June 3, 2020
Ministry in the Midst of a Pandemic
Here are the latest updates from Matt Bennett, Christian Union's founder and CEO. The most recent is immediately below. To read his previous updates, simply scroll down. Please pray for the ministry, and consider making a special gift today.May 29, 2020 Update Dear Friends and Ministry Partners, Greetings in the name of our wonderful and great Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To Him be all praise and glory! As I write, we are now in day 120 since the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus to be a pandemic. Like you, I have continued to hear heartbreaking stories about people and their loved ones who have become sick or have passed away due to COVID-19. I heard a story a couple of weeks ago about a student who plays basketball at one of the schools where we minister. Her father, a doctor, passed away after contracting the coronavirus as a result of his work serving the sick. Please pray for her and for her family. I live in New York, where similar stories are, tragically, not uncommon. I also continue to hear stories about men and women who have lost some or all their livelihood due to the far-reaching economic effects of the coronavirus. We will continue to pray. We will continue to pray for those who are hurting in this difficult time, and for those who are sick. We will continue to pray that we, as individuals and as a nation, will humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face, and repent — trusting that God will hear from heaven, forgive our sin, and heal our land. I cannot overemphasize the importance of repentance as we ask God to bring this pandemic to an end. Every time a pestilence is mentioned in the Bible, the context is that of God using it to call people back to Him. May many return to Him. We also continue to hear from our faithful ministry partners that they would like me to keep the updates coming during this unusual time. So I will continue to communicate openly about how the pandemic is affecting our work. In short, we are seeing two realities as we survey all that is happening in and through the ministry. One is an enormous blessing, and the other is an enormous challenge. First, because God is who He is and because He causes all things (even a pandemic) to work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose, He has been at work in tremendous — and even unprecedented — ways during this time. Don Weiss, the ministry director of Christian Union Gloria (CU’s undergraduate ministry at Harvard), reports that nearly 40 incoming freshmen have already connected in some tangible way with others in the ministry. This is remarkable. If you’ve been around Christian Union long, you’ll know that outreach to freshmen at each of these schools is a concentrated effort in the late summer and early in the fall semester of each year. But we’ve never before had one of our ministries connect with this many incoming freshmen, this far in advance of their arrival. At Dartmouth, the story is even more amazing. Not only has Christian Union Vox, our ministry there, been intentionally connecting with incoming freshmen, but they’ve already started a Bible course for these students. As I write, 12 such students are involved. Each of these students is just wrapping up high school and is headed to antiviral-meds-info.com. This is both extraordinary and extraordinarily encouraging. Both of these stories are perfect examples of God working in new and creative ways that we may not have seen if not for the pandemic. Here is another encouraging update, a video update from four CU faculty members who serve as a part of Christian Union Nova, our ministry at Princeton. The second reality is that we continue to face very real and not insignificant financial challenges as a result of the pandemic. One of the steps we’ve taken is to establish a new initiative we are calling Cornerstone Partners. We are asking anyone who wants to bring sweeping spiritual change to America and appreciates Christian Union’s work, but who is not already a Christian Union ministry partner, to consider making a financial gift to help maintain and even accelerate the ministry’s work at Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Harvard Law, Penn, Princeton, Stanford, and Yale — and in New York City. Our very real need is to develop an army of men, women, and families who care about impacting the nation’s future and current leaders with the Gospel — and who will agree to help support this work on a monthly basis. If at this time that is not possible for you, we fully understand. But if you do have the capacity, we’d