December 20, 2018
Greetings from Cambridge,
As we remember the birth of Jesus and celebrate the breathtaking global impact of the incarnation, I’ve been thinking of the extraordinary lengths that God went to so that we may know. John includes a remarkable number of things that we know in the end of his first letter; none more important than verse 20 (italics mine):
As we remember the birth of Jesus and celebrate the breathtaking global impact of the incarnation, I’ve been thinking of the extraordinary lengths that God went to so that we may know. John includes a remarkable number of things that we know in the end of his first letter; none more important than verse 20 (italics mine):
December 20, 2018
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I am writing to you from a small café on Princeton’s campus where many of our ministry fellows meet with students. It is not uncommon to see a ministry fellow at a table with a student, often with a Bible open, in this spot. This is one aspect of our ministry that your prayers and financial support enables—regular one-on-one discipleship of students. I personally just finished meeting with a student, studying the book of 1 Samuel together. In part, due to these meetings, this student has gone from having deep doubts about the Christian faith to becoming a Christian leader on campus. This has been extremely encouraging. Thank you for your partnership which allows for this kind of one-on-one discipleship to happen!
I am writing to you from a small café on Princeton’s campus where many of our ministry fellows meet with students. It is not uncommon to see a ministry fellow at a table with a student, often with a Bible open, in this spot. This is one aspect of our ministry that your prayers and financial support enables—regular one-on-one discipleship of students. I personally just finished meeting with a student, studying the book of 1 Samuel together. In part, due to these meetings, this student has gone from having deep doubts about the Christian faith to becoming a Christian leader on campus. This has been extremely encouraging. Thank you for your partnership which allows for this kind of one-on-one discipleship to happen!
December 20, 2018
Dear Friends and Partners of Christian Union at Penn,
Merry Christmas! Classes have ended and finals have commenced at the University of Pennsylvania. Our students are dealing with the stress of finals, but also the anticipation of an extended break.
Merry Christmas! Classes have ended and finals have commenced at the University of Pennsylvania. Our students are dealing with the stress of finals, but also the anticipation of an extended break.
December 20, 2018
We come again to the end of a semester. As I write this, a few students have finished all their work and are packing to go home, while others are still gearing up for the push through final exams, papers, and projects. Please pray that our students receive grace, not only to finish well, but that they would turn to their heavenly Father in times of pressure. Truly, He carries us through when our strength and wisdom fail; and by trusting in Him, our hearts find rest even where others are crippled with anxiety. As the psalmist says: “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Ps 4:8, ESV).
Pray that our students rest well over the break: that they sleep well, spend quality time with family and friends, exercise their bodies and have fun—those things we all know to do, and which can be difficult to keep in the balance with busy lives, especially for young and ambitious students—and that they will seek God’s face diligently. It’s all too easy, when the structure of a regular routine is interrupted for a few weeks, to lose the momentum of positive habits that we’ve built up. Pray that our students will use the break not to sit around aimlessly, but to increase the time and energy they devote to prayer and reading the Scriptures.
And let us all—students, Christian Union faculty, and you, our partners in prayer—give thanks for the abundance of good work God has done in our midst this semester. “Blessed are those who keep His testimonies…” (Ps 119:2). We’ve seen a deepening of fellowship and unity in our community; we’ve welcomed in a wonderfully eager and engaged freshman class, who continue to bring in new friends even at semester’s end; and we’ve seen movement along every stage of the discipleship spectrum, from the un-churched exploring and discovering the gospel for the first time to established believers deepening their faith and growing in knowledge and love. God has been good, as He is and always will be, and He is worthy of our thanks and praise.
To you also, whose prayers are precious to God and a help to us, my co-workers and I extend our sincere gratitude. May the Lord bless you and keep you in Christ Jesus, until he comes again in glory to reign forever and ever.
Michael Racine
Ministry Fellow
Christian Union at Yale
Please note: if you would like to receive regular updates on how to pray for Christian Union's work at Yale, please email prayer@christianunion.org.
