Campaign Features Answers to Tough Questions
By Tom Campisi, Managing Editor
This spring, Christian Union is mobilizing students on its ten campuses to share the gospel more boldly, strategically, and frequently than ever.
The current CU Rise campaign includes a comprehensive social media outreach, in addition to campus-specific evangelism initiatives at Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, Yale, and Stanford. The goal is to make the name of Jesus the most talked-about name at some of our nation’s most influential universities.
The key components of CU Rise are posts on Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube that answer frequently asked questions such as “Where is God in a world of suffering?” “Who is Jesus?” and “How do I know the Bible is trustworthy and true?” CU Rise also includes short videos where students at each university reach out to their peers by answering other tough questions and sharing testimonies.
Maddie Bartels, Yale ’23, answered the question, “Can Science Disprove God?” Bartels, who is majoring in earth and planetary sciences, said the answer is “Most definitely, no.”
Maddie Bartels, Yale '23“Science, as a discipline, is constantly changing…New theories are developed every day as techniques and technology improve, and old theories are disproven,” she said. “Ultimately, science cannot claim to answer the question of why things are here. It can observe…but, ultimately, it cannot answer why.”
“One of the basic tenets of science is that it is very difficult to prove something false. Things can be proven true in certain cases, but to prove something false would require you to test every single hypothetical case, which is just impossible. Science cannot answer the question of whether God exists or not.”
Bartels concluded her short video by noting some of the many questions God asked Job regarding creation (Job 38), including: “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundations?”
“Job had no answer,” Bartels said. “And I believe as scientists, we also don’t have any sort of answer to this. But ultimately, the fact is that science has not disproved God, and it never can.”
Timmy Seiferth, a freshman at Princeton, talked about recently stepping out in faith and carving out more time to seek God, despite a busy academic schedule: “I’ve been wanting to spend more time with God, but I thought, ‘I don’t know if it’s irresponsible because I have all these things I got to do and stay healthy.’ ”
But Seiferth persevered and the results have been noteworthy.
Timmy Seiferth, Princeton '25“I have a window between my classes and I have blocked that out…That is my God time. And let me tell you, it has been incredible,” he said. “I have so much more peace, so much more love, so much more joy just in regards to all aspects of life.” Additionally, “my academics are not slipping. My grades are doing fine. I’m feeling so much more efficient in my work, and my mindset has changed. Now my life is not focused on academics. Now my life is focused on God and a relationship with him…and the love and joy that He brings.”
“Quality time with God…it works.”
Seika Brown, Cornell ’24, shared her story, of how she came to faith in high school due to the witness of classmates who “showed me what radiant joy and love look like.” That new-found faith helped her endure the disappointment of a heart-disorder diagnosis that forced her to stop running track. Brown was a member of the United States track and field team and was hoping it would help her earn a college scholarship.
“So, losing track meant losing college,” she first thought. “Thankfully, God had a lot of other plans for me, and I was able to get accepted into Cornell.”
At Cornell, Christian Union has been a big blessing.
Seika Brown, Cornell '24“It’s been amazing. I’ve been able to lead a Bible study. I went to church for the first time. I celebrated Easter for the first time,” she said. “I was water baptized in November. And it’s been a journey—every single day…this great and beautiful relationship with God.”
Testimonies from Brown, Seifert, and Bartels are just a few examples of how Christian Union students are lifting up the name of Jesus on campus this spring. May the spiritual temperature at these universities continue to rise!
RELATED: Want to go deeper in your faith? Click here to receive a free download of Christian Union’s "Seeking God Lifestyle” Bible Course Manual.