ask you to please prayerfully consider joining us, at any level. If you are inclined to give, I have even better news — if you act soon, your impact will be doubled. Because of a wonderful challenge gift from our partner, the BridgeHead Foundation, any gifts up to a total of $125,000 will be doubled! If you have the capacity and feel God leading you to give — thus doubling your Kingdom investment — please go to http://www.ChristianUnion.org/Cornerstone. Please pray for us as well, for we know that “unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” We are excited about all that God is doing, and our trust is fully in Him. In the days and months and years to come, we look forward to being able to continue sharing great stories about what God is doing in and through our amazing ministry faculty — because we serve a great God. Thank you for standing with us, and for your continued interest in our ministry. Yours in Christ, Matt Bennett April 23, 2020 UpdateDear Friends and Ministry Partners,I recently asked Christian Union faculty to share a little bit about how their ministries are functioning in a COVID-19 environment. I think you will be encouraged by this short video (6:51) that they sent in response.Without you, this transformation simply isn’t possible, and God will do abundantly more in the coming year. Please read the previous updates, below, to learn more about how the pandemic has had an impact in our ministry, and consider making a special gift today to spur the ministry on during this critical time. To God be all the glory.Thank you again — and may God bless you richly in these difficult times,Matt BennettFounder and CEOChristian UnionApril 9, 2020 UpdateDear Friends and Ministry Partners,I know that many of you who are reading this letter may be facing uncertain or difficult times. If you have suffered personal loss of some kind in this season, as so many have, my heart goes out to you.My prayer for you is that you will draw near to God, knowing that He will keep His promise to draw near to you. Even if you haven’t suffered loss, but are facing tremendous uncertainty professionally, financially, or health-wise, I will pray you’d cling to Christ and that you’d cast your burden upon the LORD and allow Him to sustain you. This is His promise from Psalm 55:22: “He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.”June 2, 2020
Christian Union's Statement on Recent Events
Christian Union denounces in the strongest terms the brutal killing of George Floyd. This and other recent events show that the human heart is desperately sick and in need of redemption. This is a time of great sadness and should be a time of repentance, humility and the pursuit of Christian unity in our nation.June 2, 2020
Christian Union Day and Night Leads National Fast
May 29, 2020
This Sunday, May 31, 2020, is Pentecost Sunday — the day we remember the initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples. We need a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit on our churches today. As amazing as Jesus’ earthly ministry was, the Church would not be alive today if it weren’t for the Holy Spirit’s coming. As irreplaceable as Jesus’ crucifixion was, we would not be in Christ today if it weren’t for the ministry of the Holy Spirit. As powerful as the resurrection of the Son of God was, most of the world would never know about God’s love if it weren’t for the advent of the Holy Spirit.
May 28, 2020
Christian Union Lux Helps Produce National Event
Christian Union Lux was honored to host the Collegiate Day of Prayer at Yale University on the evening of February 27 in Dwight Chapel. The two-hour event assembled Yale ministries in united prayer, worship, and exhortation from Scripture, and also served as the national broadcast for over forty thousand online viewers. Over two hundred years ago, Yale, along with Williams College, Brown University, and Middlebury College, established the Collegiate Day of Prayer as a regular event on their campuses. By 1823, almost every major denomination and university in America “embraced the practice of a concerted day of prayer for colleges,” according to the Collegiate Day of Prayer Web site. The event lasted for about a hundred years and helped fan the flame of various revivals and awakenings on campus.May 27, 2020
A CU New York Virtual Forum featuring CEO & Founder Matt Bennett
May 20, 2020
Grace Trains Us for Godliness, The Rise of Gospel-Shaped Businesses, Initiating a Climate Change Conversation, Two Men, Two Ministries, Two Lives Well-Lived, Three COVID-19 Articles and more, in this issue of Christian Union's bi-monthly email brief.
