My name is Andy Woodard, and I am delighted to introduce myself to you. I've been hired as the new executive director for CU New York effective Monday, March 25th, the year of our Lord 2024.
I'm excited to share with you three things that brought me to Christian Union: first, the strategic vision for investing in key leaders by encouraging them to seek the Lord with their whole hearts; second, my own personal benefit from the ministry of Christian Union and Matt Bennett. I received and observed the power of this ministry to transform lives firsthand. Third, the mission of Christian Union is to wholeheartedly seek the Lord to bring about a great awakening in New York City.
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.
James encourages and reminds us of the power of prayer: “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” - James 5:16. Your prayers for Christian Union New York are needed, and they are working! Fruits of the ministry in NY are abundant, but the need for intercession is even greater. Please continue to pray! Join Christian Union New York in prayer over these three exciting ministry opportunities and events happening this August.
As we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus, may the body of Christ in NYC and across all humanity, cast one giant net of gospel proclamation. The Lord has graciously raised us from death to life and it is our high privilege and responsibility to be fishers of men.
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14
Whispers of revival are spreading across pockets in the US and across NYC! Will we be revived?
As the Church has eyes on the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Asbury University and Seminary, intrigue and hunger are growing. Many are asking, what must we do to experience the Holy Spirit ourselves in these ways? Lord, search our hearts.
It is exciting to report that several pastors in NYC have been seeking God fervently as He requires for many months now. Together they, their families, and their congregations have been fasting several days a week and for longer stints, praying, repenting, and wholeheartedly seeking the Lord’s face together. Following the outpouring at Asbury, a small handful of these pastors are beginning to see and experience outpourings of the Holy Spirit in NYC like never before! Did they cultivate a soil that could receive the rain?
As Christians in New York City, we cannot stand idly by as we watch the perils of our nation and of our American churches:
- Departure from the Word and presence of God
- Fatherlessness and broken families
- Celebration of distorted gender and sexual ideologies
- Rebellion against God and authority
- Division and hatred
- Widespread deception, corruption, and confusion
- Lack of repentance and holiness
- Idols of self and materials
R. C. Sproul commented: “In every generation, including our own, the same perils to the spiritual strength that Jesus rebuked in the seven churches of Revelation threaten us anew…There were rebukes and encouragements given to these churches by our Lord that every church in every age must take seriously, examining ourselves to make sure that we are not manifesting the same departures from biblical truths that these churches were. We must be vigilant and diligent if we are to maintain a godly witness in our day.”
In order to stay vigilant and to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), Christian Union developed a 24 Hour prayer chain as a practical means to join together as the body of Christ to pray for our nation and for our churches. As darkness increases, the Light must also increase!
Would you sign up for a 15 minute daily time to pray for our nation and our churches, so that there would be ceaseless prayer through the CU 24 Hour Prayer Chain?
As fall is around the corner, Christian Union New York remembers the biblical concept of the harvest season. In our modern American context, a literal season of harvest is of little significance to many of us. Yet all throughout Scripture, the Lord speaks to His people regarding the seasons of harvest, both literally and figuratively. Jesus frequently refers to the harvest of souls through His parables. In Matthew 9:37-38, Jesus tells his disciples: “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
In this wisdom, we come to you to ask for your prayers and support, to wrap around Christian Union New York as laborers of the harvest! On the cusp of fall, Christian Union New York is already seeing a plentiful harvest with abundant fruits from the ministry. In this past month, Christian Union NY has formed a CU Alumni Leadership team for the class of 2022 CU alumni who are planning gatherings and ministry opportunities for the 21 alumni of the CU class of 2022 in the city. Many of these alumni met for the first time at a meet and greet dinner in August and are excited for more opportunities to come.
Thank you for your faithful, seasoned prayers for the work of God through Christian Union New York! The purpose of our prayers may be best summarized by Elisabeth Elliot: “Prayer lays hold of God’s plan and becomes the link between his will and its accomplishment on earth. Amazing things happen, and we are given the privilege of being the channels of the Holy Spirit’s prayer.”
