Christian Leadership Ministry at Harvard Law
by Justin Yim, Ministry Director of Christian Union Gloria Law at Harvard Law
When Harvard was first founded in 1636, one of its central bylaws was written as follows: "...let every student be earnestly pressed to consider well that the main end of his life and studies is to know God and Jesus Christ, which is eternal life--and therefore to lay Christ in the bottom, as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning..."
In 1993, when evangelist Billy Graham asked Harvard’s President, Derek Bok, about the greatest struggle his students faced at the college, Bok quickly responded, “Living with emptiness.”
Much has changed at Harvard since its founding days, but much has remained the same. And the unique urgency of the body of Christ to be more present in the greater student community is at a crescendo, as we are challenged to show love amid hate, peace in a time of turmoil, and to speak truth in love.
Christian Organizations Host Historic Campus Event with Francis Chan
by erin conner, writer and communications associate
"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." - Ephesians 4:4-6 (ESV)
Monday evening, May 6, 2024, was a chilly evening in Palo Alto, yet the glow of the lights and the warmth of the love lit up Meyer Green in the heart of Stanford's campus as approximately 200 Christians gathered to exalt the Lord in unity through worship and prayer.
This historic event, entitled "ONE," was the result of prayer by Christian alumni, students, and leaders for the light of Jesus Christ to be publicly expressed as a beacon of hope in the midst of this highly secular campus. The event was a collaborative effort of six Christian ministries on Stanford's campus: the Catholic Undergraduate Student Association, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Action, Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship, Parakaleo Christian Ministries, Moment Christian Fellowship, and Christian Union Caritas.
Faith and Conviction from Christian Union's National Fast in 2020
by dimas SalaBerrios (2020); updated by erin conner (2024)
The following devotional is a transcript of a video devotional that was originally recorded as part of Christian Union's National Fast in 2020 by Dimas Salaberrios. Salaberrios is the author of Street God: The Explosive True Story of a Former Drug Boss and his film “Chicago: America’s Hidden War” was recently nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. He is also the founder and former pastor of Infinity Bible Church in New York City, and the President Emeritus of Concerts of Prayer Greater New York.
Salaberrios has been on the frontlines of the earthquakes in Haiti and of Hurricane Harvey in Houston. After the shootings in Saint Paul, Dallas, Charleston, and Paris, Salaberrios organized believers to infiltrate the protests and pray with hurting people. He has also organized prayer during the George Floyd protests in Minneapolis and in New York City. His directorial debut is titled, “Chicago: America’s Hidden War, and he co-produced the documentary film “Emanuel.” Salaberrios will be a featured speaker at the next Christian Union Fire Retreat being held October 4-5, 2024 entitled, "America Returning to God."
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
-Lamentations 3:22-23
As this year comes to a close, I am reflecting on the steadfast faithfulness of our God. He has exceeded our expectations and answered many of your prayers. I remember in September, asking for prayer for full, vibrant Bible courses. This year, we have had an abundant overflow of students participating in weekly Bible courses. The students love the Bible course manuals which provide rich, in-depth studies of each lesson. In addition to full Bible courses, we prayed for gospel exposures and the name of Jesus to saturate the entire campus of Brown University. Starting with freshman campaign, where we had a string of events all throughout September to welcome students, as well as worship events on campus, tabling and handing out books and scripture tracts, and our latest campaign, CU Rise, we have had an incredible amount of gospel exposures! This year, we have had more students dive into questions about Christianity than I have ever seen in years past. It is evidence that the Lord of the harvest is on the move on our campus!
It’s been an amazing month of ministry here at Christian Union Lumine on the campus of Columbia University. To witness how the Lord has been working in the lives of our students and using them to impact the campus for the Kingdom has been a blessing.
We continue to see our students really be committed to being intentional and deliberate in seeking God in prayer and fasting. During the month, ten football players from our Bible course attended our Monday night seek prayer meeting. We’ve continued to see more students getting involved in our Bible course during the middle of the semester. We are continuing to hold leadership training, workshops, and events for our students during these tumultuous times.
Another incredible month of ministry is behind us here at Christian Union Vita at Cornell! We are so grateful for how the Lord continues to work in and through our students as we seek to make Jesus the most talked about subject on campus in a culture that is increasingly in a state of upheaval.
