Alumni

CU Rise Campaign Is Proclaiming the Good News to Students

By Tom Campisi, Managing Editor

“What shall you do then with Jesus which is called Christ?”

That was the question posed by preacher Dwight Lyman Moody at his Illinois Street Church in Chicago on October 8, 1871. In the sermon, he paraphrased the question asked by Pontius Pilate in the Gospel of Matthew (27:22). Moody challenged the congregation to think about it during the week and return to church the following Sunday with an answer—would they crown Christ as Lord or, like Pilate and the misguided mob of that time, deny his supremacy? However, as Moody finished his sermon, a warning bell began to ring. The Great Chicago Fire was raging. There was no next week at his church, which burned to the ground like many of the buildings in the city.

Fondly Remembering An Evangelistic Blitz from 1985

By Tom Campisi, Managing Editor

Christian Union is currently in the midst of an ambitious evangelistic initiative called CU Rise, which includes social media campaigns and outreaches at the nine universities where it hosts leadership development ministries. CU Rise will run for eight weeks.

A Senior Reflects on Formative Years of Christian Community 

By Alice Huang, Yale ’22

Being a member of Christian Union Lux has thoroughly shaped my time at Yale. The community of CU was so vital in keeping my life centered on Christ, even in as busy and distracting of an environment as college. I can honestly say that despite growing up in a Christian household, I experienced the most dramatic growth in my relationship to God in the last four years—growth which I attribute to the loving ministry fellows, my dedicated peers in CU, and the thought-provoking curriculum. 

Holsey ’22, a Student of the Word, Starts New Chapter of Life

By Anne Kerhoulas, Staff Writer

Christian Union ministry fellows pour time, love, and energy into the students in their ministries with the hope that when they graduate and move into the next stage of life they will be equipped, spiritually mature, and grounded in Christ. Savannah Holsey, Cornell ’22, is a representation of just that.

Mwabe ’19 Exhorts Graduates to Go beyond Comfort Zone 

Editor's note: This article originally appeared in the Summer 2019 edition of  Christian Union: The Magazine and is reprinted as a "Throwback Thursday" feature in conjuction with the year-long celebration of Christian Union's 20th Anniversary in 2022.   

As part of commencement exercises, Harvard College selected a co-president of Christian Union’s ministry for one of its top honors. 

Robb ’70 Inspires CU Lux with Message of Revival

By Anne Kerhoulas, Staff Writer

When Isaiah sees the glory of the Lord, his magnitude and power as just the hem of his garment filled the temple, he fell to his knees saying, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips.” (Isaiah 6)

Participants Share Powerful Testimonies

By Chuck Hetzler, Director of CU Day & Night

God has a word for every nation. That’s why 4,500 American Christians joined Christian Union Day and Night’s fourteen-day fast on January 3-16, 2022. 

Football Players Huddle Up for Christian Union Bible Course

Tom Campisi, MANAGING EDITOR

“Don’t Stop Pressing In!”

By Jacob Hawkins, Harvard Kennedy School ’20

About a year ago, my mom asked me, “When did it all change for you?” Without thinking, the answer was clear. “When I started to read my Bible every day,” I responded. 

Alumna Recalls the Discipleship, Community, and Leadership Development she Experienced at Columbia 

By Taylor Willis, Columbia ’18

As soon as I set foot on campus as a first-year at Columbia, I felt out of place. I yearned for Christian community minutes after my parents left me to fly back to Texas. Thankfully, by God’s grace, Christian Union Lumine existed. 

From New Releases to Classics

Everyone needs a good book on hand. To help you decide where to start in the new year, Christian Union ministry faculty and staff have put together a recommended booklist for 2022. Ranging from new releases to old classics, there is sure to be something that will bless and challenge you this year. Take a look! 

Columbia and Penn Alumni Discuss Films

By Anne Kerhoulas, Staff Writer

Alumni from Columbia and Penn gathered in person and virtually to discuss religious themes in film. Spearheaded by Columbia alumnus Stephen Cone ’20, who was a Film and Media Studies major, the alumni recently gathered at the CU Lumine Ministry Center on the day of the Columbia vs. Penn football game for the discussion entitled, “Where Is God in the Movies?”

In-Person Ministry Returns

By Tom Campisi, Managing Editor

A core group of emerging student leaders and alumni who have returned to the area have helped Christian Union Vox reach incoming freshmen and launch into the new academic year with vitality. 

Christian Union Multi-Site Event Stirs, Strengthens Believers

By Dr. Chuck HetZler, Director of CU Day and Night

Christian Union Day and Night hosted its first-ever, multi-site version of CU Fire on Friday, October 8 and Saturday, October 9.  

Foulke ’20 Was Founding Member of CU Caritas

By Anne Kerhoulas, Staff Writer

Arthur Brooks argues that finding happiness in a job comes from two factors: a sense of accomplishment and professional efficacy as well as believing that your work is serving others and making a difference in the world. Recent Stanford grad and CU Caritas alumni Ryan Foulke has found both in his work for BibleProject, a non-profit organization that creates free Bible resources to “help make the biblical story accessible to everyone, everywhere.”

 ‘I Am Deeply Grateful for How God Uses Christian Union to Engage Students’

By Daniel Norton, Harvard ’14

I grew up attending Catholic mass most weekends with my family. When I enrolled at Harvard in 2010, my faith could best be described as moralistic deism–I felt compelled to attend mass, do my best to behave biblically, and label myself as a good Christian. Yet my faith was built on a weak foundation, rooted in a flawed belief system that I could somehow win God’s favor through church attendance or by occasionally behaving more biblically than my college peers. 

Newlyweds Thankful for CU Community at Harvard

By Anne Kerhoulas, Staff Writer

When it comes to marriage, our modern culture tends to focus on the couple. But for Joshua Walton ’21 and Jessica Edwards ’21 (now Walton), it is the power of living in Christian community that has brought them together, encouraged them, and forged a supportive foundation for their new marriage.

Harvard Alumna Thankful for Cornerstone Partners Bible Study

By Alexandra Tartaglia, Harvard ’17

It was January of 2021, and I had been living at my parents’ house in my hometown of Rye, New York. I was completing my final semester of law school virtually, as the Fordham University School of Law campus was closed because of the pandemic.

'Our Nation Needs Leaders Who Follow the Example of Christ' 

By Hope Arbery

In the book of Mark, there is a story about a paralytic man. After hearing about the powerful works of Jesus, his friends literally carried him to Jesus because they wanted him to be healed. They overcame every obstacle so that they might bring their friend to the only one who could save him. 

Greg Epstein Is 'Good Without God'

Harvard has appointed Greg Epstein as the new Chief Chaplain; he is an atheist. The hiring has elucidated ire from conservative institutions gawking at how someone who believes God does not exist could possibly be the president of such a spiritually-minded, albeit diverse, group of individuals. Meanwhile, others have congratulated Harvard for their willingness to represent their student body and acknowledge atheism as a valid spiritual pursuit.