November 11, 2019
Stewart Says She was Silenced Because of Religious Beliefs
Jannique Stewart, a pro-life advocate, was disinvited from speaking at Cornell Political Union this spring. In a Facebook post, Stewart, who was scheduled to appear in April, said her right to free speech was violated and the cancellation was due to her “outspoken beliefs regarding sexuality,” namely, that sex should be reserved for marriage, and her affirmation of marriage as a male-female relationship. Cornell Political Union (CPU), which seeks to promote “discourse with those from both ends of the political spectrum” and discuss “today’s most pressing political issues,” invited Stewart to speak about pro-life issues.November 7, 2019
The Questions of Culture, The Invitation of Christ; On the Loneliness Epidemic; A Class Day Discourse; The Power of Persistence; Restoring Religious Liberty and more, in this issue of Christian Union's bi-monthly email brief.
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.— Romans 12:10-13
November 4, 2019
A Med Student’s Exhortation to Live in the Moment
Editor’s note: The following article is reprinted with permission from Cornerstone Magazine, Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design’s Christian literary arts publication. In the spring of 2012, senioritis hit me. After reading my acceptance letter to Brown, I immediately began to daydream. Whether it was envisioning myself walking across the Main Green to class or chilling in the dorm lounge with my hallmates, I was preoccupied by thoughts of college. Before I knew it, prom and senior projects had become things of the past, and I stood next to my classmates at graduation. “Where did the time go?” I asked myself. I had been thinking about college so much that I had missed out on savoring my final moments as a high school senior. This is something I’ve struggled with for a long time. Even at Brown, similar thoughts crept up on me. I loved many parts about college life: late night conversations in Perkins, studying at the Ratty with friends, singing worship songs on a Friday night. My faith grew exponentially through fellowship, prayer, reading God’s Word, and spending time with Him and my brothers and sisters in Christ. Still, it seemed like the pattern of wanting to move on to the next season continued.October 31, 2019
Evangelism: Developing and Communicating Your Story of Jesus
On October 31st, CU New York had the privilege of hosting guest speaker Ken Fish for a salon focused on the topic of evangelism through conversation and testimony sharing.October 29, 2019
John Hay Library Puts Emphasis on “Gay Pulp Fiction”
Christian alumni from Brown and other top-tier universities were disturbed, but not entirely surprised, at the news of the university’s plans to expand and catalog its massive collection of “gay pulp fiction.” Brown University plans to catalog its massive collection of gay pulp fiction, and the John Hay Library’s curator of literary and popular culture collections would like to add “more books that cover the entire LGBTQ+ spectrum.” Brown’s more than 4,600 (and growing) volumes of cheap, highly explicit paperbacks is one of the biggest collections – or possibly the largest – of any, according to WBUR.org. The radio station noted that most of the books are “straight up pornography,” but others are categorized as “sexual lifestyle guides.” In July, Boston’s NPR news station reported on the university’s efforts to catalog its pulps. The majority of titles are geared to same-sex attracted men. Once finished, Heather Cole, the John Hay Library’s curator of literary and popular culture collections, says she is “interested in adding more books that cover the entire LGBTQ+ spectrum.”October 24, 2019
On Thursday, October 24, Christian Union co-hosted a Finance & Faith Forum with partners The King's College and Gordon College. This panel of distinguished speakers shared their insights as to what it means to be a follower of Christ in the financial services industry. They spoke to some of the unique challenges Christians in the field face, including navigating finance culture and Christian ethics.
October 24, 2019
Religious Liberty in the United States; St. Augustine and J.R.R. Tolkien; It Takes a Village; The Most Diverse Movement in History; Join Believers in Seeking God Together During the November Great Experiment and more, in this issue of Christian Union's bi-monthly email brief.
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”— Rev. 7:9-10
October 21, 2019
Scholar Served for Seven Years Following Death of Peter Gomes
Harvard’s minister of Memorial Church has stepped down after seven years of service to become dean of Wake Forest University’s School of Divinity. Jonathon Walton, who also served as Harvard’s Plummer Professor of Christian Morals, is a highly-regarded scholar and author. Jonathon Walton, Harvard University’s minister of Memorial Church, stepped down to become dean of Wake Forest University’s School of Divinity. In 2012, Harvard appointed the Atlanta native to Memorial Church, where he succeeded the university’s beloved, longtime minister Peter Gomes ’68 after his unexpected passing. Walton began his stint on the faculty of Harvard Divinity School in 2010. While at Harvard, he focused his research on the intersection of religion, politics, and culture, and frequently spoke out about social issues on campus and beyond.October 18, 2019
Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.— Colossians 4:12
Sometimes prayer is hard work, plain and simple. One friend in ministry is committed to spend four hours in prayer every day. While he has experienced some moments of great pleasure in God’s presence, he said that it’s mostly an exercise of buffeting his body and mastering the desires of his flesh.
October 15, 2019
Graduate School of Design Ministry Hosts Finals’ Event
This spring, the Harvard Graduate School of Design Christian Fellowship offered a soothing cup of tea and encouraging conversation to 200 students in the midst of final projects, writing essays, and perfecting drawings.
On April 27, ministry leaders hosted a Finals Tea for their colleagues at the Graduate School of Design. The event, which began four years ago, is designed to offer calm amidst the academic storm and give students an appreciation for sabbath rest. It’s a critical gesture of kindness during a time when students can become so overwhelmed they are susceptible to depression, and even thoughts of suicide, according to event coordinator and design student Vivian Kuong.
