Since 2002 CU Nova has worked to bring spiritual transformation and renewal to campus by seeking the Lord, growing in knowledge and love of His Word, and thoughtfully engaging Princeton with the gospel.
The high-caliber ministry faculty at CU Nova teach intellectually rigorous Bible courses, disciple students one-on-one, and coach students to develop as Christian leaders.
CU Nova also offers conferences and retreats each semester and two weekly leadership lecture series called Encounter and TruThursday, which feature great worship, talks from compelling speakers, and space for students to grow together in fellowship.
New York, New York
Craig Holliday
Ministry DirectorBio coming soon.
Viviana Hinojosa
Ministry Fellow
Bio coming soon.
Ayomide Tikare
Administrative Assistant and House Manager
Ithaca, New York
Marcus Buckley
Ministry Director
Lea Ann Buckley
Administration / Ministry Associate
Hanover, New Hampshire
Tim Pillsbury
Ministry Director
The son of two Dartmouth graduates, Tim Pillsbury grew up in Hanover, New Hampshire as the second oldest of seven children. After graduating from Hamilton College he became a teacher at Trinity-Pawling School, an all-boys boarding school in Pawling, New York. He coached Varsity tennis and ski racing, ran the school’s weekly newspaper, and advised his students in addition to his teaching responsibilities.
Tim began to seek God about a career change, and after seven years of teaching God opened a way for him to become Associate Pastor at Wellspring Worship Center in West Lebanon, New Hampshire, the church he grew up attending, where he spent five years before coming to Christian Union.
Tim seeks to make God relevant to every person he meets, combining a pastoral heart, knowledge of scripture, clarity in teaching, and strong administrative skills to do effective work for the kingdom of God. Tim and his wife have two young children, and live in Meriden, NH.
Cambridge, Massachusetts
James Galvin
Christian Union Ministry Fellow
Jim Galvin is a New England local. He received his Bachelors in Biblical Studies from North Point Bible College in 2004 and went directly into ministry, planting Anchor of Hope Church with Dove Christian Fellowship International. In 2017, Jim transitioned and became the Executive Pastor at His Providence Church in Swansey, Massachusetts. The Lord led Jim in early 2020 to join Connect Church as an Associate pastor overseeing Discipleship, Care, and Counseling. He joined staff with Christian Union in January 2024.From house church and micro church contexts to mega church and multi site church contexts, Jim has found his passion in helping people hear from the Lord and find freedom in Christ. Pastoral care and counseling have earmarked his ministry.
Jim is married to Beth and they have five children. Jim is an active hockey player and finds a creative outlet with woodworking. He loves the outdoors, and most vacations you will find the Galvin family camping, climbing and rappelling in the mountains, kayaking on a river, or wakeboarding in the ocean - every moment is full of adventure!
Fady Ghobrial
Christian Union Ministry Fellow
Fady Ghobrial was born and raised in Cairo, Egypt. His family moved to the Boston area in 2002. He earned his Bachelor’s in Urban Studies from Worcester State University. After a radical encounter with Jesus during college he quickly sensed a call to ministry and began to serve at his local church. He holds a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and is ordained with the Southern Baptist Convention. Fady attends and serves at the Arabic Baptist Church of Boston, where his whole family came to faith, and where he teaches the youth and leads worship. When not reading books, Fady enjoys cooking with his wife Renée, watching superhero movies and discussing theology over black coffee.
Sadie Sasser
Christian Union Ministry Fellow
Sadie Sasser is originally from south Arkansas and was raised in a home committed to following Jesus. She sensed a call to ministry during her high school years and received her Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies from Ouachita Baptist University in 2016. After a gap year of ministry in Fraser, Colorado, she moved to Wilmore, Kentucky to pursue her Master of Divinity at Asbury Theological Seminary.
