April 10, 2024
Dear CU Martus Cornerstone Partners and friends of the ministry,
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.
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.
March 12, 2024
Dear CU Martus Cornerstone Partners and friends of the ministry,
Grace and Peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ. I’m happy to be writing to you again, and am grateful for your prayers! The Lord has been working in our midst.
Since I last wrote, we have taken 37 students on our winter retreat where we went through the book of Esther. The retreat was titled “Conspiracy & Sovereignty” and we looked at how God orchestrated His will and how Esther, as a leader, sought God and led others to do the same in response to God’s sovereignty that He would move on their behalf. Here is what some students said of the retreat:
Grace and Peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ. I’m happy to be writing to you again, and am grateful for your prayers! The Lord has been working in our midst.
Since I last wrote, we have taken 37 students on our winter retreat where we went through the book of Esther. The retreat was titled “Conspiracy & Sovereignty” and we looked at how God orchestrated His will and how Esther, as a leader, sought God and led others to do the same in response to God’s sovereignty that He would move on their behalf. Here is what some students said of the retreat:
November 14, 2023
Dear CU Martus Cornerstone Partners and friends of the ministry,
“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” - Matthew 5:16
Since my last update, we have concluded the Freshman Welcoming Campaign. I’m happy to report that we had 35 students join our Bible Courses. We wrapped up the Campaign with a Fall Retreat. At the fall retreat I called students to seek the Lord in greater ways. I invited them to have: four 30 minute morning and evening devotions per week, fast once a week, faithful Bible Course attendance, and faithful church attendance. Six students are now participating in this. Here are a few of their testimonies:
“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” - Matthew 5:16
Since my last update, we have concluded the Freshman Welcoming Campaign. I’m happy to report that we had 35 students join our Bible Courses. We wrapped up the Campaign with a Fall Retreat. At the fall retreat I called students to seek the Lord in greater ways. I invited them to have: four 30 minute morning and evening devotions per week, fast once a week, faithful Bible Course attendance, and faithful church attendance. Six students are now participating in this. Here are a few of their testimonies:
October 12, 2023
Dear CU Martus Cornerstone Partners and friends of the ministry,
Greetings from CU Martus! I pray this finds you well.
We are well into the fall semester, and there are two main updates: 1) we now have a Women’s Ministry Fellow, and 2) current update on the Freshman Welcoming Campaign.
I am very pleased to welcome Maima Badio to our team at CU Martus. Maima was born in Liberia, West Africa. Her experience living as a refugee in Ghana, before immigrating to the United States, fuels her passion for working with students and families. She earned her BA in Economics and International Affairs at The George Washington University. She later earned her MA in School Psychology from the University of Delaware.
Greetings from CU Martus! I pray this finds you well.
We are well into the fall semester, and there are two main updates: 1) we now have a Women’s Ministry Fellow, and 2) current update on the Freshman Welcoming Campaign.
I am very pleased to welcome Maima Badio to our team at CU Martus. Maima was born in Liberia, West Africa. Her experience living as a refugee in Ghana, before immigrating to the United States, fuels her passion for working with students and families. She earned her BA in Economics and International Affairs at The George Washington University. She later earned her MA in School Psychology from the University of Delaware.
August 4, 2023
Dear CU Martus Cornerstone Partners and friends of the ministry,
Greetings from Penn! I pray this finds you well.
CU Martus has two exciting updates to share as we look ahead: preparation for Freshman Welcoming Campaign growing our team!
As we prepare for the start of another academic year, we are already reaching out to incoming freshmen and preparing for their arrival on campus. One significant effort of our outreach to incoming freshmen is connecting with them on Instagram and building that relationship with them before they step foot on campus. This allows us to engage with freshmen wondering what type of Christian community there is on campus and to welcome them with open arms.
Greetings from Penn! I pray this finds you well.
CU Martus has two exciting updates to share as we look ahead: preparation for Freshman Welcoming Campaign growing our team!
