Evangelism Campaigns at Some of Our Nation's Most Secular Schools
By erin conner, writer and communications associate
On March 3, Cliffe and Stuart Knechtle from the Give Me An Answer Ministry visited Stanford, boldly proclaiming Christ and engaging students in deep conversations about difficult questions of faith. The crowd grew to nearly 250 students toward the end, with still more stopping by throughout the four-hour event in White Plaza.
"In the days since, I’ve heard several testimonies of how students have had many conversations with their non-believing friends about Christ, the gospel, and faith. Cliffe and Stuart’s example emboldened students in their faith, and we see clear evidence that God is at work in hearts on our campus," shared Justin Woyak, the ministry director at Christian Union Caritas, one of the ministries that helped to host this outreach event. Christian Union Caritas was honored to partner with other Christian ministries at Stanford to help proclaim the gospel in such a bold way.
Devotional from January 2025 Christian Union National Fast
By matt bennett, founder and president of christian Union
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage! The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.”-Psalm 33:12-15
Reflection:
The opening verse of this passage, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,” is a profound declaration of divine favor. It reminds us that the true blessing of a nation, and indeed any people, comes not from wealth, power, or worldly success, but from recognizing and submitting to the sovereignty of the LORD. This recognition is not merely a matter of formal acknowledgment but requires a deep, heartfelt commitment to God as the ultimate authority and guide.
In the context of today’s world, where nations often seek prosperity through economic and military might, this psalm offers a counter-cultural truth: the real blessing lies in being chosen by God and walking in His ways. It’s not about the external markers of success but about aligning our hearts and lives with His will.
Dear CU Vita Cornerstone Partners and friends of the ministry,
Greetings from Ithaca! We are racing through this semester at a breakneck pace. It is always hard to believe how fast these semesters actually go by as we are ministering to these students, but we are thankful for every opportunity–and there are so many!
“For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” – John 1:16
As we press on in another semester at Harvard Law, we are continually in awe of the depths of God’s radical grace. This grace—undeserved, unrelenting, and transformative—has been the heartbeat of our studies, our fellowship, and our ministry this year. It is shaping us as we learn not only to receive it but to extend it to others in a world desperately in need of the gospel.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” -1 Corinthians 5:17-19
Dear CU Lumine Cornerstone Partners and friends of the ministry,
Greetings from New York City. It feels like the semester just started, yet we are halfway through it with spring break coming next week.
Over the last month, we have been experiencing a real movement of the Holy Spirit in our students who have developed a desire to grow deeper in their commitment to Christ. We have seen an increase of students attending our SEEK weekly Monday evening prayer meetings held on campus. We’ve also seen an increase of students participating in our ministry's weekly Friday fast. We gather at the ministry center at 4:30pm to pray and break fast with dinner together. It has truly been exciting to see our students become more intentional about their relationship with Christ and reaching others with His love.
Greetings from Princeton!
As I write this, the sun is shining, the weather is warming up, and Princeton students are off enjoying their spring break, having worked hard through midterms the week before. Passion for the gospel among our students is growing! Our February got off to a great start with 98 students attending our first Encounter of the semester! We also have a new group of students who are going out on campus to evangelize every Friday night before Encounter! Another new group is doing intercessory prayer on Tuesday nights for Princeton. And our Noon Prayer attendance has nearly quadrupled every day this semester! It has been powerful to see so many students come to pray for an hour every weekday.
Greetings from Stanford!
As we near the end of the winter quarter, we rejoice in God’s continued goodness to our community and are grateful for your steadfast prayers and support.
"I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." -Psalm 113:4-6
The winter term is ending here at Dartmouth, and our thoughts are bending towards all things spring. The students have finished up classes and are now completing their exams and heading home for a couple of weeks of well-earned vacation. We’ve had a great term, and are ready for the final third of our year to begin.
Dear CU Gloria Cornerstone Partners and friends of the ministry,
“But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.”
-2 Timothy 1:12
Spring is attempting to make a breakthrough in Cambridge; the daylight is lengthening; days are getting warmer, and all our hearts are encouraged. I believe the Spirit is showing up in similar ways at Christian Union Gloria. God is moving at Harvard! Hallelujah, and thanks be to our Lord Jesus. This semester has already been quite eventful, and we see the Lord stirring the hearts of those among our fellowship.