Upon graduating in 2021, Sadie worked for Asbury in development and recruiting until transitioning to the Women’s Ministry Fellow role at CU Gloria in September 2023. Sadie is most interested in helping people discern the voice of God and live in the freedom that the Gospel brings. She also loves having lively conversations about philosophy, culture, and how the two impact Christianity in the United States.
Outside of ministry with Christian Union, she enjoys reading, hiking and camping, listening to music, singing, and spending quality time with people around good food.
Princeton, New Jersey
Mike Vincent
Christian Union Ministry DirectorMike Vincent grew up just outside San Diego, CA. He graduated from Princeton in 2010 with a degree in Sociology, played varsity volleyball, and was heavily involved in the beginnings of a new campus ministry called Princeton Faith and Action (now CU Nova). He was a part of CU’s first Seeking God Lifestyle emphasis, was a part of the resulting move of God on Princeton’s campus, and was personally transformed. He then interned with Christian Union at Princeton for two years after graduation
Qwynn Gross
Christian Union Ministry Fellow
D. Qwynn Gross began a vibrant relationship with God after a missionary trip to Toluca, Mexico, in 1986. She has worked in various administrative ministerial roles and has provided leadership to several areas of ministry including worship, small groups, and intercessory prayer. Qwynn is the co-founder of Hope Cathedral in Jackson, New Jersey. She is known as an inspiring and practical teacher and has created several resources as well as authored books on spiritual devotion: A Pattern for Prayer, A Guide to Consecrated Living, and Teach Me To Pray. She is a conference host and a sought-after speaker at women's conferences, workshops and retreats. A graduate of Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina, Qwynn is married to Trevón, the lead pastor of Hope Cathedral. The two have three children: Trevón, Jr., Dianna, and Sarah.
Jake Thomas
Christian Union Ministry FellowBio coming soon.
. . .
Contact the Christian Union staff by email using the following email convention: Firstname.Lastname@ChristianUnion.org
New Haven, Connecticut
Jeff Walsh
Ministry Director
Jeffrey Walsh is a retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant with over 23 years of experience as a Military Police Soldier, Educator, National Director of Police, and leadership education. He is also an ordained Christian minister with a lifetime of experience in pastoral ministry. He has served in various assignments and attachments worldwide with the U.S. Army National Guard Bureau, the 5th Special Forces Group, and the 169th Regional Training Institute. Jeffrey spent the last ten years in senior leadership positions, including National Director and Subject Matter Expert of Military Police Education and Leadership and Senior Leader of Advanced Leadership Training Programs.Jeffrey is an expert in spiritual care and reducing destructive behaviors like suicide, sexual assault, and domestic violence. He has trained military leaders across North America in his former role as the National Military Law Enforcement Subject Matter Expert and Connecticut State Equal Opportunity and Sexual Assault Program Coordinator. He is pursuing his Doctor of Ministry at Alliance University in New York City, with prior education in Biblical Theology and Pastoral Ministry from Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs. Jeffrey's overseas combat experience has earned him numerous service awards, including the Bronze Star medal with Valor and four presidential unit awards. His passion for serving others stems from a personal journey of healing and transformation through the Spirit of God.
Chitra Kovoor
Christian Union Ministry Fellow
Born and raised in India, Chitra has a BA in Psychology and Sociology and an MBA. After work in the corporate sector, she moved with her husband to serve the church in the UK. While raising three children and supporting her husband in ministry in Derby, Birmingham and Bristol, she managed a graduate center run by University of Birmingham and the Selly Oak Federation of Mission Colleges, UK, offering training in the areas of management, leadership development and cross-cultural mission. She was also involved in university ministry during her time there.
Three years ago, in another continental maneuver, they found themselves in New Haven USA, following God's call to ministry in the city. Chitra encountered Christian Union through its then student executive members and was drawn to the mission and vision of CU for university contexts such as Yale. Investing in the development of young Christian student leaders, who could have a profound influence for the glory of God in the US and beyond was a powerful vision and Chitra felt the strong call of God to actively participate in it. She has worked as a Ministry Fellow with CU Lux for over 6 years.
