March 19, 2018
Christian Union Event Features Geneticist, Theologian
By Tom Campisi, Managing Editor
Christian Union at Brown recently hosted a forum that examined the uniqueness of humanity.
“Are We More than Our Genes: A Geneticist and a Theologian Discuss Human Origins and Identity” was held on December 4 at Macmillan Hall. Approximately 200 students, many from the scientific community, attended the event, which featured Dr. Praveen Sethupathy, associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Cornell University, and Dr. J. Richard Middleton, Professor of Biblical Worldview and Exegesis at Northeastern Seminary. Dr. Richard Bungiro, Senior Lecturer in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at Brown and a self-described atheist, served as moderator.
March 14, 2018
Harvard Update; God Called Me to the Middle East — in a Dream; The Three Top SpokenWord Presentations from Nexus 2018; The Love Challenge; Bennett Builds Virginia Basketball on Pillars of Faith and more, in this issue of Christian Union's bi-monthly email brief.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
— Romans 12:1-2
March 12, 2018
Over the last weekend in February, nearly 300 students, from Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, Stanford, and Yale, gathered in New Brunswick, New Jersey, for Christian Union's Nexus 2018 conference. On Saturday night, a team from each school competed in the Christian Union SpokenWord competition that required teams to memorize and present any selection of scripture passages in a spoken word style. The presentations were powerful, creative, and inspiring. A highly energetic audience spurred each team on, and after jubilantly celebrating the top performances, performers and audience together broke into a playful dance party to cap off the joyous celebration of the power of God's Word!
Watch the top three finalists, below, as revealed at Nexus 2018:
March 10, 2018
The Harvard team won the Spoken Word Contest at Nexus 2018. (4:49)
March 9, 2018
Miller ’18 Excels in Faith, Theater Communities
By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer
Undergraduate studies at Yale College have provided an extraordinary platform for a senior and his passion for storytelling, especially via the dramatic arts.
Dillon Miller ’18, who serves as co-president of Christian Union’s ministry at Yale, has landed major roles in about a dozen productions and appeared in numerous more during his involvement in Yale’s artistic community.
March 9, 2018
CU Hosts Trip to Oxford Analytica Conference
By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer
A group of participants in Christian Union’s ministry for professionals recently ventured to the United Kingdom, where they enjoyed access to the renowned Oxford Analytica Conference.
“It was absolutely fascinating,” said Scott Crosby, director of Christian Union New York. “The conference especially was intriguing in terms of the levels of discussion, connections made, and fellowship.”
Six young professionals joined Crosby for the annual conference on global issues, which was held in September at Oxford University. During the event, about 250 chief executive officers, policymakers, and other leaders gathered to probe the implications of urgent geopolitical and macroeconomic issues.
March 9, 2018
Film Director Exhorts Harvard Students
By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer
Christians in the film industry should strive to become creative forces in the arena of cinematic storytelling.
That was one of the themes from Timothy Reckart when the award-winning director spoke to students at Christian Union’s weekly Leadership Lecture Series at Harvard College. In November, Reckart, Harvard ’09, discussed his passion for animated artistry, and explored the intersection of his visually stunning screen endeavors with his faith. Reckart’s return to his alma mater was especially timely as it occurred two weeks before the release of his first studio movie, The Star: The Story of the First Christmas.
March 9, 2018
Christian Union Engages Campus with Various Outreaches
By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer
Christian Union’s ministry at Columbia has a heart to create community and invite others.
Given the nature of an urban campus, many students find themselves craving an enhanced sense of collegiate culture. “Community is the thing that has been most central,” said Lane Young, Christian Union’s new ministry director at Columbia. “A lot of what they’re trying to do is find ways to make community happen.”
March 7, 2018
Hilliard-Arce ’20, Soccer Team Enjoy Historic Season
By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer
As an emerging student leader at Princeton University and member of the celebrated women’s soccer team, Emily Hilliard-Arce aims to reflect her faith across life’s playing fields.