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works."— Titus 2:11-14
May 19, 2020
Students Play Key Role in Production of Veritas Forum
May 13, 2020
Great Friend of Christian Union Goes Home to Be with the Lord
Kendrick “Ken” B. Melrose once said, “The purpose of life is to serve God by serving others.” But Melrose did not only believe these words, he put them into action and lived a life of integrity as a servant leader. Melrose passed away on May 3, 2020, at his home in Wayzata, Minnesota. The former chairman and CEO of The Toro Company, founder of Leading by Serving, LLC, and lead donor for Robert L. Melrose Center for Christian Leadership, will be remembered for his deep love for Christ, his passion for leadership, and his profound generosity.May 7, 2020
Christian Union's COVID-19 Updates; Battling the Idol of Envy with Numbers 11; Centerstage Faith; American Exorcism; Five Companies Radically Shaped by the Faith of Their Owners and more, in this issue of Christian Union's bi-monthly email brief.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."— 1 John 1:9
May 1, 2020
Evening Devotional, Friday, May 1, 2020
Watch The Video (3:28)
Dimas Salaberrios, Ministry Associate with Christian Union, is a dynamic teacher, speaker, and pastor. His bestselling memoir, Street God, was released in September 2015. Dimas holds a Master of Divinity degree from Alliance Theological Seminary and resides in the Bronx with his wife Tiffany and three daughters.
May 1, 2020
Morning Devotional, May 1, 2020
Watch The Video (2:13)
Michael L. Brown is the founder and president of FIRE School of Ministry in Concord, North Carolina, Director of the Coalition of Conscience, and host of the daily, nationally, syndicated talk radio show, the Line of Fire, as well as the host of the apologetics TV show, “Answering Your Toughest Questions.” He is the author of more than 35 books, holds a Ph. D. in Near Eastern Languages and Literatures from New York University, and has served as a visiting or adjunct professor at seven leading seminaries. He is widely recognized as today’s foremost Messianic Jewish apologist.
April 30, 2020
Evening Devotional, April 30, 2020
Watch The Video (4:12)
Michael L. Brown is the founder and president of FIRE School of Ministry in Concord, North Carolina, Director of the Coalition of Conscience, and host of the daily, nationally, syndicated talk radio show, the Line of Fire, as well as the host of the apologetics TV show, “Answering Your Toughest Questions.” He is the author of more than 35 books, holds a Ph. D. in Near Eastern Languages and Literatures from New York University, and has served as a visiting or adjunct professor at seven leading seminaries. He is widely recognized as today’s foremost Messianic Jewish apologist.
April 30, 2020
Morning Devotional, April 30, 2020
Watch The Video (2:44)
Michael L. Brown is the founder and president of FIRE School of Ministry in Concord, North Carolina, Director of the Coalition of Conscience, and host of the daily, nationally, syndicated talk radio show, the Line of Fire, as well as the host of the apologetics TV show, “Answering Your Toughest Questions.” He is the author of more than 35 books, holds a Ph. D. in Near Eastern Languages and Literatures from New York University, and has served as a visiting or adjunct professor at seven leading seminaries. He is widely recognized as today’s foremost Messianic Jewish apologist.
April 29, 2020
Evening Devotional, April 29, 2020
Watch The Video (4:08)
Matt Bennett is founder and CEO of Christian Union, a Christian leadership development organization. A native of Houston, Texas, Matt earned B.S. and M.B.A. degrees from Cornell University and holds a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He resides in New York City.
April 29, 2020
Wyatt ’20 Pursuing a Career in Media Arts
April 29, 2020
Morning Devotional, April 29, 2020
Watch The Video (3:10)
Chuck Hetzler, Ph.D., has a diverse background as a biblical scholar, worship leader, and pastor. He served as Christian Union’s first Teaching Fellow at Princeton University and later directed its ministry in New York City. Chuck earned his Ph.D. in New Testament from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and currently pastors Bethesda Grace Church in Manhattan.
April 28, 2020
April 28, 2020
Watch The Video (3:56)
Fernando Cabrera has proudly served as the NYC Council Member representing the 14th district in the Bronx since January 2010. He is also senior pastor of New Life Outreach International in the Bronx. He is a former program director for the Mental Health and Counseling program at Mercy College, where he also taught for 12 years. Council Member Cabrera earned a B.A. in Religion from Southern California College, M.A. in Counseling from Liberty University and a Doctorate in Counseling from Argosy University. He is married to Elvia Cabrera, and is a father of two and grandfather of five.
April 28, 2020