To see her students grow in faith during their time at Yale and discover more of the immense potential that God has designed for each of them brings her great joy!
In her free time, Chitra enjoys playing tennis, walking, exploring the subject of nutrition, cooking healthy, and being hospitable. She loves stocking up the ‘Mouse’(the student hangout space) with a variety of teas and other delicious things. So stop by to meet her for a cuppa, snack, and a chat!
Michael Racine
Ministry Fellow and Writer
Michael Racine has been with Christian Union since 2017, first as a Ministry Fellow at CU Lux, and then as the writer of a series of Christian Union Bible Studies, the first three volumes of which were released by Tyndale House Publishers in 2022. Having written full-time during the COVID-19 pandemic, he was delighted to get back on campus in the fall of 2022 and resume his work with the students of CU Lux.
Michael was highly involved in campus ministry as an undergrad at Brown, leading worship, co-leading small groups, and graduating with a concentration in Religious Studies. Upon graduation, he moved to Hunan, China, where he taught English for two years at a public middle school and led a small house church. Michael later headed English teaching and curriculum development for a college scholarship program in Haiti, then taught for a year in Spain before returning stateside to study at the Yale Institute of Sacred Music.
He earned his M.Div. from Yale in 2015, and besides his work with Christian Union he has been an active musician, singing, playing, and directing in a range of settings and styles from Renaissance polyphony to funk. He currently serves on the worship team at Vertical Church in West Haven.
Bethany Walsh
Administrative AssistantBio coming soon.
Princeton, New Jersey
Christian Leadership Development Program
Princeton Faith and Action (PFA) is a student organization focused on Christian leadership development, and resourced by Christian Union.PFA provides in-depth study of Scripture, Christian leadership training, fellowship, and support for Christian students as well as resources to help non-Christian students learn about Christianity. Open to all students, Princeton Faith and Action's main activities include intellectually rigorous Bible courses, a weekly lecture series, called Encounter, conferences, and various outreaches on campus.
In addition, Christian Union owns and operates the Melrose Center at Princeton.
Christian Union Faculty
Christian Union's role is to resource students at Princeton by offering mentoring, discipleship and leadership training. Meet the Christian Union faculty team that works with Princeton students. Please contact the Christian Union faculty by emailing: Princeton@ChristianUnion.org.
[ Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications ]
Serving Students at Stanford University
Justin Woyak
Christian Union Senior Ministry Fellow
Justin grew up in Pensacola, Florida, and studied Classics at Princeton (where he made some of his lifelong best friends in a Christian Union Bible course!). After graduating from Princeton in 2009, he earned an M.Div. and a Th.M. from Bethlehem College & Seminary in Minneapolis, where he also taught undergraduate Bible, theology, and Greek courses.In 2016, Justin and his wife Kate moved to California to help launch Christian Union’s ministry to Stanford students. Justin enjoys golf and pickle ball, J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, audiobooks and boardgames, good food and time with his wonderful wife and their four kids—and seeking God!
Susan Brown
Christian Union Ministry FellowSusan grew up in California and can’t imagine living anywhere else. She came to faith at an early age and has sought out opportunities to grow and serve Jesus in her church and local community ever since.
Susan and her late husband, Garrett, the first Ministry Director for CU Caritas, were married for thirty years, serving side by side in different ministries on mission for God the entirety of their marriage. Over the past twenty-five years Susan has served in a wide range of ministry and leadership roles, including the nonprofit sector and the local public schools. She previously served as a volunteer Bible Course leader for Christian Union, helping to launch the very first women’s Bible Course at Stanford. She looks forward to being back on campus, spending time with students.
A graduate of Biola University, Susan enjoys travel, gardening, reading, baking and spending time with her three children and friends.
Since 2016 CU Caritas has worked to bring spiritual transformation and renewal to campus by seeking the Lord, growing in knowledge and love of His Word, and thoughtfully engaging Stanford with the gospel.