The Finals Tea was spot on in providing respite that allowed sabbath peace to permeate the lives of students who often plow through busy schedules without much thought of the power of rest. Kuong helped transform the Stubbins Room of Gund Hall into a sanctuary; candles burned in the dimly lit room that was fragranced by fresh flowers. Acoustic worship music helped to soothe frayed nerves.
October 10, 2019
A Graduate Student’s Faith Journey Through MATHEMATICS
Princeton mathematics student Evan O’Dorney’s accomplishments are nothing short of extraordinary. Yet, even with his many feats, he gives all glory to God. A trailblazer among the next generation of mathematicians, O’Dorney credits his Catholic faith as the source of his exceptional work ethic.
Princeton doctoral candidate Evan O’Dorney glorifies God through his amazing mathematical abilities.
While homeschooled in California, he medaled four times in the International Math Olympiad and won the Intel Science Talent Search at the national level. After graduating from Harvard summa cum laude, he completed Part III of the Mathematical Tripos at Cambridge, one of the most challenging mathematics courses in the world. Having received the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program award in support of his research, O’Dorney is currently undergoing his doctoral studies under Fields Medal winner Manjul Bhargava.
October 9, 2019
John Lennox: Has Science Buried God?; Bible Course Brotherhood; Groaning for God; Why (More Than Ever Before) You Need to Read Deeply; Judge: U of Iowa Officials Have to Pay for Repeated Discrimination Against Christian Groups and more, in this issue of Christian Union's bi-monthly email brief.
During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.— Exodus 2:23-25
October 4, 2019
Christian Union Hosts Three Engaging Events
During the spring semester, Christian Union’s ministry at Cornell organized three different outreach events in an effort to serve the community and further God’s kingdom in big and small ways.In March, the ministry hosted a screening of the documentary Liberated: The New Sexual Revolution to spark a conversation on the dangers of the hookup culture. A panel discussion and Q and A session followed.October 3, 2019
On April 7, 2019, our team posted a short video to the Christian Union Day and Night Facebook page. Compared to our usual daily posts, the video was unremarkable. It featured a stock video clip of rain drops softly falling on a street, overlaid with the following quote from David Wilkerson, evangelist, pastor, and author of the book The Cross and The Switchblade:
“When God calls you to something, He is not always calling you to succeed, He’s calling you to obey. The success of the calling is up to Him; the obedience is up to you.”
October 3, 2019
Orchestra, Choir Ensemble Celebrates 20-Year Anniversary
The Columbia University Bach Society’s spring concert featured the music of its namesake, including selections that proclaimed Christ as Lord.
Since its founding in 1999 through its twentieth anniversary campaign this year, the student-run orchestra and choir ensemble has been a major part of musical life at Columbia. Comprised of undergraduate and graduate students, as well as young musicians from New York City, the Bach Society consistently delivers stellar performances of sacred music from the Baroque and Classical periods. In the last five years alone, concerts have included selections from Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s Magnificat, and Mozart’s Requiem, among others.
The Columbia Bach Society held its spring concert, "Bach to Bach," on April 27 at St. Paul's Chapel.
October 1, 2019
Dartmouth Christians Unite to Seek the Lord
Each June, the entire rising junior class returns to Dartmouth College’s campus for what is known as Sophomore Summer. For ten weeks, students have the opportunity to try out new extracurriculars, gain momentum within their major in a more relaxed environment, and build stronger relationships with their classmates. This summer session in scenic Hanover, New Hampshire is a welcome respite from the usual academic rigor. Despite the university’s modest undergraduate population of 6,300 during the academic year, students are often too busy to dedicate as much time as they would like to connect with their peers and venture outside their familiar social circles.September 29, 2019
Dartmouth Roundtable Dinner Features Dr. Henry Clark
In observance of the college’s 250th anniversary celebration, the Dartmouth Roundtable Dinner discussion focused on founder Eleazar Wheelock and the Ethics of Commemoration.
Dr. Henry Clark, the director of Dartmouth’s Political Economy Project, gave the opening remarks and launched a discussion for an audience of Dartmouth professors, administrative leaders, local pastors and professionals, and student leaders. The roundtable dinners are hosted twice a year by Integrare, a campus ministry.
September 28, 2019
On Saturday, CU New York hosted its 3rd annual fall kickoff event. A group of over 50 young professionals enjoyed a cruise on the Hudson. Recent graduates were excited for the opportunity to connect with other like-minded professionals as they search for a church home and a fruitful community amidst the bustling culture of New York.
September 28, 2019
Penn Students Volunteer at Emmanuel Ministry
Most students cherish Saturday mornings as a precious time to sleep in. However, for some underclassmen at Penn, it’s a wonderful time to venture into Center City to prepare and serve meals for the Emmanuel Ministry at Liberti Church Center City.
Every week, Liberti Church opens its doors for volunteers to serve over 100 individuals who are experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. On a recent Saturday, some Penn students arrived at Liberti Church and were immediately greeted by head chef Matt Soldano, who gave marching orders. The instructions to “divide and conquer” ensures that the meal is ready to be served by noon when the dining hall is filled with guests. At about 11:30 a.m., volunteers from various churches and organizations gather to pray over the meal, make any urgent announcements, and decide who will prep plates and who will wait tables.
Chef Matt Solano (center) and volunteers in the kitchen at Emmanuel Ministry
September 27, 2019