We have had an incredible semester in our Bible courses, with new students continuing to join the community of Christian Union Vita on an almost weekly basis. We celebrate the Lord’s continuing faithfulness to grow the ministry as we coach and train close to 100 future Christian leaders to seek the Lord wholeheartedly.
“And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” -1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (ESV)
In the rhythm of a school year, the spring term is one of our most evangelistic times. The promised warmth, which you have no doubt enjoyed for months, has finally arrived to New Hampshire and to Christian Union Vox. The First-Years, having not yet experienced the nearly endless drawing out of Dartmouth’s winters, are relieved at the turn. With the newly warmed weather, everyone from students to staff to professors flock to the outdoors to enjoy the warmth and sunshine. The Green is covered in students eating, playing frisbee, studying, chatting, and sunbathing. But now, because of CU Vox, a new group has joined them: students living out their faith and practicing evangelism.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” - Romans 12:1-2
As we begin to wrap up the normal semester happenings at Harvard, I have been reflecting on these couple verses from Paul’s letter to the Romans. Our sophomore and junior Bible courses have been diligently studying Romans for the spring semester, and what a joy it has been to delve into the deep and all-consuming good news presented in this book! Our students have asked good questions and engaged in conversations about theology and practice that make me continually excited to revisit Paul’s message every week. I have especially gained encouragement from Paul’s reminder to withstand the pattern of the world and instead allow Christ to transform our minds - what an important message to remember in the midst of the times through which we are living!
Spring is in the air, and the Holy Spirit is on the move at Princeton! We’ve just wrapped up our Bible courses for the year with seniors completing our “Vocational Prep” course, equipping them with a theology of work, money, and giving. Our juniors and sophomores completed our Romans course, delving into some of the richest theology of salvation in the Bible. And our freshman just finished our Sex and Spirituality Bible course, learning about God’s design for sexuality, marriage, and the family.
Our freshman men gathered together this week for a BBQ and firepit and reflected on their experiences this year at Princeton. Invariably, they answered that the best part about Princeton is the Christian community and the friends they’ve made in Christian Union!
Greetings from “The Farm.” As you know, God is constantly on the move here at Christian Union Caritas, and I'm elated to share with you some of the wonderful things occurring.
"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." - Ephesians 4:4-6 (ESV)
Greetings from Penn!
Hope this finds you well.
Things on campus have gotten progressively more interesting. Students are in finals, we are wrapping up the year with “see you later” hugs, and the protest encampment is bringing a lot of attention.
It has been a busy semester for Christian Union Lux at Yale! God is so good!
I'd like to share some testimonies from our students about how the semester is wrapping up. Here’s feedback from one of Christian Union's senior ladies about our recent ‘prefrosh welcoming campaign’ during Bulldog Days: "Bulldog Days was such a reminder of the Lord’s faithfulness to His children in such a special time at college. As a senior, I was already inspired by the current freshmen who came together to put on Bulldog Days for the pre-frosh. It was a beautiful reminder of the laborers God has brought to continue serving in CU. It’s a special joy to me as my peers and I graduate."
When Harvard was first founded in 1636, one of its central bylaws was written as follows:
"Let every student be earnestly pressed to consider well that the main end of his life and studies is to know God and Jesus Christ who is eternal life--and therefore to lay Christ in the bottom, as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning."
In 1993, when evangelist Billy Graham asked Harvard’s president, Derek Bok, what the greatest struggle his students dealt with at the college, Bok quickly responded, “Living with emptiness.”
As spring descends upon the bustling city, CU New York is in full swing!
Over the last month I have had several meetings with Cornerstone partners! It was delightful getting to know so many new people during this first month here as the new executive director of CU New York. Hearing stories of transformation in people's lives never gets old! In fact, I recently had a coffee meeting with a faithful Cornerstone partner who has been tremendously blessed by the CU Fire Retreats. She asked about the vision for those in the future. CU New York's desire is to see the number of CU Fire Retreats increase dramatically across New York City with hosts in every borough! Would you join us in prayer for this?
