Greetings from Princeton!
In this monthly email, I'd love to share with you a recent article about how God is moving at Christian Union Nova to give you encouragement and inspiration that your support is changing lives at Princeton University.
Greetings from New Haven!
In this monthly email update, I'd love to share with you a recent article with a video about how God is moving at Christian Union Lux to give you encouragement and inspiration that your support is changing lives at Yale!
Greetings from Providence!
We are in the middle of working around the clock on our month-long freshman welcoming events, but wanted to share prayer requests and some news.
Last week, Christian Union Libertas students met on campus before convocation to pray for the 2028 class and give out Del's lemonade. Students at Brown only pass through the Van Wickle gates two times: at convocation and graduation, while the church bells from First Baptist Church are ringing. We were blessed to be there meeting many familiar and new faces!
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” -John 3:16
There’s nothing like the simple gospel to change and inspire. Even in the midst of our First-Year welcoming campaign, this core remains true: that we do it all because of what Jesus did for us.
Greetings from New York City!
I wanted to take a moment to share with you all the exciting events that have been happening during the months of August and September. We took 21 students on a retreat before the semester started in August. During the retreat we had an opportunity to seek God through prayer, encourage them in the Word, and also get reconnected with each other after being away all summer. We also spent time planning activities to engage the incoming class of freshmen for our Freshman Welcoming Campaign. There were 64 incoming students interested in participating in our Bible Courses.
Greetings from Ithaca!
It’s hard to believe we are already a month into the 2024-25 academic year at Cornell! The campus is buzzing once more, as students fill the streets, hills, and slopes of this beautiful campus; we have already been hard at work ministering to the thousands of students who are here.
Greetings from Harvard Law School!
In this monthly email, I'd love to share with you a recent article written about Christian Union Gloria Law to give you encouragement and inspiration that your support is changing lives at Harvard Law School.
Greetings from Cambridge!
In this monthly email update, I'd love to share with you a recent article that I have written about how God is moving at Christian Union Gloria to give you encouragement and inspiration that your support is changing lives at Harvard!
Rekindle the Gift of God to Overcome
By Michael Racine, writer and ministry fellow at christian union lux at yale
Paul, apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord. I give thanks to God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day, longing to see you, having been reminded of your tears, so that I may be filled with joy, receiving remembrance of the sincere faith that is in you—which was first in your grandmother, Lois, and in your mother, Eunice, and which I am convinced is also in you.
The Heart of Christian Union's Ministry for Each and Every "One"
by erin conner, writer and communications associate
“May the Lord use these theologically informed, biblically equipped, spiritually growing graduates as significant leaders in the next great awakening." -William Tennett, founder of the Log College (later formed Princeton University)
Kenneth Jasko, '78, in his essay "God at Work" writes, "Princeton University is a school which has an exciting Christian history. Founded as a result of the Great Awakening, it has educated many notable men of God amidst numerous campus revivals. Princeton students have had a great impact on American Christianity, for they have been responsible for starting the American Bible Society, American Tract Society, Intercollegiate YMCA, Student Volunteers Movement, and many other Christian works." Jasko continues, "Princeton University has its roots in the Log College, founded in 1726 by William Tennett. The log college was little more than a small log house…it was here that Tennett educated a small group of men for the ministry."
photo credit: williamtennett.org
In 2024, almost three hundred years later, there is still a place at Princeton where believers are educated and equipped for the ministry: opened in June 2017, Christian Union Melrose Center is a house near campus where Princeton students are being developed as Christian leaders, devoted to making Jesus known to the entire university and to influencing the culture for Christ.
Christian Union Washington, DC Hosts First Annual Reception
by erin conner, writer and communications associate
On a warm October evening in Arlington, VA, close to two dozen people gathered to attend Christian Union's first annual Washington, DC reception. This reception included a meet and greet for attendees to connect with other Christian Union alumni and friends of the ministry. It also hosted Carrie Sheffield, a nationally renowned columnist and broadcaster, as the guest speaker to share an overview of her recently published memoir, Motorhome Prophecies. Sheffield, a Harvard alumna and member of Christian Union America, will be serving in an advisory role for the Christian Union Washington, DC Board of Advisors.
