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Devotional from CU National Fast 2024: Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace of all Nations
By jason walsh, president of christian union universities
As I stood tall before a judge in a civil case, I waited for the judgment to be announced. I was prepared. I was confident the truth of my statements was sufficient. I knew I stood for what was right, but I was unwilling to look to my left at the individual I perceived as my enemy. Memories as a United States Marine during uniform inspections flashed through my mind. I had spent years standing tall while being inspected from head to toe. I prepared for these inspections to the point I’d be surprised if the inspecting Marine found anything incorrect, yet whispers of doubt had me wondering if I overlooked anything while I waited for the final judgment. But this wasn’t the Marine Corps. This wasn’t about my preparation. This involved a person acting as an enemy toward me. While everyone waited for a judgment to be spoken, I thought, "how could this person get away with false claims?” “How could this person be so deceiving?” “Did their lies convince the judge? “Does the truth matter?” “Would my enemy receive a just penalty?”
The judge lifted his head and said, “Mr. Walsh, you are free to go.” Replying, “thank you sir,” I quickly headed for the exit, but as I reached for the door I heard, “Mr. Walsh!” It was the judge! I turned around as he said, “Semper Fi!” This was the Marine Corps motto “Semper Fidelis,” meaning, “Always Faithful.” The judge was one of my own! Maybe I was one of his own. Regardless, we were both Marines! Both of the same brotherhood and the same family! Once a Marine, always a Marine!
Jesus says, "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? (Matthew 5:44-47).
I was relieved and thankful when the judge told me I was free to go, but I hadn’t done anything in the courtroom reflecting love for my enemy or praying in response to their persecution of me. I hadn’t even looked at the person I considered an enemy that day. How was I any different from the rest of the world?
Paul writes, “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life”(Romans 5:10). This is a sobering reminder we were all enemies of God at one point, yet He loved us so much that He sent His son to die for us, pay our penalty, and reconcile us to Him. In other words, Jesus died for His enemies and He died for our current enemies. “For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).
As you read this, religious wars, territorial wars, cultural wars, organizational wars, civil wars, and spiritual wars are happening all over the world. These wars are happening in Israel, the Middle East, Ukraine, and cities and the related ideological wars on university campuses across America. These wars affect fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters. These wars affect governments, cities, and university students, many of whom are the future leaders of our nation.
These wars affect you and I, influencing our perception of good and evil, enemy and friend. But, like my courtroom experience, there is a Judge who oversees it all. It is great to stand tall for what is right. It is great to stand prepared in truth before the enemy. But what do you do when your enemy persecutes you? What do you do when the enemy persecutes your family, your country, or your organization? What do you do when the enemy makes false claims against you? Do you love them and pray for them? Or do you hope to make them pay for their actions? Do you respond in a way that demonstrates you are part of the same family of Christ Jesus?
As Christians, the greatest thing we have to offer our enemies and those who persecute us is the kingdom of Jesus! We earn the right to speak to our enemies about the kingdom of Jesus by showing them that kingdom! We earn the right to speak to our enemies about the kingdom of Jesus by loving them and praying for them. Jesus says do this, “so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:44).
I am honored to be a United States Marine, sharing the same brotherhood with the judge that said, “always faithful.” But, above all, I am eternally grateful I am a son of my Father in Heaven. He is the final Judge who we all will stand before one day. On that day, will we be counted by the Father as enemies? Or will we be counted as sons and daughters of our Father in heaven? Sons and daughters who were “always faithful?”
Father, as Your sons and daughters, forgive us when we are unfaithful to You. Forgive us when we have responded to persecution like the rest of the world. Forgive us when we have not loved our enemies and have failed to pray for those who persecute us. Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace for all nations and all people! Bring peace to Israel! Bring peace on our college campuses! Change our hearts! Change the hearts of Christians in the middle east and in America, so they love their enemies and look to You and pray in the midst of persecution. Lord, I pray that people of all religions would seek you and know You! Lord, heal our nation and bring protection to students on university campuses across America! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
A Ministry that Equips Tranformative Christian Leaders for Life
By Erin conner, writer and communications associate
Christian Union has been in the national spotlight for several weeks now. From magazine and newspaper articles, television interviews, a podcast appearance, a Worldwide Prayer Meeting at Yale with the Summit International School of Ministry that was live-streamed across multiple countries, and social media ads running from the west to the east coast of the U.S., many people in faith-based circles are asking, "What is Christian Union?"
Christian Union is a leadership development ministry that works at ten of the nation's most influential educational institutions and beyond to develop and connect Christians to transform culture for God's glory.
Christian Union (CU) is a unique ministry in that it meets a comprehensive set of needs in our nation's young adults:
1) Christian Union Universities meets the spiritual ministry needs of college students by providing them with one-on-one discipleship, Bible Courses, prayer, worship opportunities, spiritual retreats, and leadership training to strengthen their devotion to and faith in the Lord.
2) Christian Union America equips and supports these students, as well as other Christian leaders, after graduation with initiatives like mentorship programs, online weekend retreats, Bible studies, Daniel Spirituality coaching, and in person conferences and forums.