Pray that our students rest well over the break: that they sleep well, spend quality time with family and friends, exercise their bodies and have fun—those things we all know to do, and which can be difficult to keep in the balance with busy lives, especially for young and ambitious students—and that they will seek God’s face diligently. It’s all too easy, when the structure of a regular routine is interrupted for a few weeks, to lose the momentum of positive habits that we’ve built up. Pray that our students will use the break not to sit around aimlessly, but to increase the time and energy they devote to prayer and reading the Scriptures.
And let us all—students, Christian Union faculty, and you, our partners in prayer—give thanks for the abundance of good work God has done in our midst this semester. “Blessed are those who keep His testimonies…” (Ps 119:2). We’ve seen a deepening of fellowship and unity in our community; we’ve welcomed in a wonderfully eager and engaged freshman class, who continue to bring in new friends even at semester’s end; and we’ve seen movement along every stage of the discipleship spectrum, from the un-churched exploring and discovering the gospel for the first time to established believers deepening their faith and growing in knowledge and love. God has been good, as He is and always will be, and He is worthy of our thanks and praise.
To you also, whose prayers are precious to God and a help to us, my co-workers and I extend our sincere gratitude. May the Lord bless you and keep you in Christ Jesus, until he comes again in glory to reign forever and ever.
Michael Racine
Ministry Fellow
Christian Union at Yale
Please note: if you would like to receive regular updates on how to pray for Christian Union's work at Yale, please email prayer@christianunion.org.
December 20, 2018
Merry Christmas from Palo Alto!
As I write this, our students are in the final stretch of their fall quarter, laboring over exams and papers, counting the minutes until they can walk away from all of it for a few weeks. For busy students (as well as the rest of us) exerting so much energy and focus on finishing the task during this time of year can certainly take them out of the season of Advent—a season of expectation, waiting, and reflection. In light of this, how refreshing it was recently when one of our students led a prayer time on campus using the words of a great old Christmas hymn to focus our devotion and prayer:
As I write this, our students are in the final stretch of their fall quarter, laboring over exams and papers, counting the minutes until they can walk away from all of it for a few weeks. For busy students (as well as the rest of us) exerting so much energy and focus on finishing the task during this time of year can certainly take them out of the season of Advent—a season of expectation, waiting, and reflection. In light of this, how refreshing it was recently when one of our students led a prayer time on campus using the words of a great old Christmas hymn to focus our devotion and prayer:
November 21, 2018
Friends,
It’s hard to believe, but we’re nearing the end of the semester here at Brown University. Our Christian Union community has had a full past couple of months digging into the book of Hebrews through Bible Courses, gathering together weekly for our large-group Leadership Lecture Series (“The Anchor”), serving students on campus and the larger Providence community, a Fall Retreat back in October, and currently a week of fasting and prayer, culminating in a large Thanksgiving feast on November 17th. With all this and so much more, it’s been a fun, spiritually nourishing, and busy semester so far!
It’s hard to believe, but we’re nearing the end of the semester here at Brown University. Our Christian Union community has had a full past couple of months digging into the book of Hebrews through Bible Courses, gathering together weekly for our large-group Leadership Lecture Series (“The Anchor”), serving students on campus and the larger Providence community, a Fall Retreat back in October, and currently a week of fasting and prayer, culminating in a large Thanksgiving feast on November 17th. With all this and so much more, it’s been a fun, spiritually nourishing, and busy semester so far!
November 21, 2018
Greetings,
This past month has been a fruitful time of ministry at Columbia. We praise God for two students who gave indications that they wanted to begin to follow Christ. May God increase this number as we continue to minister. We also have had a strong semester of engaging Illumina meetings. I preached a sermon on prayer and several students have remarked how impactful it was for their spiritual growth. One student told me that he has consistently gotten up in the morning to attend student prayer since this time. We also had pastor Rasool Berry return to speak on our search for identity from Ephesians. Students remarked how his talk caused them to rethink where they searched for purpose and meaning.
