1820 Revival Transformed Providence, Brown University
By Tom Campisi, Managing Editor
This academic year will mark the 200th anniversary of a revival that forever changed the religious landscape of Providence, Rhode Island, and left a profound impact on the students at Brown University.
“The Hand of God was visible everywhere,” wrote author Mark S. Schantz, describing the city’s 1820 revival.
CU Gloria Provides Vital Resources During Harvard Break
By Anne Kerhoulas, Staff Writer
As Harvard transitioned from the fall semester into a long break, CU Gloria provided spiritual encouragement and community for students through “Winter Workshops” and book groups. Though winter break is a welcome change of pace after a semester of long days and intense studying, this time away from community that often lacks structure can also become a lonely time in which students struggle in their faith.
Missing the Most Important One
By Dr. Chuck Hetzler
The revelations of Ravi Zacharias’ failures have invited a host of questions to discern how such destructive sins could have occurred. Seeking answers, Christians have primarily probed RZIM from an organizational perspective.
The Importance of Developing Young Christian Leaders
As this article from the Gospel Coalition argues, Christian college students typically arrive on campus with a flimsy understanding of their faith. Though it is easy to think that growing up in the church with parents who are believers and participating in a youth ministry is enough to form young adults into Christians with a basic understanding of scripture and doctrine, as Randall Greenwald argues, it usually is not.
Sternklar ’22 Has a Passion For Prayer, International Justice
By Tom Campisi, Managing Editor
Athena Sternklar wants to change the world through a career focused on international policy and humanitarian aid.
The political science major, who transferred to Columbia University in the fall, took a hiatus from college a few years back to travel abroad and volunteer in refugee camps in Greece, Serbia, and Jordan. She came to Columbia via Montgomery Community College in her hometown of Rockville, Maryland.
How Can We Engage Them with the Good News?
Who is Generation Z? Yes, they are the individuals who were born between the early ’90s and mid-2010s, but for Christian Union, they represent one of our primary mission fields.
There’s still snow on the ground here in Providence, but the days are getting a little longer and the temperatures creep higher with each passing day. Spring is right around the corner! During the month of February, CU Libertas has been busy welcoming freshmen to campus, hosting weekly Bible courses, and continuing the work of prayer and discipleship. God is up to big things and we have so much to be thankful for.
We praise God for partners like you in supporting the work He is doing through Christian Union Lumine at Columbia. The students have reached the halfway point of the semester and will be gearing up for finals in a month. Due to the pandemic, this is a shorter semester with classes concluding mid-April.
We are encouraged by the students involved in CU Lumine Bible courses, Illumina (Leadership Lecture Series) events, outreach events, or times of prayer. We see God’s transforming hand at work in their lives as He grows them into His image.
Greetings from Ithaca, NY! Thank you so much for your prayers and faithful support. We are happy to report that our students are thriving. Our Bible course groups are studying the Word each week. Most of our students are studying Acts and we have had rich discussions about mission and our Spirit-empowered witness for Jesus at Cornell. Our student-to-student discipleship program is up and running with students from every Bible course meeting in small groups of 2-4 each week to read the Bible, encourage one another and pray. A new weekly worship night is also happening at the Mott Center enabling students to seek the Lord together in praise and prayer, and in addition to this, a student-led prayer meeting is happening at Mott each week! Our students continue to work creatively during the pandemic to gather together for fellowship at Mott and virtually. Last weekend, one of our junior athletes on the Track and Field team hosted a Zoom trivia night. And we continue to add students to our Bible courses on a weekly basis. God is surely at work and we are grateful! Please continue to pray:
Hello from Hanover and Christian Union Vox. The ten-week sprint which is the winter term here at Dartmouth is nearing completion. It's hard to fathom that spring break is on the horizon and that we're finishing up our study of the book of Acts. It's been a full and busy term reconnecting with the sophomore class, preparing for the final term with the senior class, and continuing Zoom relationships with the freshman and junior classes. As always, we have much to praise God for and much to ask His help with.
This spring semester, our sophomores and juniors have been walking through the book of Acts. Peter and the apostle’s example of boldness have continued to challenge believers for many generations. In Acts 5, after being arrested and told not to preach, Peter is freed by an angel then immediately gets back to preaching the gospel. Upon his consequent arrest, he responds to the council saying “We must obey God rather than men.” What great boldness! It is our hope and prayer that as we read and study these stories that they bring encouragement and hope to our hearts, moving the students to greater zeal for the name of Jesus and for advancing His gospel.
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8
This is the good news, a constant stabilizer amidst much change!
This month, we say farewell to our Ministry Director Christopher Heslep, who will be leaving Christian Union after 3 ½ years of faithful service. Pray that God will send us an exceptional leader to fill Christopher’s shoes. Meanwhile, pray that God sustains ministry fellow Cameron Garven and me as we take on additional responsibilities.
Last Thursday morning, a few of the fifth-year co-term men in Christian Union Caritas and I prayed through Psalm 25. The following verses, in particular, struck a chord in us:
Psalm 95:1
Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
There are always reasons to be thankful for God’s goodness, mercy, glory, and love. And there are seasons when His grace breaks through in such tangible ways that our hearts rejoice, where our voices sing out in praise. After a series of snowstorms, the sun broke through the clouds this past week. After a semester of isolation, there have been opportunities to meet freshmen face-to-face. After months of an eerily quiet campus, there are tentative steps taken on Locust Walk. Throughout this season of myriad challenges, God has been gracious to us! He is our hope and our salvation, and worthy of all our praise. Please pray for us as we enter a time of mid-terms, student leadership transition, and continued integration of freshmen into the CU Martus family. Particularly pray for:
Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9). Life during COVID-19 becomes much easier, more meaningful, and beautiful when we bring the goodness of God to others. For this esteemed reason, our students at CU Lux selected Galatians 6:9 to guide all our endeavors this semester.
God has already told us what is good: to pursue justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8). Doing good, of course, is the work of God in us and through us. We not only hold fast to what is good (Romans 12:9), we are also called to embody every perfect gift that comes from above in word and deed (James 1:17).
We are so grateful that many of you attended our virtual Gospel of the Kingdom conference with Ken Fish this past weekend. Ken, a Princeton University alumni who transitioned from Wall Street to full-time ministry, packs a powerful punch with both his robust teaching of God’s word and his bold demonstration of the supernatural power of Jesus still operating amongst us today. In a conference titled “Signs and Wonders Beyond the Gospels,” Ken addressed the following topics:
The Eternal Covenant of Signs and Wonders
The Letters of the New Testament
Early Church Witnesses
Can Christians Be Demonized?
Q and A with Andrew T. Walker
Andrew T. Walker is Assistant Professor of Christian Ethics at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and the author of God and the Transgender Debate.
Digital Publication Continues Ministry's Long History of Reporting
Welcome to The Magazine, Christian Union's online publication of feature stories, ministry updates, commentary, and news.
Christian Union's 2019 Fact-Finding Trip
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” – 2 Chronicles 7: 13, 14
Three Biblical Reasons to Fast
By Dr. Chuck Hetzler, vice president of biblical theology
Twenty-first century American Christianity is not known for self-denial. Most of the American church’s marketing mirrors the world’s. The church sells good-looks, fashion, and personal happiness. No doubt, following Jesus makes your life better, but true discipleship promises hardship and absolute surrender along the way.
And He said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” – Luke 9:23