Testimonies Reveal God is at Work in America's Most Influential Universities
By erin conner, writer and communications associate
Universities such as Brown, Cornell, Princeton, and Yale produce a disproportionate number of influential leaders across the nation, as these schools fall into the top ranking universities in America. In fact, almost seventy percent of America's most influential leaders graduate from just 20 of America's 3000+ undergraduate educational institutions.
Across America, many believe that these schools are too secular to see a move of God, but others believe that these schools sit at the heart of a future national revival. Despite the increase in destructive ideologies that are pervasive in these types of institutions, God is on the move to demonstrate truth, love, and the way out of a secular culture and mindset of depavity, deception, and despair.
Student Leadership Ministry Equips Students to Share Christ
By erin conner, writer and communications associate
As Christians around the world prepare their hearts this Lenten season to acknowledge Christ's death and resurrection, Christian Union is preparing student leaders to boldly proclaim the gospel.
Every spring, Christian Union holds an eight-week evangelism campaign across their ten ministries at some of our nation's most secular and influential schools, equipping students to share the gospel in multiple, meaningful ways. From social media ads to initiating conversations with strangers in the street to hosting highly visible, large group events on campus, student leaders are devoted to sharing the life-giving message of Jesus Christ to all who have ears to hear.
Devotional from January 2025 Christian Union National Fast
By Justin Yim, Ministry Director of Christian Union Gloria Law at Harvard Law School
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 3:13-14 ESV
I’ve participated in the Boston Marathon for a few years now—not as a runner, but as a volunteer, to be clear! Every year that I watch the elite runners run past the last water station towards the finish line—sweat pouring down their face, muscles burning, and exhaustion weighing heavily—I ask how they can run over 26 miles in less than 3 hours. I imagine their eyes are fixed on the tape ahead, not on the pain or the miles they’ve already covered. With every ounce of strength, that final push brings them to victory. This image echoes the message of Philippians 3:13-14: the Christian life is not a sprint but a marathon. It’s a journey of perseverance, focus, and pressing forward toward the prize.
Seeking a Spiritual Awakening in America
By christian union, first published in 2021; revised 2025
The following article by David Bryant is adapted from his essay in the 2004 updated edition of Jonathan Edwards’ influential book on prayer marked by a thirty-six word title that began with three famous words: An Humble Attempt. The modern version’s title is “A Call to United, Extraordinary Prayer…An Humble Attempt.”
Brown and Columbia Student Leaders Reflect on Worship
By Erin conner, writer and communication associate
Christian Union Universities, a Christian leadership development ministry at ten highly secular and influential educational institutions in America, aims to provide training and growth opportunities for students to lead others in devotion to God in their spheres of influence.
One area of leadership that students develop during their time with Christian Union is worship. The following thoughts from Christian Union ministry team leaders at Brown and Columbia University reveal the power of worship on their campuses and in believers' lives.
Would you join your voices and hearts in prayer through these prayer points?
When God Woke Up Wales
By erin conner, writer and communications associate
In an article published by Desiring God, Pastor Jeremy Walker writes a brief summary and analysis of the revival that took place in Wales, England in the 1700's. Walker notably writes that “the Lord was pleased to stir the listless and lethargic to liveliness and labor during the 18th Century in various parts of the world by various human instruments. In England, God raised up George Whitefield. In America… Jonathan Edwards, and in Wales… Daniel Rowland.”
Devotional from January 2025 Christian Union National Fast
By Tim Pillsbury, Ministry Director of Christian Union Vox at Dartmouth
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."–James 1:2-4 ESV
God and the devil both recognize the incredible value and opportunity of suffering. In fact, we humans might be the only ones who do not! So many times, in the midst of suffering, our goal is simple: stop suffering. And we turn all our energy and attention to that task, desperate to be done with our trial.
But James 1:2-4 paints a different picture. “Count it all joy,” he writes, “when you meet trials of various kinds.” James does not call us to enjoy suffering—that would be masochism—but instead to count our suffering as joy. We are to view it not as something senseless, but as a trial of faith, a necessary testing ground which produces good fruit.
“How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, LORD; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” -Psalm 119:9-16 (NIV)
Greetings from CU Libertas!
Dear CU Lumine Cornerstone Partners and friends of the ministry,
Greetings from New York City!
The students are back on campus after a much-needed vacation to decompress from all the stress from the fall semester. We are back to ministering to their needs as they finish shopping for classes and settle in for the spring semester.
