Harvard
Pressing Toward the Finish Line
Pinson ’19 Aspires to Medical Career
by catherine elvy, staff writer
A student-athlete, Claire Pinson relishes opportunities to support her teammates. Helping others to be their best is also a practice the Harvard College senior hopes to take into the medical field.
“I was put on the team to touch the people around me,” said Pinson, a member of the women’s swimming and diving team. In addition to helping the Crimson make a splash at collegiate meets, Pinson ’19 also has a passion to express her faith, in and out of the pool.
The pre-med student, who grew up in a Christian household, has flourished in her faith walk since enrolling in Harvard, especially via the mentorship she has received from Christian Union’s ministry.
Weakness
Ministry Fellow Christine Shin
How and when do you boast in weakness? The primary way in which God's power will be perfected in your weakness. Evangelize in weakness, so that Christ's power will be perfected in weakness.
"How many of us ask God to show up in power so that we can look good? God does not grant you power for you to look good, He does it so others will see Jesus."
Shepard Found the Truth at Harvard
Kennedy School Professor Recalls being Surprised by Grace
By Mark Shepard, Harvard ’08, PhD ’15
Editor’s note: The following story was reprinted with permission from The Veritas Forum (www.veritas.org).
Harvard University is special for me because it is where I first came to know Jesus Christ. Perhaps this should not be surprising. Harvard is a place that reveres truth (Veritas), and Jesus says He is the truth. But most people when they hear this about me are surprised, since they see the university as a secular place. Let me share my story and a few of the surprises it has entailed.
Honoring Elizabeth Anscombe
Symposium Explores Arguments for Virtue, Chastity, and Sexual Ethics
By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer
The Harvard Anscombe Society recently paid tribute to the the remarkable contributions of its namesake while celebrating the 100th anniversary of her birth.
In March, about 50 students, alumni, and other associates attended the 2019 Harvard Anscombe Symposium to honor the life of British intellect Gertrude Elizabeth Anscombe. At the gathering on March 16 in Adams House, participants explored Anscombe’s writings on the philosophy of mind, action, and intention, plus her modern arguments on behalf of virtue, chastity, and sexual ethics.
In March, the Harvard Anscombe Society celebrated the 100th anniversary of the birth of its namesake.
CU Student Spotlight: Harvard
Audrey's Story
"I thought that God just didn't care about anything in my life, that He didn't care about me...I also thought that a lot of Christians use God to do really hypocritical things."Get Involved
To learn more or to get involved with Christian Union Gloria at Harvard, click here.
Texts-4-Toasties at Harvard
Harvard Students Deliver Answers to Tough Questions
by catherine elvy, staff writer
In the midst of the potent stresses of final exams, students involved with Christian Union’s ministry at Harvard College stepped forward to deliver nutrition and encouragement to their classmates.
About 30 students from the ministry helped serve 150-plus hot sandwiches as part of a Texts-4-Toasties event. The undergrads formed the backbone of an effort by The Harvard Ichthus to gather student believers to grill and distribute hot sandwiches to classmates texting spiritual queries in exchange for late-night fare.
Before final exams, the Ichthus encouraged Crimson students across campus to submit questions about Christianity in exchange for replies plus sandwiches made from cheese, Nutella, or marshmallow fluff.The campus publication offers a Christian perspective on issues, literature, and culture.
A New England Homecoming
Harvard Law Ministry Director Has a Passion for Revival
by catherine elvy, staff writer
Since his seminary days of two decades ago, Justin Yim has been fervently praying for revival to ignite across New England. Now, the longtime pastor will have a chance to mentor law students and encourage them to seek God fervently via his new position with Christian Union. This fall, Yim stepped into the role of the ministry director for the organization’s ministry at Harvard Law School.
“I always had a heart for New England,” said Yim, who grew up in New York City and attended seminary in Massachusetts. “When this opportunity came up with Christian Union, my wife and I felt a pang in our hearts. God has always been faithful, and we felt like it was time.”
What Makes a Human, Human?
Benjamin PascutHow we understand what it means to be human?