As we prepare for the start of another academic year, we are already reaching out to incoming freshmen and preparing for their arrival on campus. One significant effort of our outreach to incoming freshmen is connecting with them on Instagram and building that relationship with them before they step foot on campus. This allows us to engage with freshmen wondering what type of Christian community there is on campus and to welcome them with open arms.
February 3, 2023
Dear CU Martus Cornerstone Partners and friends of the ministry,
Greetings in Christ from CU Martus!
As stated in the previous letter, we conducted our winter retreat. I’m pleased to say that we had 40 students that attended a retreat where we discussed the Holy Spirit and the gospel. This was a time for students to live out our third goal of being steeped in Scripture and exercise the model we see in Acts 17:11 of examining the scriptures to investigate what was being discussed at the winter retreat. Students came away being challenged in their faith, spurred on to evaluate Scripture further, and also building life-long bonds with one another.
Greetings in Christ from CU Martus!
As stated in the previous letter, we conducted our winter retreat. I’m pleased to say that we had 40 students that attended a retreat where we discussed the Holy Spirit and the gospel. This was a time for students to live out our third goal of being steeped in Scripture and exercise the model we see in Acts 17:11 of examining the scriptures to investigate what was being discussed at the winter retreat. Students came away being challenged in their faith, spurred on to evaluate Scripture further, and also building life-long bonds with one another.
January 12, 2023
Dear CU Martus Cornerstone Partners and friends of the ministry,
Greetings from Penn!
Hope this finds you well!
As we look to the year ahead we have a few exciting things on the horizon, particularly our winter retreat, Bible courses, and prayer workshops.
Greetings from Penn!
Hope this finds you well!
As we look to the year ahead we have a few exciting things on the horizon, particularly our winter retreat, Bible courses, and prayer workshops.
October 31, 2022
Dear CU Martus Cornerstone Partners and friends of the ministry,
Greetings from Penn! Hope this finds you well.
I’m excited to say that we have 13 Bible courses running. Students are finding community, digging into the scriptures, and growing in their faith. I’ve also talked with several freshmen that are enjoying and being encouraged and challenged in their Bible courses. Many of them are also enjoying the relational bonds within their Bible course.
Greetings from Penn! Hope this finds you well.
I’m excited to say that we have 13 Bible courses running. Students are finding community, digging into the scriptures, and growing in their faith. I’ve also talked with several freshmen that are enjoying and being encouraged and challenged in their Bible courses. Many of them are also enjoying the relational bonds within their Bible course.
September 16, 2022
Dear CU Martus Cornerstone Partners and friends of the ministry,
Greetings!
We are nearing the end of the Freshman Welcoming Campaign. I’m pleased to say that the Lord has been faithful in blessing the work of our hands as we reach out to students arriving on campus. We held events like a midnight pancakes gathering, a zoo trip, a late-night activities fair, a Phillies game, and a “Donuts for Dudes and Danishes for Dames” event to welcome new students to Penn’s campus and into CU Martus.
Greetings!
We are nearing the end of the Freshman Welcoming Campaign. I’m pleased to say that the Lord has been faithful in blessing the work of our hands as we reach out to students arriving on campus. We held events like a midnight pancakes gathering, a zoo trip, a late-night activities fair, a Phillies game, and a “Donuts for Dudes and Danishes for Dames” event to welcome new students to Penn’s campus and into CU Martus.
August 12, 2022
Dear CU Martus Cornerstone Partners and friends of the ministry,
Greetings from Penn!
I am still pushing toward our summer goals of building the support base for CU Martus and CU Fire Retreats. Thankfully, the Lord is blessing those efforts and showing his faithfulness. The summer has also been a great time to seek the Lord, make new connections for the ministry, and write a “game plan” for the upcoming semester.
Greetings from Penn!