“You don’t have to be an official leader to love others – people notice,” said Hilliard-Arce ’20. “I try to make sure my teammates are OK if they are having a tough day at practice, or I send a text if they have an exam.”
After matriculating into Princeton, the North Carolina native embraced a vibrant relationship with Christ as her personal savior. Since then, Hilliard-Arce has flourished in the mentorship and support she has received from Christian Union’s ministry at Princeton. “I started to find my identity in God. I just found this joy I never found before,” said Hilliard-Arce, a philosophy major. “It was life-changing.”
March 6, 2018
The following plenary talk by Matt Bennett was recorded at Nexus 2018. (34:13)
March 6, 2018
Grace Lee ’20 Wholeheartedly Seeks God
By Tom Campisi, Managing Editor
Grace Lee, a linguistics and Spanish major, is also a student of the Word at Dartmouth College.
In the fall semester, the sophomore’s passion for the Bible inspired her to lead a group of freshmen in assembling online devotionals that sought to draw students in Christian Union’s ministry into a deeper walk with Jesus Christ. The devotionals were published and shared via social media in the week leading up to the ministry’s annual Thanksgiving celebration. Topics included: “Finding Peace in Trusting God,” “Feeling Grateful,” and “Responding to Grace in Faith.”
March 6, 2018
Christian Union New York was delighted to welcome Paul Horrocks for a salon on March 6, 2018 titled, "Excellence in Technology: Leveraging Prayer and Biblical Examples to Build Great Products.
Topic
This salon explored how Christians working in technology can use the power of the Holy Spirit to help them excel in building great products. Paul discussed how his faith has impacted his ability to build software for a heavily regulated industry and highlight how Joseph and Nehemiah leveraged their faith to excel in difficult circumstances.
Topic
This salon explored how Christians working in technology can use the power of the Holy Spirit to help them excel in building great products. Paul discussed how his faith has impacted his ability to build software for a heavily regulated industry and highlight how Joseph and Nehemiah leveraged their faith to excel in difficult circumstances.
March 5, 2018
The following plenary talk by David Bryant was recorded at Nexus 2018. (36:45)
March 5, 2018
There are countless stories from our campuses that demonstrate how students involved in the ministry are impacting their campuses. Here is just one story from Christian Union at Harvard:
Each year, Christian Union at Harvard facilitates “Texts 4 Toasties,” an initiative that has had great success. Upperclassman Bible course students partner with younger students to make and deliver warm sandwiches all over campus. Students text in a question about God, faith, and the Bible, and in return, representatives from Christian Union show up to their dorm rooms with a sandwich and an answer to their question.
Each year, Christian Union at Harvard facilitates “Texts 4 Toasties,” an initiative that has had great success. Upperclassman Bible course students partner with younger students to make and deliver warm sandwiches all over campus. Students text in a question about God, faith, and the Bible, and in return, representatives from Christian Union show up to their dorm rooms with a sandwich and an answer to their question.
March 5, 2018
by Geoff Sackett
Sensible people agree that giving and receiving love is crucial to a person’s emotional wellbeing and his or her general prospering. Some people, even some who are not religious, believe that loving your enemy is morally commendable and pursuit-worthy. The Christian scriptures also affirm this point of view. So what is the Christian difference in loving one’s enemies? Is there a Christian difference? Let’s turn to Paul’s words in Romans chapter 12 – specifically his words regarding how we are to treat our enemies – to find out.
March 4, 2018
The following plenary talk by Roland Warren was recorded at Nexus 2018. (28:13)
March 4, 2018
Stearns ’73 Announces Retirement from World Vision
By Tom Campisi, Managing Editor
After two decades of ministry to orphans, refugees, and those impacted by AIDS, Richard Stearns announced that he will retire as president of World Vision U.S. at the end of the year.
Stearns (Cornell ’73, Wharton School of Business ’75) joined the relief organization as its fifth president in 1998 after a successful, 23-year corporate career, including roles as CEO of both Parker Brothers Games and Lenox. Under his leadership, World Vision’s annual revenues grew to more than $1 billion and the organization expanded its work in serving children and other humanitarian causes.