Benjamin Pascut, PhD, addresses students involved in Harvard College Faith and Action,
Faithful in the Little Things
The story of Anah discovering the hot springs in Genesis is probably one you didn’t hear as a kid. Christian Union Ministry Fellow Fady Ghobrial addresses undergraduates involved in Harvard College Faith & Action (an autonomous student organization at Harvard, supported and resourced by Christian Union) about this seemingly insignificant character. Find out what faithfulness in the little things looks like, why it is important to our life and calling, and how God rewards it! (27:15)2018 Conference Highlights
The Christian Union Cities Conference convened graduate students and diverse professionals, from recent graduates to seasoned pros, from across industries, to explore compelling ideas about faith and its relevance to every facet of our lives. Graduates of Columbia, Dartmouth, Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton and Yale explored their role in becoming Christian leaders. (2:26)Harvard Recognition Update
HCFA is an organization staffed and resourced by Christian Union
Click here to read the Harvard Recognition Blog. The blog includes links to articles regarding the exact status of HCFA and articles related to the situation.A Spiritually Vibrant Nation
A Blessing To The World
Since 2002, Christian Union has worked to help bring sweeping spiritual change to America. We want to see the United States become a spiritually vibrant nation that blesses the world. (5:07)Please consider giving a generous gift by June 30 to engage even more students with the gospel. Click here to donate today.
2018 Nexus Highlights
The Nexus 2018 theme of "Turn the World Upside Down" comes from Acts 17, when Christians were accused of turning the world upside down with the message of Jesus Christ. What does it mean to turn the world upside down with the Good News? In God’s "upside down" economy, Christ died so that we might live, the weak are strong, the poor are rich. How can we be a part of what God is doing today? These questions were at the heart of Nexus.For one weekend, students worshiped and prayed together, heard from high-caliber speakers, experienced engaging breakout sessions, connected with one another in small groups, and built cross-campus ties around shared challenges and opportunities.
SpokenWord Highlights from Nexus 2018
![harvard spokenword 2018](/images/content/photos/events/Nexus_2018/harvard-spokenword-2018.jpg)
On Saturday night, a team from each school competed in the Christian Union SpokenWord competition that required teams to memorize and present any selection of scripture passages in a spoken word style. The presentations were powerful, creative, and inspiring. A highly energetic audience spurred each team on, and after jubilantly celebrating the top performances, performers and audience together broke into a playful dance party to cap off the joyous celebration of the power of God's Word!
Watch the top three finalists, below, as revealed at Nexus 2018:
Religious Liberty and Justice for All?
Van Oss Writes about Wheaton Case for Harvard Law Review
By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer![trenton-van-oss](/images/content/photos/magazine/2016-Summer/trenton-van-oss.jpg)
With deep admiration for that principle, a Harvard Law School student addressed concerns over the status of such freedoms when he penned an article for the Harvard Law Review exploring some of the key issues in the recent Wheaton College v. Burwell case.
Given his concerns for government interference in the operations of faith-based entities, Trenton Van Oss took on the complex topic for an article that appeared in January.
The Wheaton alumnus of 2013 is an active participant in Christian Union's ministry at Harvard Law School.
The Faith of Freshmen
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Guilty by Association: The Disturbing Implications of Harvard’s Blacklist
![cu-today-disturbing-implications-harvard-blacklist-cu](/images/CU_Today_Images/cu-today-disturbing-implications-harvard-blacklist-cu.jpg)
Faith and Vocation
Nexus Conference Networks, Inspires Students and Professionals
By Eileen Scott, Senior Writer![CU_Nexus_2016_145](/images/CU_Today_Images/CU_Nexus_2016_145.jpg)
The Omni Hotel in New Haven, Connecticut, just a couple blocks from Yale University, was home to a weekend of vibrant worship, continuous and intercessory prayer and engaging messages from powerful plenary speakers on April 1-3. Students from Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, and Yale attended the conference, which offered insight, inspiration, networking, and practical advice on discerning God's purpose for life, campus, and career.
Meeting God at Harvard
Why Harvard is Anything But Godless
![131529950](/images/CU_Today_Images/131529950.jpg)
Mackereth highlights his own faith experiences at Harvard and explains how this precipitated a close relationship with God. “Though I came from an Anglican family, it was here that the old creeds and old hymns to God in the Highest first really came to life for me. Since then, I have been an active member of the Christian student community on campus,” he writes.
Defending the Right to Worship
Scholar Exhorts Attendees at Harvard Catholic Center Event
![Religious-Freedom_Mag5_article](/images/content/photos/magazine/2015-Winter/Religious-Freedom_Mag5_article.jpg)
The Harvard Catholic Center sponsored the event, entitled "Give Me Freedom (Religious) or Give Me Death."
Stravinskas, editor of The Catholic Answer magazine and books such as The Catholic Response and The Catholic Church and the Bible, exhorted attendees to refute the bifurcation of religious freedom by a secular culture.
Stravinskas spoke about how society is seeking to replace authentic Christian worship and expression with a more politically correct and passive version of religion.
The right to assemble is tolerated, but the freedom to live out your faith with actionable belief and works is disallowed.