In this confidence, Christian Union NY asks you to please pray that His will may be done right here in NYC, as we all expectantly hope for amazing things to continue happening in the lives of leaders who are on fire for Christ!
What a joy it is to partner with you in the gospel going forward through Christian Union NY! As the prayers of righteous men and women like you continue to uplift Christian Union NY, we are witnessing the power and effectiveness of your prayers, again and again, this year (James 5:16). In direct answer to your faithful prayers, we have seen leaders in NYC brimming with kingdom strategy, spreading the good news of Jesus through their communities!
We are anticipating significant expansion this year as Christian Union NY continues to develop and connect transformative Christian leaders in the nation’s most influential cities, right here in NYC. More, Lord Jesus, we pray!
- Pray for the kingdom to come on earth, right here in NYC, as it is in heaven!
- Pray for the 26 university alumni who are moving to NYC for a new season of life post-graduation. Pray that CU NY would be able to wrap around them to help them form a deep, lasting Christian community.
- Pray that 25 total people within NY will volunteer to host a CU Fire Retreat site for this upcoming October 14-15 retreat, bringing spiritual renewal throughout lives and communities in NYC.
- Pray that the Lord would provide for CU NY’s financial needs through faithful believers who support CU NY’s mission and return their blessings from the Lord to the work of God through CU NY!
May the Lord bless you and your family as you remain steadfast in him! Thank you for your faithful, seasoned prayers on behalf of Christian Union New York!
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
Romans 12:12
Thank you for your continued prayers on behalf of Christian Union NY! As we are wrapping up our fiscal year, we are reflecting on the goodness of God to our ministry and our city this past year. As fruit from your faithful prayers, we have seen fast growth in the ministry—from establishing a board of directors, to hiring an executive assistant, to expanding CU Fires more than twofold! To God be all praise and glory! We have truly tasted and seen the goodness of the Lord this past year (Psalm 34: 8).
Thank you for your faithful intercession with Christain Union NY for our city and for a spiritual renewal around the nation. Christian Union seeks a spiritually vibrant nation, marked by Christian values, permeating every corner of society, as the ministry’s vision statement expresses.
About forty New York Christians just gathered in host homes across the city (125 participants across the country) to simultaneously participate in the April 1-2 CU Fire retreat. In these retreats, Christians dig deep, fast and pray together, seek the Lord and His voice, read a book of the Bible for two hours straight, worship, hear challenging messages, pray for one another for long periods of time, fellowship deeply, and so much more. Christian Union New York asks you to pray that God will continue to complete the good work that He has begun!
CU New York Forum with Dr. Michael Brown
Christian Union New York invited Christian Union Alumni, CU New York participants, and friends of Christian Union to join us on March 17, 2022 at 7:30pm for a virtual forum with Dr. Michael Brown.
As the chair of our new Christian Union New York board recently put it, our intercession is like a battering ram that pounds on the doors of the kingdom of darkness until they are breached. There is a great battle around the world, as we all currently witness, and in New York City where we are called to stand in the evil day and pray! The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. -James 5:16
Your prayers for Christian Union New York are bearing so much fruit! Christian Union New York is thrilled to announce to you that after many months in the making, CU New York has established its own Advisory Board! Christian Union as a whole has been operating under the guidance and wisdom of a board for many years. But now, as CU New York continues to expand and solidify the means of accomplishing its mission (including one day expanding into other major cities), Christian Union leadership has determined that it was time to establish this localized board. This board will help advise, multiply the hands and feet, talents, areas of expertise, experience, and networking connections of CU New York.
Happy New Year! Christian Union New York is incredibly expectant as we embark on this new beginning.
Christian Union New York is delighted to gift you the free PDF version of the life-changing five-week study entitled “The Seeking God Lifestyle.”
As we enter November and a season of Thanksgiving, we want to express some of the ways we are grateful, specifically to the Lord, for his kindnesses in Christ to CU New York and to all of us, His people, in NY!
