March 2020

In the midst of the Coronavirus outbreak and the subsequent changes in our daily lives, I’ve heard a number of words to describe these uncharted waters: “Unnerving.” “Unsettling.” Our students have scattering to their homes, uncertain about what comes next. There are so many ways we need your continued prayers:

• For our students to arrive safely home. We still have students who are out of the country on study or work assignments who are unable to get into the United States (or out). Pray for mercy as they travel by plane, bus, and literally by foot. Pray that God would protect them, that provision would be made for their every need, and that their encouragement would come from knowing that God’s people are interceding on their behalf.
• For Penn students who have applied and been denied for emergency housing. Many students come from broken homes, and returning to their family is a last resort. Please pray that a way would be made for them to find safe, accommodating housing, where they can take their classes virtually without too many distractions.
• For the staff as we gather and care for students via atypical means. Pray that we would be patient and kind with one another as technological issues inevitably arise. Pray that our staff would stay connected with students in spite of the distance and lack of face-to-face discipleship.
• For our families as we all join the ranks of “home-schoolers.” Pray for our kids that this season would not be wasted, but that they would rely continually on the God who is there, who provides, and who loves them.
• Ultimately, pray that this would be a season of repentance, that our Christian Union students would grow in their faith as ordinary distractions are removed. That they would take a renewed vigor into their Bible studies, prayer life, and disciplines of grace. Pray that those who don’t know Christ would come to know Him through this, and that the fear of God would be brought to mind and heart.

Oftentimes we don’t know why calamity occurs, but we know that whatever else we might think,
(1) God cares: it is why Christ came, and (2) it is a season for repentance, to turn back to the living God.

Please let us know how we can be praying for you. May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; may He lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.

in Christ our King,