Merry Christmas!; Rest to Resist; A Fruitful Freshman Campaign; What the Founders Understood About Religious Freedom That We Must Recover; Loss and the Christian Virtue of Hope; Two Ways to Help Christian Union Develop Christian Leaders and more, in this issue of Christian Union's bimonthly email brief.  But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons..— Galatians 4:4-5

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A Book Review: Walter Brueggemann’s Sabbath as Resistance: Saying No To The Culture Of Now by Laurel CoppChristian Union ministry fellowAT Brown University I grew up observing the Sabbath. Aka: my family didn’t go out to eat on Sunday, get gas on Sunday, or go grocery shopping on Sunday. I spent my teenage life not going to the mall, doing homework, or grabbing Starbucks on Sunday (kidding, Starbucks wasn’t a thing when I was a teenager). You might think that sounds awful. But actually it meant that we always had people at my house with my dad making homemade pizza or grilling or baking elaborate desserts (because my mom didn’t cook on Sunday…it was work for her). It meant a day filled with playing games, singing, having bon fires, moshing to 90s music, playing basketball, swimming, and cruising in my car (until I ran low on gas of course). Not a bad way to spend Sundays.

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How Do I Glorify God in My Job?; A Labor of Love; Digital Media and the Church; Coaching Student Athletes; It's Past Time to Rethink Modern Sexual Morality and more, in this issue of Christian Union's bimonthly email brief.  Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.— Col. 3:17

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The God of the Apps Late in the twelfth century, Benedictine monks in England developed a sophisticated technology that allowed for greater regularity and precision of their daily work and prayers. The mechanical clock, a significant improvement over sundials and water-based clocks of the time, gave the Benedictines what they desired: synchronization and control over the brothers’ activities.[1]

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Columbia Ministry Center Update; Christians and Politics, Sexual Assault and the Scandal of Repentance, Thinking Through Faith at a Deeper Level, Christian Union Day & Night Invites You to Pray for Our Nation, Love the Life You Never Wanted and more, in this issue of Christian Union's bimonthly email brief.  Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. — 1 Peter 2:11-12

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Christian Union Course Gives Tejeda '18 Comfort, Perspective

It was an incredibly hard summer for Julissa Tejeda, a civil engineering major at Columbia University.  Her father passed away in June, and she spent most of her time helping to plan his funeral and taking care of the family’s financial affairs.

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Christian Union at Brown Hosts Block Party

Strategic planning, prayer, and a huge order of Chipotle helped Christian Union at Brown pull off one of its most successful outreaches to date.On Friday, September 7, the leadership development ministry hosted approximately 80 freshmen for a block party at the Judson Center. At the beginning of the semester, student leaders and Christian Union ministry fellows coordinated a wide range of freshmen welcoming events to let new students know about a vibrant Christian community on campus and its Bible courses, lecture series, and conferences.

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Meese, Yale '53, Remains Passionate About Religious Freedom

Ed Meese, the U.S. Attorney General during the Reagan administration and a Yale alumnus of 1953, paused to reflect on the godly legacy of the United States – and warn of its ever-expanding secular drift – during an appearance at Christian Union’s Staff and Faculty Conference this summer. “We are in a time of great peril, both governmentally and culturally,” said Meese. “It’s very important that we recognize where the country is today.”

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Peter and Linda Cline are partners, advocates, and great friends of Christian Union. Most recently, the Clines have helped to facilitate a generous $700,000 matching gift through the BridgeHead Foundation, where Peter serves as a trustee. This gift is supporting the ministry’s campaign to acquire a permanent ministry center at Columbia University in the heart of New York City. The BridgeHead Foundation exists “to assist Christian organizations in fulfilling the redemptive mission of the Gospel in bringing restoration of life to people and their communities through the thoughtful and strategic application of Christian values.” 

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Christian Union New York Hosts Welcoming Events

Christian Union New York extended a heartfelt welcome to recent graduates as they began new vocations and ventures in the city. In late September, some alumni of Christian Union’s ministries at top universities and other young professionals boarded a yacht for a two-hour excursion in New York Harbor against the stunning backdrop of Manhattan’s illuminated skyline. In addition to building connections with fellow believers, the young adults heard about Christian Union New York’s slate of leadership development opportunities and other resources to assist with adjustment to life in the world’s financial and cultural hub.