The high-caliber ministry faculty at CU Caritas teach intellectually rigorous Bible courses, disciple students one-on-one, and coach students to develop as Christian leaders.
CU Caritas also offers conferences and retreats each semester and a weekly leadership lecture series called Venture, which features great worship, talks from compelling speakers, and space for students to grow together in fellowship.
Visit the CU Caritas student site here >
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Cory Lotspeich
Christian Union Director of Undergraduate Ministry at Penn
Cory holds a Masters in Arts of Organizational Leadership from Regent University. Throughout his professional career he has consulted executive leaders, served in non-profit organizations, vocational ministry, and in the military as a Marine and government contractor for the Navy’s Wounded Warrior program for expeditionary forces and their families. Cory enjoys mountain biking and spending time with his wife and two boys outdoors.
Sarah Hickenbotham
Ministry Fellow
Sarah has had a desire to serve Jesus since she was very young. Growing up in Northern Virginia, she obtained a bachelor’s degree in music education from George Mason University. However, her greatest joys came from coaching high school and college students in an evangelistic ministry, which she served in for over ten years. Throughout her career changes, God providentially used aspects of each job Sarah has had to prepare her for the role of the Women’s Ministry Fellow at CU Martus. She has the heart to see Penn students transformed by the Gospel and become witnesses for Christ.
Sarah and her husband currently reside in New Jersey with their two cats, and serve in the music ministry at their church. They enjoy board games, traveling together, and spending time with loved ones.
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Justin Yim
Christian Union Ministry Director at Harvard Law
Justin grew up in NYC as the youngest son of a pastor, church planter, and missionary. After graduating with a degree in Psychology from the University of Rochester, he received his M.Div from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. While finishing up his seminary degree, he served at Bethany Church in New Hampshire for the next 11 years, as the Associate Pastor of Worship, Young Adults, and Youth. He also met his wife, Melissa, during this time, and in 2007, accepted a call to Grace Fellowship Church in the Capital District of NY, near Albany, to launch their first multi-site location, as Lead Pastor. For the next 11 years, he helped launch and oversee 4 locations, as the Executive Pastor of Multisites.In over 22 years of experience with the local church, Justin’s passion has been to invest and develop the next generation of leaders for God’s Kingdom, by grounding them in the truth and power of God’s Word. He brings a vast diversity of experience in many aspects and levels of leadership, and is eager to contribute wherever God seems to lead.
He and his wife have 4 beautiful children—Sydney, Austin, Cooper, and Sawyer—and currently reside north of Boston, where they hope to make an impact on their local community for Christ.
40-Day Seasons
Christian Union invites Christians from around the country and world to join together in special seasons of prayer and fasting.
Previous 40-days initiatives have made a tremendous impact in the lives of participants. Christian Union has heard from many of the hundreds who participated, encouraging the ministry to call and give leadership to ongoing 40 Day Initiatives.
During each of the 40 Days Initiatives, participants have shared wonderful stories about ways that God moved in their lives. These 40 Days Initiatives are now being run through Christian Union's new Day & Night ministry. To learn more, go to DayAndNight.org/moves.
Create Your Legacy
Planned gifts are typically made through provisions in a revocable trust or will.
Other planned gifts include: securities or real estate, life insurance policies, beneficiary designations of an IRA or other tax-deferred retirement account, and gifts that provide tax-advantaged income by means of charitable trusts or gift annuities.
- Planned gifts are popular because of the financial flexibility and tax benefits they provide.
- They are also an effective means of Christian stewardship as they redirect assets to ministry that otherwise might be lost to income taxes, capital gains taxes, or estate taxes.
Consider making a bequest to Christian Union by will or living trust, or by other creative ways in which you, your loved ones and Christian Union can all benefit.
Navigate planned giving options in the menu to the left.
Please contact the Annual Giving Associate to explore planned giving options.
Financial Partner Testimony
"I give generously of my time, finances and prayers because I believe so much in Christian Union. In return I am blessed in so many ways."
