Penn
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.”
Baseball Bible Course Is Off and Running at Penn
Werchan ’23 Emerges as a Leader for CU Martus
By Tom Campisi, Staff Writer
Seth Werchan appreciates every moment he can play baseball this spring, whether it’s using his speed to stretch a single into a double or roaming the green grass of the outfield and camping under a fly ball.
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.
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.
To End the Killing of Babies, We Need a Loving Revolution
"Jesus Stood Up for Children"
The killing of babies has had a place in our world for centuries. From abandoning newborns with deformities to killing female babies, each culture has had its own reasons for ignoring their personhood and allowing for lives to be discarded. Even today, in nations like India and China, female babies are regularly aborted or killed in favor of males, leaving a drastic gender gap in the population.
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!
New Ministry Fellow Is Excited to Be Stationed at Penn
Caitlin Vera Is a Former Marine
By Anne Kerhoulas, Staff Writer
Caitlin Vera didn’t have ministry on her mind when she left home to join the Marines. The eighteen-year-old enrolled in the service as a way to leave a small, rural town and be part of something bigger than herself.
“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?”
Penn Ministry Director Has Passion for Developing Transformative Leaders
Lotspeich, a Former Marine, Is Hungry for Revival
By Anne Kerhoulas, Staff Writer
Christian Union’s new ministry director at Penn wants to change the world. Though many would scoff at such ambitions, former Marine Cory Lotspeich recognizes the immense potential of developing leaders at an institution like the University of Pennsylvania.
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.
The Stillness Our Soul Craves
Discovering the Beauty of Hesuchía
By Avery Johnston, Penn ’23
Editor’s note: The following article was reprinted with permission from The Penn Epistle, “a Christian journal at the University of Pennsylvania dedicated to sharing the words of Christ’s followers.” The author, Avery Johnston, is a student leader with CU Martus, Christian Union’s leadership development ministry at the University of Pennsylvania.
Humbly Serving the Homeless
CU Martus Leader Earns Prestigious Fellowship at Penn
By Tom Campisi and Fuji Kim
Michael Hagan is one of eight undergraduates in the inaugural class of fellows for the University of Pennsylvania’s new Office of Social Equity and Community.
“University-Sponsored Hate Speech”
Penn Professor, Yale Lecturer Make Shocking Statements
By Tom Campisi, Managing Editor
This spring, two academic seminars with ties to Ivy League universities came under fire for incendiary comments regarding race. A University of Pennsylvania professor said white evangelicals are racists who “may end up killing us all,” while a guest lecturer at the Yale School of Medicine expressed frustration with the national dialogue by saying she had fantasies about shooting white people.
How I Found Christian Community at a Shake Shack
“CU Martus Made a Profound Impact”
By Emily Solomon, Penn ’21
Someone recently asked me the best way to find community when arriving on campus for the first time. I thought about this question a lot before I first came to Penn as well. Would I be able to find a Christian community at an Ivy League university? Would I be able to grow in my faith, or would secular thought extinguish it?
Karen Swallow Prior Unpacks Virtue at Penn
Noted Author Speaks at CU Martus Lecture Series
By Anne Kerhoulas, Staff Writer
Most college students are not concerned about virtue. According to author Karen Swallow Prior, virtue has primarily been whittled down to an old-fashioned word for sexual purity. But the concept of virtue is a robust one, extending far beyond what most modern Americans attach to the word, she said. Prior shared those sentiments when she spoke earlier this year at CU Martus’ leadership lecture series, Philia.
Student Spotlight: Noah McQueen
UPenn Class of 2021
Throughout Noah's freshman and sophmore year at UPenn, he pursued his dream of becoming a fighter pilot. However, in the spring of his senior year he received devastating news that he was medically disqualified to fly due to a minor health issue. The first person he called was a fellow Christian Union Bible Course member followed by his Bible Course leader.Astronaut Monastery
Christian Union Alumnus Founds NYC Design Studio
By Anne Kerhoulas, Staff Writer
Strategy is the name of the game for Cody Min, the founder of Astronaut Monastery, a creative studio operating out of New York City.
With the tagline of “Making work that thinks and thinking that works,” Min, the company’s head of new business and strategy, has created a sleek and successful firm serving clients like Hyundai, the popstar Kesha, Cole Haan, Rowing Blazers, Disney-ABC, Samsung, and Uniqlo. Min’s creative work today is deeply rooted in his faith, which was cultivated through the ministry of CU Martus (formerly called Penn Faith and Action or PennFA).
Penn Virtual Reunion 2021
Christian Union Event on May 14, 2021
Thanks for joining Christian Union Martus (University of Pennsylvania) at 4:00 PM EST for a virtual reunion. Christian Union Martus invited participants from all classes, all denominations, and all Christian ministries to this annual event. Christian Union Martus invited participants from all classes, all denominations, and all Christian ministries to this annual event.Student Spotlight: Ethan Chaffee
University of Pennsylvania
Ethan is a senior at the University of Pennsylvania and he has been involved in Christian Union since his freshman year. Arriving on campus as a self-described young Christian, the ministry encouraged and challenged him to deepen his faith."I understand so much more of who God is, but I have still so much more to learn and that just would not have been possible without God working through Christian Union." -Ethan Chaffee, University of Pennsylvania '20In this Student Spotlight video, Ethan describes the impact Christian Union has had on his walk with the Lord throughout the past four years.
To learn more about Christian Union Martus at the University of Pennsylvania, click here.