we send event information, prayer requests, and share information for you to connect with our ministry in New York City. If you have any questions about CU New York, please reach out to us at cunewyork@christianunion.org. Instagram: @cucities
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We hope to see YOU at our next event!
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
— Col 3:1-4
True Paradox: How Christianity Makes Sense of Our Complex World
"The traditional strategies of apologetics — strategies associated with books we are all familiar with — are effective, but maybe not as effective as they were 30 to 70 years ago." This idea was posited in a thought-provoking lecture by David Skeel, S. Samuel Arsht Professor of Corporate Law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, at Christian Union New York's Forum on Monday, May 20th in Manhattan. Professor Skeel addressed topics covered in his book, True Paradox: How Christianity Makes Sense of Our Complex World. In his book and in this presentation, he makes the case that a more effective apologetics approach in seeking to get non-believers to consider Christianity must do at least two things: it must address what he calls the "myth of scientific progress," and it must address social justice.
There is, Professor Skeel notes, a "very common perception that the complexity of the contemporary world is an embarrassment for Christianity. There is a widespread perception in our current culture, that a 2000-year-old religion can't possibly have much to say about the complexities of the modern world..."
Listen now to hear Professor Skeel's response to these perceptions:
Get Involved
If you would like to get involved with CU New York, please email: cunewyork@christianunion.com.
Forum with David Skeel
Christian Union New York was excited to hold its first Forum of the year on Monday, May 20. The night’s speaker was David Skeel, S. Samuel Arsht Professor of Corporate Law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Drawing on his wide range of expertise, Professor Skeel spoke to the audience, not on bankruptcy law, but on an approach to apologetics fit for our postmodern era.
Giving Thanks for Extraordinary Students
Sarah Camp
Director of Marketing and Communications
In May and June, Christian Union is celebrating the cherished members of the graduating Class of 2019 at Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, University of Pennsylvania, and Yale.
At end-of-year banquets held in their honor, students involved with Christian Union donned formal attire and enjoyed evenings of remembrance and celebration of their beloved seniors. As they dined, many seniors rose to share memories and thanksgiving for the way God has worked in their lives.
Seniors graduating from Harvard
Princeton Christians Intercede with Students Across the Nation
By Jon Garaffa, Princeton ’20
On February 28, students from Princeton University participated in the Collegiate Day of Prayer. Held annually on the last Thursday of February, the Collegiate Day of Prayer organization seeks to impact the next generation spiritually, encouraging all to pray for the students at our nation’s campuses.
Participating ministries at Princeton included: Princeton Christian Fellowship, Worship House, Manna Christian Fellowship, and Christian Union. Each ministry adopted a residential college, which is Princeton’s system for housing and dining for underclassmen. Then, they prayed for the students of that college. This model of praying for specific institutions also mirrors the overall model of the nationwide initiative, where entire campuses are adopted by organizations and individuals.
Students Glorify God in Off-Campus Community
By Cassandra Jobman, Penn ’21
There are certainly plenty of groups of college men who choose to live together. But the men of the “ManS1on” at the 20 South 39th Street apartments in Philadelphia are not bonded by a love of FIFA or beer, or even a major or club they have in common. They are bonded by a commitment to serve God in community—and by a constitution.
Members of Penn’s ManS1on are committed to live in community, serve one another, and challenge each other to faithfully follow Christ.
In 2010, six University of Pennsylvania students involved with Penn Cru founded an off-campus community specifically for Christian men. Since then, the group has doubled in size and now includes Penn students who are involved in various ministries on campus and churches.
Croston ’81 Is a National Director for Lifeway Resources
By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer
University of Pennsylvania alumnus is using his dynamic ministerial skills to help pastors thrive as they meet the needs of African-American congregants.
Mark Croston ’81 serves as national director for Black and Western Church Partnerships of LifeWay Christian Resources. The Tennessee-based organization ranks among the world’s top Christian resource providers, though it recently announced plans to shift from brick and mortar stores to online operations. LifeWay, the publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, continues to stock major retailers with inspirational materials.'
In 2013, Croston left a lengthy pastoral career to join the LifeWay team, where he heads efforts to support and resource African-American churches.
Vocation and the Kingdom of God
On Thursday, 9 May, Christian Union New York was delighted to host Professor N.T. Wright for a breakfast discussion on Vocation and the Kingdom of God. Drawing from his Gifford Lectures (delivered at the University of Aberdeen in 2018) and ideas penned in several of his books (primarily Surprised by Hope and Simply Christian), Professor Wright gave an insightful call to all Christians to advance the Kingdom of God through our vocations by enacting justice, creating beauty and “standing at the dangerous intersection of Heaven and Earth.”
If you would like to get involved with CU New York, please email: cunewyork@christianunion.com.
