Stanford Student-Leaders Labor in Love
By annalisa lim, '24, vice-president of christian union caritas
And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. -Matthew 9:35-38
In the Santa Cruz mountains of California, six Christian Union Caritas leaders gathered in preparation for the freshman campaign. We delved into the book of Matthew, using the ministry of Jesus to guide our own in the upcoming fall quarter. I recall coming across the words, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few,” and Susan, one of our ministry fellows, highlighting the significance of this passage: it is a promise that God could use us six students to gather the harvest on a campus yearning for Christ. It was also a prayer for more laborers; after all, Christ had radically transformed lives through the faithfulness of His twelve apostles.
Devotional on Being a Godly Vessel
By justin yim, ministry director, cu gloria law at harvard law
"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” – Romans 10:17
One of the greatest joys of being a pastor was (and continues to be) coaching and mentoring young pastors-in-training. I’ve had the privilege of mentoring a good number of seminary students who were cutting their teeth into local church ministry. And in the process of our mentoring relationship – just as Jesus did it with His disciples by sending them out two-by-two – there came a point when I asked for him to preach their first sermon to the congregation. Inevitably, in the week before that Sunday, in a moment of existential panicking whether the sermon was good enough, I would have the same conversation that was given to me when I was a young seminarian: “It’s not about you.”
Student Spotlight: Caroline Parente, '24, Brown University
By Erin Conner
Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness… she eateth not the bread of idleness… favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.- Proverbs 31: 25-30
December 1, 2023
Get Involved
To learn more about how you can get involved, please send an email to Christian Union's VP of Alumni Engagement Christine Foster: christine.foster@christianunion.org
A Devotional to Prepare Our Hearts for a New Year
By Dr. Marcus Buckley, Ministry Director at Christian Union Vita at Cornell
"And they told Mordecai what Esther had said. Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him." -Esther 4:12-17
Join Our 21-Day Fast
By chuck hetzler, PhD, vice president of biblical theology
Is Israel’s current war a sign of the end times? How should we, as Christians, think about the war? What can and should we do?
Christian Union is calling all American Christians to start the year with a 21-day fast, Tuesday, January 2, through Monday, January 22, 2024, to humble ourselves and seek God in light of the current events in the Middle East.
The upcoming CU National Fast is titled "Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace for All Nations." Christian Union faculty and staff will write devotionals based on Scripture, which will be sent to all signed-up participants by email each day of the fast.
Seeking the Lord in Our Busyness
By Fuji Kim, edited by Erin Conner
As we prepare our hearts to celebrate the Lord's blessings at Thanksgiving, Christian Union presents this special devotional, originally published in 2021, "Three Daily Prayers for the Holidays."
A Closer Look at Jesus' Call to Repentance
By Erin Conner
Repentance is a beautiful word. It is the name of the road that leads out of darkness. It is the name of the road that leads to life. It is a Biblical concept that, depending on the type of church we grew up in or currently attend, may seem harsh, foreign, or antiquated. As a true follower of God, deep and ongoing repentance, the act of turning away from sin to wholeheartedly following the Lord, is a life-giving spiritual discipline.
From a deep immersion into Scripture, we find that God never intended for repentance to be a spiritual discipline of the past. God never intended for his people to ignore His commands. In fact, Christ said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) He never intended His people to be “of the world,” obeying the world’s “commands” while neglecting His. (Romans 12:2) We find God never intended self-worship (or any other form of idolatry) to co-exist with the worship of God. From a deep immersion into Scripture, we also find that God never intended for people to go through the motions of repentance without a contrite heart.
God is using your prayers to help grow the ministry at CU Lumine and develop future Christian leaders to transform culture for God’s glory! Since the last update we have seen an increase in student participation in our CU Bible Courses and Thursday night Lumine meetings. We have also seen an increase of students coming in the Ministry Center during midterms who were invited by our current student leaders.
With the ongoing conflict in Israel, we have been engaging our Jewish and Palestinian students on campus to let them know that we are concerned about all those who are being impacted. We know that any loss of human life and acts of hate grieves the heart of God because we are all created in His image. Please continue to pray for our students as they navigate through these difficult times.
