Christian Union Nova remains strong as students study the book of Philippians and near the end of a semester with zeal and genuine camaraderie.
First-year students are engaged in Bible courses and readily share how much they appreciate their fellowship with those of the same precious faith! In addition, many upperclassmen have returned to their Bible courses with greater levels of commitment, and student-to-student discipleship pairs continue to be a place for nurtured friendships. At the same time, large group meetings are charged with sincere worship and messages that convict us all to seek God, love one another, and trust in the reliability of Scripture.
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
- Proverbs 19:21
His purpose fulfilled—that’s our heart’s cry!
Plans were made to ensure that newcomers and returning students were welcomed to Christian Union Nova for a strong spiritual and academic year despite the effects of a pandemic. Our Father has not only honored those plans, but He has heard all of our prayers and superseded every expectation. Glory to God!
“…Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it;….” Psalm 127:1
The Lord is indeed building His house as students arrive on campus! The atmosphere is charged with excitement, a bit of overwhelm, and expectation as students share their feelings about returning to the “orange bubble” after almost two years of virtual reality.
Thank you so much for your commitment to Christian Union Nova!
Though the Princeton campus is tranquil, these summer months have energized much thought amongst our CU Nova students in preparation for the 2021-22 academic school year.
I am a firm believer that things don’t just happen but they must be planned! And, while this is not a Scriptural quote, there are passages that affirm the same, principally. For instance, God gave Israel a plan of action to possess Jericho! Proverbs 6 presents the wisdom of an ant, as they plan for harvest by gathering in the summer. Proverbs 21:5 admonishes how “the plans of the diligent lead to abundance.” And, we can all be encouraged by the words spoken to Jeremiah—because if God had plans for him, before birth, then God most certainly has a plan for each one of our lives, including each incoming or returning Princeton student.
…as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. - 1 Peter 2:2-3
In closing another school year, Christian Union remains committed to the spiritual development of students by creating opportunities to seek God through prayer and the study of Scripture. For this reason, eight Princeton students participated in a “Seeking God Lifestyle Seminar” because there is an earnest desire to grow in Christ, not just during the school year, but throughout the summer, and for that, we give thanks to God!
The 2020-21 school year is nearing its end and your prayers have made a difference on the Princeton University campus!
Christian Union Nova is thriving because student leaders are working to fulfill the vision. Within each student executive, assistant Bible course leader (ABCL), and student leader, there has been sincere compassion towards one another and a commitment to ensure that the CU Nova community is present and viable. Through large group meetings (i.e., Encounter and TruThursday), Bible courses, weekly prayer meetings, and discipleship for incoming freshmen, active ministry took place during a very challenging time.
May 21, 2021
We enjoyed connecting with you at Princeton's virtual reunion on May 21, 2021 at 12pm ET. Christian Union Nova invited participants from all classes, all denominations, and all Christian ministries to this annual event. We enjoyed a time of connection and fellowship.Grace to you and peace from Christian Union Nova!
The weather in Princeton is beautiful and campus life is abuzz with activity! Being mindful of precautions, students are enjoying the sunshine as spring fever is in the air! Not only is the Melrose Center fast becoming a revolving door with students arriving to pray, to study, and practice vocally for worship, but students who normally joined the zoom calls for Bible course in isolation, have been found, in recent weeks, joining the study of Acts from outdoors under bright blue skies and on blankets along with others! It’s so refreshing.
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8
This is the good news, a constant stabilizer amidst much change!
This month, we say farewell to our Ministry Director Christopher Heslep, who will be leaving Christian Union after 3 ½ years of faithful service. Pray that God will send us an exceptional leader to fill Christopher’s shoes. Meanwhile, pray that God sustains ministry fellow Cameron Garven and me as we take on additional responsibilities.
They’re back!!! At least two-thirds of Princeton students will return to campus this spring, and we could not be more excited to see them return. While much of our ministry will remain the same as it pertains to zoom Bible courses and weekly meetings, the ability to reconnect with one another in person is a blessing that is almost indescribable. Our God made us for community and face-to-face fellowship and our students finally get to return to a semblance of that. Additionally, it means that ministry fellows can begin meeting 1-on-1 with students who are comfortable doing so. I can tell you that there is much rejoicing.
As we begin a new year, we at CU Nova hope that your Christmas holiday was one of joy and fulfillment, even if it was different from previous years. CU Nova took the holiday time to relax, refresh, and recall how the Lord has been faithful within a wild year. Even through a global pandemic, our Heavenly Father has proven and will continue to prove that he is a faithful God who is sovereign and does not change. We worship him for he is worthy.
Here we are at the end of the most unique semester that any of us at Christian Union has ever faced. Classes at Princeton moved along through the semester as usual, but for the first time, there were no hangouts at Frist, no long walks to Whitman College, no ultimate frisbee games at Poe Field, or reading a book in Prospect Garden. No Ivy League championships from our amazing sports teams, and no theater productions that bring laughter. This year was filled with screen time, virtual environments, and online interactions instead. This semester is one that will never be forgotten by those who experienced it, but hopefully not for merely the reasons mentioned above.
Dear CU Nova Cornerstone Partners and other friends of the ministry,
Eight months into the pandemic, protests, and politics and God is still at work here at Princeton University! By the time this email arrives, the election will be over, and guess what...we’re still standing. It seems this year’s theme has been one of learning to adapt to the changes around us. Even with many changes in our culture as Christians, we can be assured as the author of Hebrews says “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Dear CU Nova Cornerstone Partners and other friends of the ministry,
Our freshman campaign is nearing its end, and it has been a campaign like none other before it. There have been obstacles to overcome, new events to develop, all the while doing ministry in an environment never experienced before. It has been a challenge to adjust to, and our faculty and students are still finding a way forward. But that does not mean that God is not at work.
Dear CU Nova Cornerstone Partners and other friends of the ministry,
I sit here today on the morning of the beginning of a year unlike any seen before on the Princeton campus. As you may have heard, the Princeton University administration decided to move to a fully remote model for classes this semester with no students on campus. And here on the final day of August, students begin their year at Princeton in a completely online format. Furthermore, as you have likely heard, Christian Union has gone through a vast financial transition where our ministry faculty has been reduced from eight full-time staff to three. Much has changed since our last interaction.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This past month I have been reading the book of Proverbs in the mornings. God has been using the wisdom of this book to strengthen and encourage me in this time. The central conviction of the book of Proverbs is that the thing we need most is the fear of the Lord. Elsewhere in Scripture we see commands to fear God, but also characters who embodied, albeit imperfectly, this fear of God—people like Daniel and Esther who feared God and followed him in the midst of crisis and at great personal costs.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Thank you, as always, for your prayers for our ministry! With the summer having begun, our staff will be spending the next two months completing intensive training, praying and planning for the coming school year, and taking some much-needed vacation time. We are looking forward to the year ahead and the many things we expect God will do in us and in the lives of students.
May 31, 2020
Christian Union Nova invited participants from all classes, all denominations, and all Christian ministries to this annual event. We enjoyed a time of connection and fellowship.
Get Involved
To learn more about how you can get involved, please send an email to Christian Union's VP of Alumni Engagement Christine Foster: christine.foster@christianunion.org.
(Psalm 46:1-2)
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The semester has just concluded for our students—and what a semester it has been! As others have said, we are very excited to get back to more normal times rather than “unprecedented” ones. Though it has been an unusual semester for us, God has remained the same and has continued to be “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,” as the Psalmist declares. What a joy it is to know God is constant, even when everything else appears to be in disarray.