This past month has been a fruitful time of ministry at Columbia. We praise God for two students who gave indications that they wanted to begin to follow Christ. May God increase this number as we continue to minister. We also have had a strong semester of engaging Illumina meetings. I preached a sermon on prayer and several students have remarked how impactful it was for their spiritual growth. One student told me that he has consistently gotten up in the morning to attend student prayer since this time. We also had pastor Rasool Berry return to speak on our search for identity from Ephesians. Students remarked how his talk caused them to rethink where they searched for purpose and meaning.
November 21, 2018
Brothers and sisters in Christ,
Though it seems like it just began, the semester is coming to an end as we approach Thanksgiving break which is followed soon by winter break. In this last month, God has continued to move in amazing ways on Cornell’s campus, and I am sure that He will continue to do so as we approach the end of the year. We hosted a second day of our book giveaway and received great responses from students. We have had two students come to regular CU events on campus due to that outreach. We have also seen a couple of new believers become more involved in the community and seek discipleship. Along with these wonderful events, we had a week of fasting which has been a great time of spiritual growth for the students.
Though it seems like it just began, the semester is coming to an end as we approach Thanksgiving break which is followed soon by winter break. In this last month, God has continued to move in amazing ways on Cornell’s campus, and I am sure that He will continue to do so as we approach the end of the year. We hosted a second day of our book giveaway and received great responses from students. We have had two students come to regular CU events on campus due to that outreach. We have also seen a couple of new believers become more involved in the community and seek discipleship. Along with these wonderful events, we had a week of fasting which has been a great time of spiritual growth for the students.
November 21, 2018
Hello from Dartmouth,
It’s hard to believe that we are already wrapping up our fall term. Students are in finals mode right now and looking forward to six weeks off to rest and spend time with family and friends. Thank you for all your prayers for them over these last 10 weeks. We have so much to be thankful for!
It’s hard to believe that we are already wrapping up our fall term. Students are in finals mode right now and looking forward to six weeks off to rest and spend time with family and friends. Thank you for all your prayers for them over these last 10 weeks. We have so much to be thankful for!
November 21, 2018
Greetings from Cambridge!
Blink and eleven weeks have come on gone. Seventy-seven days—give or take—of non-stop classes, sports, extracurricular activities, “psets”, exams, papers and interpersonal highs and lows. It’s no wonder that many students almost jog to the T or Uber to the airport as soon as they possibly can post Harvard-Yale festivities.
Blink and eleven weeks have come on gone. Seventy-seven days—give or take—of non-stop classes, sports, extracurricular activities, “psets”, exams, papers and interpersonal highs and lows. It’s no wonder that many students almost jog to the T or Uber to the airport as soon as they possibly can post Harvard-Yale festivities.
November 21, 2018
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I am writing to you after just meeting with one of our student leaders named Tyler. In our times of discipleship together we are currently looking at the book of Matthew. I have been meeting with Tyler regularly for over a year now and through our ministry he is becoming a strong Christian leader. Of course, these meetings are just a small part of the ministry—all of which is enabled by your generous support.
I am writing to you after just meeting with one of our student leaders named Tyler. In our times of discipleship together we are currently looking at the book of Matthew. I have been meeting with Tyler regularly for over a year now and through our ministry he is becoming a strong Christian leader. Of course, these meetings are just a small part of the ministry—all of which is enabled by your generous support.
November 21, 2018
Dear Friends and Partners of Christian Union at Penn,
This semester has been brilliant! Our freshman class is committed and enthusiastic about community and growing in the Lord together. I am continually amazed at the diligent efforts of our ABCL’s (Assistant Bible Course Leaders), who are serving and leading the Class of 2022 in gentleness and humility. We as a leadership team, have been meeting every Friday with our students who are currently teaching freshman Bible courses. Every week we are amazed, as they ALL gather to learn and acquire the tools needed to be better equipped to administer God’s word to their students. It has also been encouraging to see ABCL’s show up consistently who are not teaching and just want to be a support and be encouraged themselves. We are watching our leadership grow and mature and as a result, we are experiencing the same with our underclassmen; God is at work!
