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
Yale Alumna Recalls Seeking God Lifestyle Course
By Alisha Reginal, Yale ’15
Christian Union whet my appetite for fasting. Nine years ago, I participated in Christian Union’s Seeking God Lifestyle Bible course at Yale. The course discussed seven principles to intentionally draw near to God. The first was “humility with fasting.”
Virtual Women’s Bible Course at Brown Stays Connected
By Anne Kerhoulas, Staff Writer
The women of Christian Union Libertas at Brown University are using this season to dig deep. Although the fall and spring semesters are very different than in previous years, with most students taking classes remotely, the women’s side of the ministry has found ways to deepen their connections with one another.
Ministry Fellow Laurel Copp realized that things would need to look different this academic year in order to engage students well, so she took two of the Chrisitan Union foundations, Bible course and discipleship, and reimagined them. While much is the same, a lot is different, as Copp believes this year can be one of substantial growth.
Christian Union Caritas Launches Small Groups
By Anne Kerhoulas, Staff Writer
In the midst of long-distance community and ministry, Christian Union Caritas has found an opportunity to launch a new initiative to help Stanford University students stay connected to one another and deepen relationships. Small groups have been something that Senior Ministry Fellow Justin Woyak, Princeton '07, has wanted to start for a few semesters, but the time never seemed right. But with students feeling disconnected from each other due to the COVID-19 pandemic, small groups have become a new focal point for the CU Caritas community.
Adewuyi ’20 Thankful for Christian Union’s Influence
By Catherine Elvy
A recent Harvard Law School alumnus plans to use his skills and talents to advocate for housing access and affordability. Yemi Adewuyi ’20 wants to play a role in initiatives that empower the disadvantaged to become self-sufficient.
“Justice is making sure that a person experiencing homelessness can escape poverty,” said Adewuyi.
Christian Union Bible Courses Are a Virtual Training Ground at Princeton
By Anne Kerhoulas, Staff Writer
Christian Union Nova, the student organization at Princeton University, was forced to get creative as it considered how to manage nearly twenty online Bible courses among only three ministry fellows this fall. Students wanted to stay in their regular Bible courses since they are places of growth, personal sharing, and deep spiritual friendship. In order to care for these students well, while also ensuring that they would receive high-quality instruction as they studied the Gospel of Mark, Christian Union Nova faculty created a new method of teaching.
CU Bible Courses for Female Athletes Thrive at Cornell
By Anne Kerhoulas, Staff Writer
Athletes understand the concept of family; a group of people you might not have chosen becoming the ones with whom you share life. The team forms such a family where sacrifice and faith in one another drive these individuals towards a common goal. It’s no wonder that athletes share a particularly special bond when they come together around the Gospel. And the female athletes at Cornell have been doing just that.