I am still pushing toward our summer goals of building the support base for CU Martus and CU Fire Retreats. Thankfully, the Lord is blessing those efforts and showing his faithfulness. The summer has also been a great time to seek the Lord, make new connections for the ministry, and write a “game plan” for the upcoming semester.
July 8, 2022
Dear CU Martus Cornerstone Partners and friends of the ministry,
Greetings from Penn!
I’m thankful to say that I just returned from vacation where I was able to spend 10 days hiking 100 miles on the Appalachian Trail while seeking the Lord through the Psalms of Ascents. I found this time particularly refreshing, inspiring, and faith-building. The Lord graciously strengthened my “inner man” (Eph 3:16), and I am spurred on by what God has in store for the upcoming academic year as we diligently seek His face.
Greetings from Penn!
I’m thankful to say that I just returned from vacation where I was able to spend 10 days hiking 100 miles on the Appalachian Trail while seeking the Lord through the Psalms of Ascents. I found this time particularly refreshing, inspiring, and faith-building. The Lord graciously strengthened my “inner man” (Eph 3:16), and I am spurred on by what God has in store for the upcoming academic year as we diligently seek His face.
June 3, 2022
Dear CU Martus Cornerstone Partners and friends of the ministry,
Greetings from Penn! Our seniors have officially graduated, while others are off to summer internships, jobs, or study abroad programs. It is tough to send off the seniors, knowing that may be the last time I see them in person for the foreseeable future; however, I rejoice knowing how well they have been equipped in their faith to transform the world around them, and I look forward to seeing the fruit of their lives.
Greetings from Penn! Our seniors have officially graduated, while others are off to summer internships, jobs, or study abroad programs. It is tough to send off the seniors, knowing that may be the last time I see them in person for the foreseeable future; however, I rejoice knowing how well they have been equipped in their faith to transform the world around them, and I look forward to seeing the fruit of their lives.
May 6, 2022
Dear CU Martus Cornerstone Partners and friends of the ministry,
We’re wrapping up the year here at Penn. Seniors are preparing for graduation and transitioning to the workforce or ministry fellowships, while other students are preparing for summer jobs or internships. To close out the year, we connected seniors with alumni resources, concluded our gospel campaign, and conducted our spring formal.
We’re wrapping up the year here at Penn. Seniors are preparing for graduation and transitioning to the workforce or ministry fellowships, while other students are preparing for summer jobs or internships. To close out the year, we connected seniors with alumni resources, concluded our gospel campaign, and conducted our spring formal.
April 1, 2022
Dear CU Martus Cornerstone Partners and friends of the ministry,
We’re now in full swing of our gospel outreach at Penn and we can feel your prayers!
One of our ways to engage students is to set up a table on Locust Walk during times when mass amounts of students are getting out of class and ask them an engaging question. This outreach, pictured below, is a gateway to having conversations about the gospel. Within a span of about three hours, we were able to engage with 67 students in meaningful conversation over donuts and coffee and were given the opportunity to share the gospel with them.
We’re now in full swing of our gospel outreach at Penn and we can feel your prayers!
One of our ways to engage students is to set up a table on Locust Walk during times when mass amounts of students are getting out of class and ask them an engaging question. This outreach, pictured below, is a gateway to having conversations about the gospel. Within a span of about three hours, we were able to engage with 67 students in meaningful conversation over donuts and coffee and were given the opportunity to share the gospel with them.
March 4, 2022
Dear CU Martus Cornerstone Partners and friends of the ministry,
Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:1
Currently, our team is preparing for a campus-wide campaign to expose students to the gospel in a meaningful way. I, along with the newly appointed student leaders, are praying and strategizing on how to best facilitate this multi-tiered campaign. We know that God’s desire to have the gospel spread across Penn’s campus is greater than our own, and we are simply praying to partner with God in His work. We trust that as we proclaim the gospel it will be met with God’s power and promise (Isaiah 55:8-11).
Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:1
Currently, our team is preparing for a campus-wide campaign to expose students to the gospel in a meaningful way. I, along with the newly appointed student leaders, are praying and strategizing on how to best facilitate this multi-tiered campaign. We know that God’s desire to have the gospel spread across Penn’s campus is greater than our own, and we are simply praying to partner with God in His work. We trust that as we proclaim the gospel it will be met with God’s power and promise (Isaiah 55:8-11).
February 4, 2022
Dear CU Martus Cornerstone Partners and friends of the ministry,
We’re back into the swing of things at Penn and the main focus is leadership. 1 Timothy 3:1-2 states, “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach…”
This semester is a significant time for our students as we are seeing the fulfillment of 1 Timothy 3:1-2 happen before our eyes as we prepare for a “change of the guard” with our student ministry team leaders (MTL’s) and assistant Bible course leaders (ABCLs). We have big shoes to fill as many of our current leaders are graduating seniors this year. However, this provides a great opportunity for aspiring leaders to rise to the occasion to lead next.
We’re back into the swing of things at Penn and the main focus is leadership. 1 Timothy 3:1-2 states, “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach…”
This semester is a significant time for our students as we are seeing the fulfillment of 1 Timothy 3:1-2 happen before our eyes as we prepare for a “change of the guard” with our student ministry team leaders (MTL’s) and assistant Bible course leaders (ABCLs). We have big shoes to fill as many of our current leaders are graduating seniors this year. However, this provides a great opportunity for aspiring leaders to rise to the occasion to lead next.
January 7, 2022
Dear CU Martus Cornerstone Partners and friends of the ministry,
"And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.’" (Luke 2:8-10 ESV)
"And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.’" (Luke 2:8-10 ESV)
December 3, 2021
Dear CU Martus Cornerstone Partners and friends of the ministry,
As we enter the month of December, the students at CU Martus on the campus of Penn have been earnestly engaged in growing more in their gratitude of the gospel and focusing their intentions on flourishing Christ-centered friendships. Our weekly gatherings and outreach efforts have produced many good fruits in wisdom, devotion, kinship, and the transition of their hearts to mimic that of our Savior’s, Christ Jesus.
As we enter the month of December, the students at CU Martus on the campus of Penn have been earnestly engaged in growing more in their gratitude of the gospel and focusing their intentions on flourishing Christ-centered friendships. Our weekly gatherings and outreach efforts have produced many good fruits in wisdom, devotion, kinship, and the transition of their hearts to mimic that of our Savior’s, Christ Jesus.
November 5, 2021
“Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever” – Psalm 106.1
Dear CU Martus Cornerstone Partners and friends of the ministry,
Greetings in the Lord! We now find ourselves heavily engaged with Bible courses, daily prayer, leadership development, Philia, Brogram, and reaching Penn students with the gospel.
Dear CU Martus Cornerstone Partners and friends of the ministry,
Greetings in the Lord! We now find ourselves heavily engaged with Bible courses, daily prayer, leadership development, Philia, Brogram, and reaching Penn students with the gospel.
October 1, 2021
Dear CU Martus Cornerstone Partners and friends of the ministry,
Since the last update, we have closed out our Freshman Welcoming Campaign. Throughout the campaign, we were blessed to have had 100+ meaningful interactions with freshmen, and 35+ of whom were interested in our Bible courses. To close out our Freshman Welcoming Campaign, we were able to host a Fall Retreat where 34 students came to build closer relationships, grow deeper in their faith, and be challenged to live for Christ in greater boldness.
Since the last update, we have closed out our Freshman Welcoming Campaign. Throughout the campaign, we were blessed to have had 100+ meaningful interactions with freshmen, and 35+ of whom were interested in our Bible courses. To close out our Freshman Welcoming Campaign, we were able to host a Fall Retreat where 34 students came to build closer relationships, grow deeper in their faith, and be challenged to live for Christ in greater boldness.