This semester has been brilliant! Our freshman class is committed and enthusiastic about community and growing in the Lord together. I am continually amazed at the diligent efforts of our ABCL’s (Assistant Bible Course Leaders), who are serving and leading the Class of 2022 in gentleness and humility. We as a leadership team, have been meeting every Friday with our students who are currently teaching freshman Bible courses. Every week we are amazed, as they ALL gather to learn and acquire the tools needed to be better equipped to administer God’s word to their students. It has also been encouraging to see ABCL’s show up consistently who are not teaching and just want to be a support and be encouraged themselves. We are watching our leadership grow and mature and as a result, we are experiencing the same with our underclassmen; God is at work!
November 21, 2018
Thank you all for your continuing prayers in support of God’s work through Christian Union at Yale. The Lord is indeed moving here in beautiful ways. We celebrated as one of our freshmen, who made a faith commitment in high school, passed through the waters of baptism this past Sunday. Another student came to faith after a spiritual encounter two weeks ago. Still others are actively exploring, drawing near, and on the verge of giving their lives to Jesus. We’ve even had non-Christians bringing their friends to our Friday dinner and Leadership Lecture Series.
October 25, 2018
Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
We’re well on our way into the fall semester here at Brown University. Lots of life and ministry have happened so far this semester – Bible courses, community gatherings, service opportunities with local non-profits, and so much more. One highlight from the past month was our annual Fall Retreat to Lakeside Christian Camp and Retreat Center in the beautiful Berkshires of Massachusetts, the weekend of October 5-7. This year’s theme was “Until We Find Our Rest in You,” a theme taken from St. Augustine that focused on exploring what it means to find rest in Jesus in the midst of the busyness of life. The retreat center was the perfect setting to slow down and consider the rest of Jesus in community. There was plenty of time for small-group discussion, apple picking, and even the occasional nap. In all, the short time away proved to be exceptionally restful, encouraging and helpful in solidifying our community as the year begins.
We’re well on our way into the fall semester here at Brown University. Lots of life and ministry have happened so far this semester – Bible courses, community gatherings, service opportunities with local non-profits, and so much more. One highlight from the past month was our annual Fall Retreat to Lakeside Christian Camp and Retreat Center in the beautiful Berkshires of Massachusetts, the weekend of October 5-7. This year’s theme was “Until We Find Our Rest in You,” a theme taken from St. Augustine that focused on exploring what it means to find rest in Jesus in the midst of the busyness of life. The retreat center was the perfect setting to slow down and consider the rest of Jesus in community. There was plenty of time for small-group discussion, apple picking, and even the occasional nap. In all, the short time away proved to be exceptionally restful, encouraging and helpful in solidifying our community as the year begins.
October 25, 2018
Greetings,
Christian Union at Columbia recently celebrated the grand opening of its ministry center. The opening of this center is the culmination of years of prayer, fasting, and giving. We have begun to use the center for ministry and the difference has been immediately felt. We are one block from campus, right between two fraternities. Our location puts us right where all the action is, and we have already begun to have conversations with curious students wondering who their new neighbors are.
Christian Union at Columbia recently celebrated the grand opening of its ministry center. The opening of this center is the culmination of years of prayer, fasting, and giving. We have begun to use the center for ministry and the difference has been immediately felt. We are one block from campus, right between two fraternities. Our location puts us right where all the action is, and we have already begun to have conversations with curious students wondering who their new neighbors are.
October 25, 2018
Brothers and sisters in Christ,
October thus far has been a time of great growth and outreach for the students here at Cornell. Freshman campaign has ended, and the regular school year is in full swing. As things have begun to take on a normal schedule, students are regularly involved in Bible courses, daily prayer, and other events. Along with this, new relationships continue to be formed and grow within our community.
