There’s still snow on the ground here in Providence, but the days are getting a little longer and the temperatures creep higher with each passing day. Spring is right around the corner! During the month of February, CU Libertas has been busy welcoming freshmen to campus, hosting weekly Bible courses, and continuing the work of prayer and discipleship. God is up to big things and we have so much to be thankful for.
The pandemic has changed a lot about campus life, but one thing remains the same at Brown: March exams. Our students are very busy with their classwork and preparing for difficult tests over the next month. As you pray for them, please remember how different their current collegiate experience looks in comparison with anything they may have expected. We all eagerly await the time when everyone is vaccinated and we return to normal. Until then, students are struggling to form supportive social networks, have difficulty plugging into churches, and much of their time is spent in relative isolation. For many freshmen, they’re doing all this away from home for the very first time.
Your prayers make a difference! We haven’t been able to welcome freshmen with the same big events that have proven so successful in years past. Nonetheless, we’re very encouraged by the stories we hear from first-year students who hunger to serve the Lord and connect with a Christian community. The upperclassmen in the ministry show resilience and maturity beyond their years— eager to grow in their faith, ready to encourage one another, and excited to share the gospel through love and deed.
As we navigate the semester ahead, please pray for the following:
- At the end of this academic year, we will say farewell to our Ministry Fellow Laurel Copp, who will be leaving Christian Union after eight years of faithful service at both CU Libertas and also at CU Lux at Yale. We are very grateful for the many students she has ministered to and the lives changed as a result of her good work. Pray that God will send us another exceptional ministry fellow to fill Laurel’s shoes.
- Students will be choosing new leaders for the ministry in the coming weeks. Pray that they will have wisdom in selecting a new executive team. And, please pray that students across the ministry will have a passion and interest to serve in various leadership positions.
- As mentioned earlier, this is a busy time in the academic calendar, especially for STEM students. Students can become mentally and emotionally drained in preparation for these intimidating exams. Pray that the Lord will decrease their anxiety, give them sufficient rest, and give them a deep sense of security in knowing His unconditional love and acceptance.
- Continue to pray that ministry staff will connect with those students who have an interest in joining the ministry. Despite our efforts, we still worry that there are many students who just don’t know about CU and the work being done on campus.
As always, we thank you for your prayers and support. May the Lord be glorified on campus, in the city of Providence, and throughout our nation.
In Christ,
Matt Woodard
CU Libertas Ministry Director
Please note: if you would like to receive regular updates on how to pray for Christian Union's work at Brown, please email prayer@christianunion.org.