- Adair Webb
For Assistance
If you need assistance with any of these giving opportunities, call a financial partner representative at: 1-609-688-1700 Option 2 or email giving@christianunion.org.
Increase the Impact of Your Giving
Christian Union
19 Vandeventer Avenue
Princeton, NJ 08542
For more information on matching gifts, email the Annual Giving Associate or call 1-609-688-1700 Option 2.
Financial Partner Testimony
"I grew in my Christian knowledge, faith, and fellowship at Princeton largely because others provided the funds for Christian ministry to exist on campus. I want other students to have this same opportunity."
- Melinda Sims '95
For Assistance
If you need assistance with any of these giving opportunities, call a donor representative at: 1-609-688-1700 Option 2 or email giving@christianunion.org.
A form of giving that may offer tax advantages.
Gifts of appreciated securities held by either your bank or brokerage or held by you offer significant tax advantages for alumni, parents, and friends and are easy to make.
Step 1: Transfer Shares
Ask your broker to make an electronic transfer of the shares to Christian Union's account.A sample letter might read:
I wish to make an irrevocable gift to Christian Union of "x" shares of "XYZ" Corporation. Please transfer the stock to Christian Union via DTC as follows:
• Merrill Lynch
• FBO (for the benefit of) Christian Union, Inc.
• Christian Union's account number: 2X7-02131
• DTC routing number: 8862
Once the stock is received and transferred into Christian Union's account, the ministry will receive notification of the transfer. For the ministry to provide you a receipt you will need to inform Christian Union of the details of your stock gift (see step 2).
Step 2: Notify Christian Union
To avoid unidentified gifts, please send a copy of your correspondence with your brokerage to Christian Union. If you would like to specify a designation for your gift (i.e. Columbia, Harvard, Princeton), please include that in your correspondence with the ministry:Mail to:
Christian Union
19 Vandeventer Avenue
Princeton, NJ 08542
Email: giving@christianunion.org
Phone: (609) 688-1700 Option 2
Fax: (609) 688-1795
For each gift, please include:
- Your name
- Name of stock
- Number of shares
- Brokerage
If you hold the certificate for your shares:
If you hold the actual stock certificates, you will need to sign a stock power form for each certificate you contribute. You may obtain a stock power from any broker or financial institution. When you sign the power, be sure to sign your name precisely as it appears on the certificate. For example, if you are listed as John A. Johnson on the certificate, sign it John A. Johnson. Leave the rest of the form blank.
When mailing the certificates, use two envelopes.
- In the first envelope, place the unendorsed certificates. If you would like to designate your gift to a specific ministry (i.e. Brown, Dartmouth, University of Pennsylvania), include a letter indicating your intentions.
- In the second envelope, place the completed stock power(s).
Send the envelopes to Christian Union on the same day by certified mail. Christian Union's address is:
Christian Union
19 Vandeventer Avenue
Princeton, NJ 08542
Determining the Gift Date
The date of the gift is determined by the act of relinquishing the stock.Electronic transfer: the date the shares are received in Christian Union's account.
Mail: If mailed through a private mail service (FedEx, etc.) the gift is complete on the date Christian Union receives the mail containing the stock certificates and signed powers documents. If mailed through USPS, the gift is complete on the date of the postmark of the last envelope to arrive at Christian Union (in case they do not arrive at the same time).
Hand delivery: the date of delivery.
Receipting of Stock Gifts
Receipts to donors indicate the number and types of shares. The donor of publicly traded stock will be credited with the fair market value which is determined by averaging high and low trading prices on the date of the gift (see above paragraphs to determine the date of a gift).Liquidation of Stock
Stocks are liquidated as soon as Christian Union receives them, or upon notification by the ministry's broker that the shares have been transferred to one of Christian Union's accounts.For Assistance
If you need assistance, call a donor representative at: 1-609-688-1700 Option 2 or email giving@christianunion.org.