A Glimpse into the Power of a Christian Union Bible Course
by erin conner, writer and communications associate
On the first day of one of Christian Union Gloria's Bible courses this spring, one young man began to believe that this "God thing" might be for him. He asked CU Gloria's ministry fellow, Jim Galvin, "Could there be more to my faith than what I have seen so far?" In that moment, Galvin set out on a journey of one-on-one discipleship with this young man. This student and this ministry fellow began to intentionally seek God wholeheartedly for the remainder of this spring semester together. Through one-on-one mentoring, in part, this student began to grow in the Lord. He intentionally walked away from many college campus temptations to be "of the world," while a deep longing to share his faith with others grew within him.
Christian Union Nova at Princeton Holds Powerful Leadership Lecture Series
by erin conner, writer and communications associate
To address the mental health crisis on our nation's college campuses, Christian organizations such as Christian Union and the Veritas Forum are using their ministries to create opportunities and discussions, as well as provide forums and workshops, to equip students to explore deeper meaning, freedom, and life through their faith in God.
Recently, Christian Union Nova at Princeton invited Dr. Matthew Suh to speak at a Friday night Leadership Lecture Series on “The Religion of Science, Integration of Faith, and the Art of Healing-a Christian Surgeon’s Journey into Supernatural Faith.” It was a powerful message and testimony, incorporating his career as a surgeon, his faith in Christ, and how the Lord miraculously healed him.
Student Spotlight: Brianna Garcia, '27, Christian Union Martus at Penn
by erin conner, writer and communications associate
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." - Romans 12:1
Entering University of Pennsylvania this past fall was an answered prayer for Brianna Garcia. As a first generation student, she will be exploring business related majors in the Wharton School as an undergraduate with a personal mission statement driving her: "My whole life I've wanted to build things for others around the concepts of service and community; I want to build a life
Bold University Ministry in America Featured on Canadian Show
by erin conner, writer and communications associate
The Perspective with Mike Sherbino is a ministry with a mission 1) to use television, social media, and radio as a primary way to communicate Christian values, insights and the hope of the gospel to Canada and beyond, 2) to talk about issues related to people's understanding of how faith in Jesus Christ can transform the way we live our lives, and 3) to use their platforms to push back against the secular agenda of our day and provide broadcast platforms for other like-minded ministries doing the same.
The Perspective has enjoyed a substantial audience across Canada, as this show provides solutions for navigating life’s journey by unpacking scripture through the lens of culture, crisis, and current events.
April's Weekend Fire Retreat Greatly Impacts Participants
By Erin conner, writer and communications associate
Christian Union America equips and supports Christian Union Universities' alumni, as well as other Christian leaders across the country, with programs such as its alumni mentorship program, CU Fire Retreats, Bible studies, Daniel Spirituality coaching, and in-person conferences and forums. Christian Union's aim through these programs is to equip and strengthen Christian leaders to wholeheartedly seek God to transform their hearts and minds more unto the image of Christ and to transform their families, communities, and the nation as a result.
The most recent CU Fire Retreat, held in April, equipped Christians across the country to better understand the fear of God and the fear of man, exploring how the former leads to wisdom and life, and the latter leads to more fear and deeper despair. Testimonies of lives that have been touched by God through April's weekend CU Fire Retreat are rolling in:
"The CU Fire retreat helped my faith to increase in that my need to fear God is so much stronger and so much more powerful than the fear of man."
Devotional from CU National Fast 2024: Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace of all Nations
By jason walsh, president of christian union universities
As I stood tall before a judge in a civil case, I waited for the judgment to be announced. I was prepared. I was confident the truth of my statements was sufficient. I knew I stood for what was right, but I was unwilling to look to my left at the individual I perceived as my enemy. Memories as a United States Marine during uniform inspections flashed through my mind. I had spent years standing tall while being inspected from head to toe. I prepared for these inspections to the point I’d be surprised if the inspecting Marine found anything incorrect, yet whispers of doubt had me wondering if I overlooked anything while I waited for the final judgment. But this wasn’t the Marine Corps. This wasn’t about my preparation. This involved a person acting as an enemy toward me. While everyone waited for a judgment to be spoken, I thought, "how could this person get away with false claims?” “How could this person be so deceiving?” “Did their lies convince the judge? “Does the truth matter?” “Would my enemy receive a just penalty?”