Carrie Sheffield sharing at Christian Union's Washington, DC Reception
Alumni Spotlight: Sarah Deonarain, Harvard Class of 2023
by erin conner, writer and communications associate
"Something holy was there," said Sarah Deonarain about her first visit to Christian Union's Leadership Lecture Series at Harvard called Doxa. "Peaceful, genuine communities coming together to worship God in the middle of campus created a beautiful space… something I had not experienced before." Deonarain grew very attached to this space over her undergraduate career at Harvard.
Her journey to how she got to Christian Union testifies to the fact that God provides us with the people, places, and things we need to grow close to Him if we are willing to see and say "yes." Deonarain admits at first she didn't, saying "no" several times to an invitation to come and experience Christian community. Like many students, she admitted to being swept up in the busyness of the culture, but when change was needed, she said yes to a persistent and faith-filled friend who warmly invited her time and time again.
Devotional from Christian Union America's National Fast, August 2024
by christian union america
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’" - Matthew 25:31-36
Final judgment might not be a popular topic for sermons or devotions in our time, and many churches likely wouldn’t dare preach a fiery sermon similar to Jonathan Edwards’ famous “Sinners in the hands of an angry God” today. Yet, it is crucial for every believer to understand. In this passage, Jesus paints a clear picture of what will happen when He returns, clarifying what He previously taught the disciples through parables.
But God's Remnant Stands Firm, Deeply Rooted in His Promises
by sadie sasser, ministry fellow at christian union gloria at harvard
The heart of Harvard’s undergraduate campus is called Harvard Yard. Many of the academic lecture halls are situated here, as well as all the first-year student dorms. Here, the towering trees hide the ground from sunlight and old brick buildings reflect the campus's age. And, of course, the entire yard is enclosed by red brick walls.
Intellectual Freedom Under Attack at American Educational Institutions
by erin conner, writer and communications associate
On September 16th, 2024, Dartmouth College aligned its written policies of free speech with First Amendment principles. Consequently, Dartmouth officially reclaimed the overall “green light” speech code rating from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE).
According to a recent article published by FIRE, Dartmouth is the only green light school in the Ivy League, one of four in New Hampshire, and one of 68 nationwide. FIRE awards green light ratings to institutions with no written policies that seriously imperil student free speech rights.
“Say something controversial at most elite colleges and you’re liable to get shouted down, canceled, reported, and disciplined,” said FIRE Director of Policy Reform Laura Beltz. “But Dartmouth has shown it aims to foster a better environment for free speech through adopting these policies and encouraging dialogue across difference.”
Greetings from New Haven!
This month, Christian Union Lux students and leaders are working around the clock to welcome freshmen to our campus and to our ministry! We recently hosted a pre-retreat to plan all the events and details of this month-long campaign and to grow in the Lord!
Greetings from Providence!
We are in the middle of working around the clock on our month-long freshman welcoming events, but wanted to share prayer requests and some news.
Last week, Christian Union Libertas students met on campus before convocation to pray for the 2028 class and give out Del's lemonade. Students at Brown only pass through the Van Wickle gates two times: at convocation and graduation, while the church bells from First Baptist Church are ringing. We were blessed to be there meeting many familiar and new faces!
Greetings from Ithaca!
We are off to an amazing start for the year here at Christian Union Vita! Cornell’s campus is buzzing once more as students fill the streets, hills, and slopes of this beautiful campus, and we have already been hard at work ministering to the thousands of students who are here.
“He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!'” -Rev. 21:5a
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.” -Eph. 3:20-21
What a blessing it is to work for a God who is infinitely creative! He gives us the comfort of routine, but gives us unending variety and newness within it. As we begin this next year, looking forward with profoundly high hopes, I am filled with excitement at the idea that God can do even more than anything I could come up with.
Greetings from Princeton!
This month, Christian Union Nova students and leaders are working around the clock to welcome freshmen to our campus and to our ministry! We recently hosted a pre-retreat to plan all the events and details of this month-long campaign and to grow in the Lord!