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CU Ministry Mentors Basketball, Football Players

As a former basketball coach, Christian Union’s interim ministry director at Princeton University knows the extraordinary influence and reach of athletes upon their teammates and classmates. As such, James Fields was pleased to see 10 players from the men’s basketball team at the ministry’s open house at the Campus Club early in the fall semester. The appearance was especially welcome as Princeton dominated the Ivy League during 2016-17 by going undefeated in conference play and captured the inaugural conference tournament. In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the Tigers lost a heartbreaker to Notre Dame, 60-58. “These guys have a lot of social capital. They just came off a phenomenal year. They are the ones who are on the front lines and leading our athletic community,” said Fields. “In the midst of their success, they are still looking for Jesus. That’s really exciting.

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Student's Faith Invigorated by Christian Union Holy Land Tour

Next to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and writing a book, visiting Israel was at the top of my bucket list. Because my grandparents had an unforgettable experience, they would often tell me, “Francine, if you ever get a chance to go to Israel, by golly go!” Like King Arthur questing for the Holy Grail, like an intrepid explorer journeying to his ancestors’ homeland, this would be my once-in-a-lifetime, spiritually awakening, Christian pilgrimage. Little did I know this trip, which I imagined occurring decades in the future, would happen this past summer, following my freshman year at Cornell! In June, I joined 83 students and four Christian Union ministry fellows for the Passages: Experience Israel trip. We drew on the nation’s biblical foundation and modern development. We traveled far and wide, from Christ’s ministry headquarters in Capernaum to the Dead Sea, sampling rich Middle Eastern foods, wandering traditional marketplaces, and hearing guest speakers from around the country. While what I learned those 10 days could easily fill a novel, I thought of five main takeaways:

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Christian Union Welcomes Class of 2021

Students involved with Christian Union’s ministry at Harvard College eagerly welcomed members of the class of 2021 as they descended upon Cambridge. During late August and early September, ministry fellows and returning students hosted a series of events to greet freshmen, including a pizza party, waterfront picnic, and ice cream social. “The upperclassmen and ministry fellows are hungry for a harvest,” said Tyler Parker, a Christian Union intern and Harvard alumnus of 2017. “We are motivated in our mission.”

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Christian Union Hosts Forum with Ravi Zacharias, Abdu Murray at Yale

Why does the truth matter?This was the question posed by renowned apologists, authors, and scholars Abdu Murray and Ravi Zacharias to skeptics and believers alike at Yale University on the evening of October 10th. In the woody, warm sanctuary of Battell Chapel, a full house of 650 Yale students, local community members, and travelers from across the region congregated to hear Murray and Zacharias discuss “The Quest for Meaning in a Post-Truth Culture.” The Yale University Open Forum was made possible through the sponsorship of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries and Christian Union at Yale. 

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Columbia Ministry Center Update; Faithful to Christ in Hollywood: An Oscar-Nominated Director Shares; Sit with Me': Currents of Grief in Wind River; Balancing Rhythms of Rest and Work; Are You Hearing God's Voice? Five Ways You Can Hear God Speak Directly to You and more, in this issue of Christian Union's bimonthly email brief.  I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. — Psalm 9:1

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Until Midnight Nov. 1, Your Gift to a Columbia Ministry Center Will Be Tripled; Advice That’s Better Than ‘Follow Your Passion’; C.S. Lewis’s Famous Mud Pies: How Imagination Opens the Heart to Truth; A Reformation Day for American Christianity and more, in this issue of Christian Union's bimonthly email brief.  I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.— Philippians 1:3-6

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The Great Experiment; Serious Dating That Works; Hundreds Attend Christian Union Sponsored Open Forum with Ravi Zacharias at Yale; Please Give Today to Open the Columbia Ministry Center and more, in this issue of Christian Union's bimonthly email brief.  Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!— Psalm 150:2

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October 10th Event with Abdu Murray Draws 650

On Tuesday, October 10th, Christian Union's ministry at Yale hosted world-renowned Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias, and the North American director of Ravi Zacharias Ministries, Abdu Murray, who addressed an audience of approximately 650 at Yale's historic Battell Chapel. Watch the event, or find quotes from their talk and Q&A, below.

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Tragedy in Las Vegas; Science, Mathematics, and Christianity; Alvin Plantinga: a Transformative Christian Leader; Let’s Save the University from Secular Privilege; Speaking Ill of Hugh Hefner and more, in this issue of Christian Union's bimonthly email brief.  The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.  — Psalm 34:18

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A Yale Alumna Shares

"Growing up, I imagined Christianity was about being right, and I sought to understand God intellectually. It was only in college that God became real, as I was nearly 10,000 miles away from home and constantly challenged about my faith. I had to figure out what I actually believed.  Christian Union’s ministry at Yale was a safe refuge to bring my questions and doubts.

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