It is hard to believe that we are over halfway through the semester here at Cornell! Time seems to go by faster with each passing day, even more so when we are busy—and things have certainly been bustling at CU Vita!
There has been a steady stream of new faces coming to the Mott Center for our prayer meetings and social events. The students who are already engaged in ministry and fellowship with other believers at CU Vita have been so faithful to invite their friends, some of whom have little to no exposure to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Continue to pray that the Holy Spirit equips us all for the work and empowers us for the opportunities!
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn – Isaiah 61:1-2
As always, I thank you for your prayers for us! We’ve reached the middle of the term, which at Dartmouth, with just 10 weeks each, means we’re already near the end. But God has been moving! Vine, our weekly Leadership Lecture Series, is well-established, with consistent live worship, regular guest speakers, student testimonies, and more. Our student leaders' vision is beginning to broaden as well now that our immediate needs of the beginning of the term are solved, dreaming of how we can impact the campus for the Kingdom of God.
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” - Colossians 1:15-17
May this email find you well and rejoicing in Jesus as we are during this beautiful fall season here in New England. Thank you for your support of CU Gloria at Harvard. It makes a huge difference for our team and leaders knowing we have a team of friends like you praying for us and for the good work and fruitful ministry taking place through CU Gloria at Harvard.
“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.” - Colossians 1: 3-5!
God is using your prayers to help grow the ministry at CU Nova and develop future Christian leaders. Thank you!
Thank you for your prayers for CU Caritas at Stanford!
Fall Retreat
This October, some new and returning students joined us for a two-night retreat in the Santa Cruz mountains to seek the Lord together and grow closer as a community. We focused our meditations on the importance of abiding in God’s word night and day, that we might bear fruit for His glory in all seasons (Psalm 1:2-3). We considered the example of Joshua, David, Daniel, Anna, and most of all, the Lord Jesus. May God make these Stanford students strong in the ways of God, as they abide in the Lord and in his word!
“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:
We are reaching out to share the latest happenings at Christian Union Lux and to invite you to continue praying for these vibrant students ministering here at Yale.
October brought us so much joy, which we are excited to share with you. We started with record-breaking attendance for the fall retreat. We had roughly 57 in attendance, where Dimas Salaberios shared the need for total surrender to Christ while God is forming you here at Yale.
God is on the move at Harvard Law! Thank you for your support and prayers. Since the start of the academic year, I have been holding weekly mentoring meetings, Bible courses, leadership lecture series, and great conversations with law school students who are seeking more of Christ in their lives.
We are pleased to share with you a few highlights from the most recent Christian Union Fire Retreat (CUFR) that was held in the vibrant city of New York! The CUFR event left an indelible mark on all of the participants, many of whom are a part of our Young Alumni Society!
The group of participants expressed that the event had a significant impact on their lives, and many encountered the unmistakable presence of God. CUFR’s combination of Spirit-led prayer, insightful teaching, uplifting worship, and dedicated time immersed in Scripture resonated deeply with our group, fostering an atmosphere of spiritual connection and growth.
Truly I say to you whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, I say to you, if two or more of you agree on earth about anything they ask it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or more are “gathered in my name, there I am among them.”
- Matthew 18:18-20
Thank you for your ongoing support through prayers and financial giving. We are greatly encouraged by the fruit of your sowing into the ministry.
CU Lux Men Unite During October Recess
By Demilade Omolade, Class of 2026October recess is a breath of relief for all Yale undergraduate students. Held halfway through the fall semester, it serves as a temporary solace from the constant demands of classes and an opportunity to enjoy a slower pace of life.
While some students traveled out of Yale, the men of Christian Union Lux who remained in New Haven enthusiastically anticipated the lock-in they would have at their ministry center, the James W.C. Pennington Center, lovingly referred to as "the Mouse." The instructions were simple: "Get to the Mouse at 4 pm sharp; we’ll be leaving for our mystery location at 4:10 pm."