October thus far has been a time of great growth and outreach for the students here at Cornell. Freshman campaign has ended, and the regular school year is in full swing. As things have begun to take on a normal schedule, students are regularly involved in Bible courses, daily prayer, and other events. Along with this, new relationships continue to be formed and grow within our community.
October 25, 2018
Dear Prayer Partners,
Happy fall from Dartmouth! Last night our student executive team put on a dinner for all our ministry and Bible course leaders to care for them, as well as to give them opportunity to voice how they would like to see CU grow at Dartmouth and to pray for their specific areas of leadership. Will you join us in praying for their following requests?
Happy fall from Dartmouth! Last night our student executive team put on a dinner for all our ministry and Bible course leaders to care for them, as well as to give them opportunity to voice how they would like to see CU grow at Dartmouth and to pray for their specific areas of leadership. Will you join us in praying for their following requests?
October 25, 2018
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As I write to you today, there is a clear cool breeze in the air—a clear indication that Fall has finally arrived. Here in Princeton we are now well into the semester, with midterms right around the corner for our students. In the midst of the busyness here, God has been very faithful—he has helped get us off to a good start with a successful freshman campaign. In this letter, as usual, I wanted to update you on the freshman campaign as well as give you an update of some individual prayer requests that we have.
As I write to you today, there is a clear cool breeze in the air—a clear indication that Fall has finally arrived. Here in Princeton we are now well into the semester, with midterms right around the corner for our students. In the midst of the busyness here, God has been very faithful—he has helped get us off to a good start with a successful freshman campaign. In this letter, as usual, I wanted to update you on the freshman campaign as well as give you an update of some individual prayer requests that we have.
October 25, 2018
Dear Friends and Partners of Christian Union at Penn,
I was looking back at an old prayer letter from June 2018. In that letter I asked that you would “…pray for fresh vision for this coming fall. Even now as we plan, we are trusting in God’s power to bring divine appointments, to scatter the seed of the Gospel and to see much fruit born.”
I was looking back at an old prayer letter from June 2018. In that letter I asked that you would “…pray for fresh vision for this coming fall. Even now as we plan, we are trusting in God’s power to bring divine appointments, to scatter the seed of the Gospel and to see much fruit born.”
October 25, 2018
Dear Friends,
Thank you for continuing to remember us in prayer before the Lord Jesus Christ! I’m pleased to share that Fall Retreat (Oct 12-14) was the encouraging, faith-building experience that we had hoped it would be! We brought 28 students to the Incarnation Center to reconnect with God and with one another, and evangelist Chris White (Yale ’87) taught richly from God’s Word and his own life. Saturday night was particularly powerful as the Holy Spirit flooded the room during our time of worship, and God’s Spirit helped staff and students pray over and minister to one another. I had a strong impression right before the retreat that the young men and women in our ministry would begin to live more like “brothers and sisters” in Christ as a result of the weekend. Progress towards that end was evident in group times, play times, meal times, and we all agreed that God had graced us with much deeper sense of “openness” as guards had come down in response to His work in hearts.
Thank you for continuing to remember us in prayer before the Lord Jesus Christ! I’m pleased to share that Fall Retreat (Oct 12-14) was the encouraging, faith-building experience that we had hoped it would be! We brought 28 students to the Incarnation Center to reconnect with God and with one another, and evangelist Chris White (Yale ’87) taught richly from God’s Word and his own life. Saturday night was particularly powerful as the Holy Spirit flooded the room during our time of worship, and God’s Spirit helped staff and students pray over and minister to one another. I had a strong impression right before the retreat that the young men and women in our ministry would begin to live more like “brothers and sisters” in Christ as a result of the weekend. Progress towards that end was evident in group times, play times, meal times, and we all agreed that God had graced us with much deeper sense of “openness” as guards had come down in response to His work in hearts.
