Penn

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.

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.

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.

“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?

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.

UPenn Class of 2021

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).

Christian Union Event on May 14, 2021

University of Pennsylvania

"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 '20

Watt ’22 Is a Gracious Host and Leader

By Tom Campisi, Managing Editor

The extraordinary leadership of Caleb Watt has helped Christian Union Martus stay connected and in community for the last year, especially during the uncertain times of the COVID-19 pandemic at the University of Pennsylvania.

Student Leaders Mobilize Online Initiative

BY EILEEN SCOTT, CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Ministry Director Tucker Else reading Scripture with students weeks prior to the pandemic

Christian Union Faculty Transitions to Online Ministry During Pandemic 

by tom campisi, managing editor

In the blink of an eye, the collegiate academic year was relegated to online courses due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March. No campus life. No spring sports or activities. No May commencement.

In the midst of the chaos, Christian Union Universities transitioned to an online ministry—Bible courses, Leadership Lecture Series, and mentoring sessions were hosted online via Zoom and other portals. Ministry Fellows were there to provide continuity by shepherding students and offering counsel to those grieving over what was lost.

Seniors Help Launch Program for Homeless

by anne kerhoulas, staff writer

Becoming a follower of Christ during college was not part of the plan. But for Penn senior Steffen Cornwell, finding community in Christian Union Martas reoriented his vision for his future. Part of the prestigious Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology,Cornwell has taken a newfound interest in social entrepreneurship and spearheaded a program that allows individuals experiencing homelessness to store important personal identification documents in a secure website.

May 16, 2020

Students Warm Locust Walk with Cider Outreach

by eileen scott, contributing writer

Christian Union at the University of Pennsylvania put “campus kindness” into action this fall by giving away hot cider to students on their way to class on Locust Walk, a centrally located pathway. There were no strings attached to receive the hot beverage. Yet, if students chose to sip their drink and discuss faith, leaders were there to engage. The outreach was part of the ministry’s on-going campus kindness effort, which also includes book giveaways and welcoming bags for freshmen.

Ministry Leaders Seek to Foster Hope, Community 

By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer

In the wake of the suicide of Gregory Eells, the University of Pennsylvania’s Executive Director of Counseling and Psychological Services, local campus ministry leaders pledged to actively support students battling depression.

Christians with ties to Penn also expressed a desire to help foster a better sense of community and to emulate the hope of Christ to their collegiate peers.

“Community is a big help. Welcoming people in and being especially attentive to those who are struggling is important,” said Patrick Travers, a director with the Penn Catholic Newman Community (newman.upenn.edu). In light of eternal matters, “the good news of the Gospel and the new life that Christ invites us to is quite different from the ‘successful life’ that Penn preaches.”

Penn for Jesus Hosts Edifying Event 

By Avery Johnston, Penn ’23

Colossians 3:16 proclaims the fullness of joy and wisdom that can be gleaned from worshiping with other followers of the Lord: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (ESV)

The Scriptures make it clear how worship and fellowship will be used for building up one another. The All-Campus Worship Night at the University of Pennsylvania on September 28, 2019, certainly worked to rejuvenate the local community of Christians. The event, held at beautiful Christ Community Church, was hosted by Penn for Jesus, an organization with a mission of connecting and unifying all Christians on campus, irrespective of denomination, participation in any specific on-campus ministry, and church background.

Summer Trip Is a Blessing for Students 

Penn Students Volunteer at Emmanuel Ministry

By Emily Solomon, Penn ’22

Most students cherish Saturday mornings as a precious time to sleep in. However, for some underclassmen at Penn, it’s a wonderful time to venture into Center City to prepare and serve meals for the Emmanuel Ministry at Liberti Church Center City.

Every week, Liberti Church opens its doors for volunteers to serve over 100 individuals who are experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. On a recent Saturday, some Penn students arrived at Liberti Church and were immediately greeted by head chef Matt Soldano, who gave marching orders. The instructions to “divide and conquer” ensures that the meal is ready to be served by noon when the dining hall is filled with guests. At about 11:30 a.m., volunteers from various churches and organizations gather to pray over the meal, make any urgent announcements, and decide who will prep plates and who will wait tables. 

Chef Matt Solano (center) and volunteers in the kitchen at Emmanuel Ministry

Dierkes ’20 Is a Leader with Newman Center 

By Lou Baldwin

The following article originally appeared at www.CatholicPhilly.com. Reprinted with permission.

University of Pennsylvania student Theresa Dierkes, center, received the John and Harriet Stanton Award at the annual dinner hosted by the Pro-Life Union of Greater Philadelphia.

There are almost 22,000 students at the University of Pennsylvania, of which more than 10,000 are undergrads. The university’s pro-life group, Quakers for Life, formerly Penn for Life, has maybe 15-20 core active members, according to a group leader, Theresa Dierkes, a senior majoring in nursing.

If that can be somewhat like John the Baptist, a voice crying out in the wilderness, Dierkes could take comfort in being one of three honorees at the Pro-Life Union of Greater Philadelphia’s annual Stand Up For Life Dinner last winter.

There were more than 1,200 committed pro-lifers in attendance. Her award was the John and Harriet Stanton Award, named for the Pro-Life Union pioneers.