God at Work at Princeton

“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.

Robert L. Melrose Center for Christian Leadership, Christian Union Nova’s Ministry Center at Princeton

On any given night, you will find groups of students at the Melrose Center worshiping, praying, studying Scripture, encouraging one another, attending leadership lectures, and/or breaking bread together, giving thanks to the Lord. Ministry director Mike Vincent, ‘10 and two ministry fellows, Jacob Thomas and Qwynn Gross, serve hundreds of Princeton students each year here, inspiring and equipping them to seek the Lord wholeheartedly and to share the gospel in power and sincerity with others.  

This fall, the Bible courses are very full, as there are currently 12 groups of students studying the Book of Mark. In this season, the Lord is showing students at Princeton, in part, the significance of one soul to the heart of God: one roommate, one stranger, one floormate, one student sitting beside them in class, at the dining hall, or at an event.

At the start of the fall term last year, Cynthia Makachi attended a Christian Union event at the Melrose Center, but arrived late. There was only one seat left. The empty seat was beside a freshman girl she had never met, so Cynthia believes that she would not have chosen that seat otherwise. During a break, they both walked to the kitchen together and over a counter of food, the freshman girl told Cynthia that she was an unbeliever who was invited by another CU student in a hallway of her dorm earlier that day to attend this event. She came to the Melrose Center because she had questions that she needed answered.

Cynthia asked her if she’d like to talk somewhere more privately, and they decided to go to another room in the ministry center to talk. Cynthia ended up asking her, “Do you want to accept Jesus today?” and the girl said yes. Cynthia proceeded to lead her through a prayer of salvation, prayed for her afterwards, met up with her for a meal the following week, and connected her to CU Nova's women's ministry fellow.  Julian Jensen-Lim, '25, who led two of his roommates to Christ, said, "I am excited about what God is doing right now in terms of outreach to unbelievers at Princeton." 

Jacob Thomas, men's ministry fellow at CU Nova, said, "this fall, one sophomore student, who is not a believer, is consistently attending leadership lecture nights at the Melrose Center as his friends keep on inviting him, loving him, and welcoming him into Christian community. This student powerfully shared with me how much he cares about the students here and wants to know why they care so much about this."

This is a simple yet profound example that illustrates the hearts of CU Nova students to step outside the comfort of the "ninety nine" for the "one" (Matthew 18:12-14); they are eager to make others feel welcome, to foster a loving Christian community, and to serve the Lord with everything they have. They are sacrificing much of their time and energy to build a community to seek God together and to invite those who don't yet know Him to come and see that He is good. 

The first two Leadership Lecture Series at CU Nova this fall had almost 100 students in attendance, almost doubling numbers from last year. A deeper hunger for God is growing at Princeton yet again. 

Let us praise God for all He has done throughout the history of this university and for what He is doing now in His body of believers for His glory and honor.

And let us pray for God to continue to pour out His Spirit for the benefit of each and every one of the students at this university and in our nation.