Columbia
Led by God, Beat by Beat
A Jazz Musician Found His Way In CU Lumine
By Isabella Campolatarro
There’s a Christian aphorism, often attributed to St. Teresa of Avila, that “God draws straight with crooked lines.” Christian Union Lumine student Michael Manasseh ’23 has experienced this truth first-hand.
Transformation Through Leadership
The Heart of Christian Union's Mission
Learn more about how Christian Union is promoting national revival and reformation for a spiritually vibrant America through Christian leadership. That’s been the heart of Christian Union’s vision and mission all along through two strategic ministries: Christian Union Universities (CUU) and Christian Union America (CUA). The aim is not just to endure our current trials, but to recapture the Christ-centered spiritual vibrancy that blessed the world for generations.The Supernatural Power of Christian Unity
A Nationwide Fast from August 1-14 Calls Believers to Concerted Prayer
By Dr. Chuck Hetzler
Christian Union’s next extended period of prayer and fasting begins Monday, August 1, and runs for two weeks through Sunday, August 14, 2022. The spiritual condition of our day demands a serious and wholehearted response from the Church; The nation and the people of God in America need a fresh work of the Spirit of God. Please sign up today for our fourteen-day fast and join thousands of other Christians as we draw near to God for ourselves, for the Body of Christ, and for the lost.
Seeking the Lord Fervently at Spiritus
Christian Union Hosts Impactful Student Conference
By Tom Campisi, Managing Editor
At the conclusion of the academic year, Christian Union hosted Spiritus, a two-week-long, invitation-only conference that introduced students to Daniel Spirituality and inspired them to be transformative Christian leaders. Spiritus, held at the D.L. Moody Center in Northfield, Massachusetts, featured doctrinal teaching with an emphasis on prayer, fasting, and repentance.
The Urgency of Evangelism: Inspiration from D.L. Moody
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.
God’s Not Dead - He’s on the Move at Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Brown and Beyond
Christian Union Celebrates 20th Anniversary
By Anne Kerhoulas, Staff Writer
“They say Aslan is on the move—perhaps he has already landed.”
Developing a Leadership Curriculum at Columbia
CU Lumine Prepares Students for Service
By Anne Kerhoulas, Staff Writer
Stan Thomas assumed the ministry director position at Christian Union Lumine on Columbia’s campus in January of 2020. Little did he know, in the coming months the students he was just beginning to connect with would be soon scattered across the globe due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Two years later, however, Thomas is faithfully leading and equipping students at Columbia with the gospel and preparing them for a life of discipleship and service.
Why I Believe in the Life-Changing Potential and Power of CU Rise
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.
The Social Network: Bold Testimonies Highlight CU Rise
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.
CU Rise Campaign Is Good News for Influential Universities!
Christian Union Unveils Historic Evangelistic Outreach
By Anne Kerhoulas, Staff Writer
You have one business on earth - to save souls. - John Wesley
Calling, Courage, and Christ
Students Challenged to Be Salt and Light at 2019 Nexus Conference
By Tom Campisi, Managing Editor
Editor's note: This article, which features coverage of Christian Union's Nexus Conference, originally appeared in the Spring 2019 edition of Christian Union: The Magazine and is reprinted in conjuction with the publication's "Throwback Thursday" series.
Message Me for Macarons
CU Lumine Provides Treats, Answers Questions about Christianity
By Tom Campisi, Managing Editor
“Does belief in Christianity work with belief in evolution?”
“Will God ever forgive me?”
“How can you say there’s only one true faith?”
These are a sampling of the questions submitted by Columbia students when Christian Union Lumine hosted its Message Me for Macarons outreach in December. After publicizing the event, students with CU Lumine delivered the macarons and answered questions via text messaging, all while earnestly praying.
"I Am Incredibly Grateful for Christian Union"
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.
Christian Union Book Recommendations for 2022
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!
How to Not Be Afraid of Cancel Culture
Author of Irreversible DamageDelivers Poignant Message at Princeton
In our increasingly polarized society, university campuses have become a hotbed of cancel culture and diminished free speech. Though organizations like Academic Freedom Alliance have emerged from leading institutions with the sole purpose of defending professors' and students' constitutional right to freedom of speech, majority views tend to dominate public thinking and discourage dissent, even when dissent is grounded in research.
“Where Is God in the Movies?”
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?”
Hashtag: Welcome Columbia Freshmen
CU Lumine Introduces Student Leaders Via Social Media
By Tom Campisi, Managing Editor
Prior to hosting its Freshman Welcoming Campaign this fall, CU Lumine embarked on a social media campaign that introduced first-year students to the ministry and gave them practical wisdom and biblical insight before they even arrived on campus.
A Seeking God Lifestyle Seminar for Students
Christian Union Event Inspires Young Leaders
By Tom Campisi, Managing Editor
Students with Christian Union ministries at some of the nation’s most influential universities gathered virtually last spring for a Seeking God Lifestyle Seminar. For eight evenings, attendees heard inspiring teaching on topics ranging from repentance to revival, gathered in cohorts, and sought to draw closer to the Lord.
Intellectual Engagement
Tanaka ’23 Launches Online Apologetics Forum
By Anne Kerhoulas, Staff Writer
At most of the nation’s leading universities, Christian scholarship is not taken seriously. Whether it is courses that teach the Bible from a strictly literary perspective and neglect available scholarship, or students passively believing that Christianity has no response to deep philosophical questions, the Gospel is often ignored completely or viewed with disdain as ignorant and unthoughtful. Jonathan Tanaka wants to change that.
Seeking the Lord and Praying Without Ceasing at Columbia
CU Lumine Prepares for Fall Semester
By Kelly Parks, Staff Writer
Despite the challenges posed by conducting Bible courses and other events online or with strict social distancing guidelines this past academic year, CU Lumine, Christian Union’s ministry at Columbia, was full of prayer pods, evangelism workshops, and Bible courses - all of which took place online. While the ministry center was open for occasional one-on-one meetings and small groups of under nine participants, Zoom meetings were the primary way students connected with each other.