Christian Union's aim is to equip and strengthen Christian leaders to wholeheartedly seek God to transform their hearts and minds more unto the image of Christ, and to transform their families, communities, and the nation as a result.
Christian Union Caritas Ministry Fellow Justin Woyak with two students at Stanford. In addition to the ministry at Stanford, Christian Union has established ministries at nine other highly influential academic institutions.
This is a critical ministry in 2024, as the U.S. is in profound need of sweeping spiritual transformation. Despite the large number of Christians in the United States, the impact of the church in our culture has declined steadily. Furthermore, the predominant worldview in the most influential academic and cultural institutions is profoundly secular, pushing destructive ideologies that contribute to societal disorder.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) late last year released data showing that nearly 50,000 people died by suicide in the United States in 2022, reaching the highest number ever recorded and the highest rate since 1941 following the Great Depression. It seems clear that secular messages of human purpose and freedom are deceptively empty, and young adults are struggling with the highest level of depression and anxiety on record.
Christian Union believes Christ Jesus is the only name that holds the power to stop this trajectory and restore people, individually and collectively, back to Life. Thus, Christian Union develops leaders to proclaim His name in places of spiritual darkness. As a result, thousands of students since 2002, when Christian Union started its ministry, have joined CU with a desire to develop and use their talent, faith, courage, intellect, and fortitude to hunger after God and to transform their spheres of personal and professional influence for His glory. Furthermore, many have found salvation through Jesus Christ too. These students' faces and stories have filled the pages of Christian Union's Magazine for two decades.
Christians are called to love the Lord with all their heart, and with all their soul, and with all their mind, and with all their strength (Mark 12:30). Christian Union seeks to help students navigate the challenge, beauty, and implications of this call, not just for the four years they are in undergraduate school, but for the entirety of their lives.
Consider joining this movement today to help develop Christian leaders and to help America return to God.
Watch an upcoming interview on the national Christian television show, TCT Today, airing on Wednesday, April 17th, 2024 at 8 pm (ET) or Thursday, April 18th at 6 am (ET) here.
"Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!" - Psalm 95:1-2
Greetings from CU Libertas at Brown!
Thank you for your continued support for Christian Union Lumine here at Columbia University. We would be unable to reach the community of students here without you. During the month of March, the Lord has been really stirring the hearts of our students.
We have seen continued growth in our Monday night prayer meeting “Seek,” which we launched in February from an average of 5 students in attendance to an average of 15-20 each week. The meetings are being held in a classroom on campus and students walking by the classroom and hearing the a cappella worship and prayer have been stopping by.
Thank you as always for your support, as it is making a difference! March has been an absolutely incredible month for Christian Union Vita here on Cornell’s campus. The Lord has continued to move in extraordinary ways, and I’m so excited to share a few high points with you so you can celebrate with us!
First and foremost, we are praising the Lord for over a dozen students who have put their faith in Jesus this semester! This is an extraordinary blessing, and we are rejoicing in the salvations the Lord has allowed us to see and be a part of on campus. Your support helps to make this possible, so rejoice with us as a member of the team of workers who are a part of this harvest. Pray that God continues to draw more and more students to a saving knowledge of Him!
And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. - Jeremiah 3:15
It’s leadership transition time here within Christian Union Vox at Dartmouth! This April marks the beginning of the tenure of our new leadership team. The leaders of our Outreach, Socials, Worship, and Leadership Lecture Series teams, alongside the President and Vice President, have been giving their specific goals to reach the campus and build transformative Christian leaders. Now comes the fun part: with the training, resources, coaching and vision of CU, how can they maximize the impact of the gospel on the campus?
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” - Romans 5:1
Spring is a time of beauty and blooming, especially signifying new life as we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord on Easter Sunday. Praise God for the good news of the gospel, that through faith and repentance, we can be reconciled and have peace with God!
Greetings from Princeton! God is on the move here in Christian Union Nova and I’m excited to share with you some of the amazing things that are happening!
On March 1st, we welcomed local pastor Ian Graham, who gave a powerful message on the parable of the prodigal son. Many came forward at the end for prayer, as it touched the hearts of students. I think this was just what they needed before their midterms week and spring break.
I am thrilled to introduce myself as the new ministry director of CU Caritas at Stanford. My name is Marcus Preciado, and I am elated to have joined this incredible team and community. It has been a wonderful experience to be on campus this past month, engaging and connecting with the CU students. Witnessing their love and devotion to Christ has been truly inspiring. I can already see the Lord's mighty hand moving within the ministry.
I have had the privilege of joining the students in prayer, devotionals, and fasting. I have especially enjoyed attending Venture, our Leadership Lecture Series. It is quite encouraging to see so many students committed to growing as Christian leaders, choosing to spend their Friday nights worshiping and seeking the Lord.
Greetings from Penn! I pray this finds you well.
We find ourselves in a time of student leadership training and preparing for the Freshman Welcoming Campaign next fall. We recently turned over all of our student leaders and are recognizing them for their time and service within Christian Union. Collectively, they gave hundreds of hours to serve our ministry and Penn’s campus. The team and I are grateful for their contributions to the ministry and pray that they will ultimately have a heavenly reward for their service unto the Lord and his saints.
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