Welcome to Christian Union
Christian Union’s mission is to develop and mobilize godly leadership across all sectors of American society. I founded this Christian leadership development ministry in 2002 to do so, by bringing sweeping spiritual transformation to the nation’s most influential universities and to key cities that shape American culture.Below, you will find general information about the ministry and resources such as the leadership team, the ministry logo, and photos. Christian Union has been featured in several news outlets over the years. You will find more details about that below as well.
Please contact me to learn more and to request an interview for your organization or news outlet.
In Christ,
Matthew W. Bennett
Founder and President
Quick Facts
| Christian Union Founded | 2002 |
| Princeton ministry launched | 2002 |
| Harvard College ministry launched | 2008 |
| Yale ministry launched | 2010 |
| Columbia ministry launched | 2011 |
| Dartmouth ministry launched | 2011 |
| Christian Union New York launched | 2012 |
| Cornell ministry launched | 2012 |
| Harvard Law ministry launched | 2013 |
| Penn ministry launched | 2013 |
| Brown ministry launched | 2014 |
| Stanford ministry launched | 2016 |
| Christian Union Day & Night launched | 2016 |
Christian Union Leadership
Executive LeadershipBoard of Trustees
Resources
Christian Union Logos(A downloadable .zip file of both a vertical and horizontal Christian Union logo in .eps format)
Media Contact
Please direct all interview requests to the CEO's office. Email the Executive Assistant to the CEO to arrange an interview.Past Media Coverage
CBN's 2017 interview with Christian Union Founder & President, Matt BennettWorld Magazine: "Influencing the Influencers."
The New York Times (2005): On a Christian Mission to the Top: Evangelicals Set Their Sights on the Ivy League
Transform the nation through godly leaders.
At Christian Union, every gift, of every size, makes a profound difference. If you are ready to give online, now, you may do that here. Below are other ways that generous ministry partners make Christian Union's work possible.Your financial support helps young men and women grow in faith and skills to bring Christian influence to their spheres of influence. Give today!
For Assistance
If you need assistance with these or any giving question, call a donor representative at: 1-609-688-1700 x 915 or email giving@christianunion.org.
Help America Return to God
There are many ways you can partner with Christian Union to help raise a new generation of Christian leaders. Please consider giving online, as shown below, or explore other ways to give in the left column. Your charitable gift of $25 or more will make you a Cornerstone Partner and help lay the foundation for revival and spiritual health in our nation. Your generosity will provide Bible courses, mentors, and more to future and emerging Christian leaders like Xavier. Please give today!
For Assistance
Contact a donor representative at:1-609-688-1700 Option 2 or Giving@ChristianUnion.org.
Key Partners in Developing Christian Leaders
Foundations
Christian Union is honored to partner with foundations to accomplish shared goals to impact the world for Christ.Christian Union invites foundation board and staff members to visit the campuses where the ministry operates leadership development programs. To arrange a visit or to simply learn more about the ministry, request annual reports and other materials, and to discuss whether Christian Union's mission and vision align with the foundation's funding priorities, contact a director of public affairs for your region.
Churches
Christian Union is thankful for the support of churches in developing future leaders of wholehearted Christian faith.A director of public affairs can answer your church's questions about Christian Union's ministry to universities and cities. They can also address campus-specific questions, and help to determine if funding this ministry would help your church reach its missional goals.
"Briarwood Presbyterian Church is striving to equip the next generation of leaders for the church and for the nation. Because of the immeasurable influence and impact of Ivy League graduates, Christian Union is a valuable partner for discipleship and evangelism, bringing the gospel of grace to bear on the lives of the now-student and soon-to-be-leader, as they become change agents in our world. This is a ministry worth coming alongside."
--Dr. Tom Cheely (deceased), former Missions Pastor, Briarwood Presbyterian Church
For Assistance
Email: giving@christianunion.org
Write to:
Christian Union
19 Vandeventer Avenue
Princeton, NJ 08542
