Seeking God

Christian Union Bible Courses Challenge Students

By erin conner

Intellectual engagement, one of the six core values of Christian Union, embraces God’s command for us to love God with all our mind. (Mark 12:30) As a result of the desire to intellectually engage university students to build faithful leaders, Christian Union offers rigorous Bible Courses.

Students involved in Christian Union ministries in the fall semester of 2023 have an opportunity to join a 10-lesson study on the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Colossians, which is often referred to as a “prison letter,” as Paul wrote it while “in chains.” (Colossians 4:3, 10, 18.)  

Ministry Snapshot: Christian Union Vita at Cornell University

By erin conner

“Let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.”  - 1 John 3:10

In February of 2023, Marcus Buckley and his wife, Lea Ann, packed up their life in Florida as church leaders to move to Ithaca, New York to answer God’s call to serve Cornell students.

This call did not come without sacrifice. 

Three Lessons in Revival

By erin conner

In this article published by Desiring God, Pastor Jeremy Walker writes a brief summary and analysis of the revival that took place in Wales, England in the  1700's. 

Walker notably writes that “the Lord was pleased to stir the listless and lethargic to liveliness and labor during the 18th Century in various parts of the world by various human instruments. In England, God raised up George Whitefield. In America… Jonathan Edwards, and in Wales… Daniel Rowland.” 

Announcing the October 13-14 CU Fire National Simulcast Retreat 

By grace ann arvey

CU Fire Retreats—quarterly simulcast retreats for believers across America—help participants experience spiritual rejuvenation and encouragement with their friends, their church, or any other Christian community to which they belong, from the comfort of their own homes. The next CU Fire Retreat will take place October 13-14, 2023.

God is at Work Through CU's Freshman Welcoming Campaign

By erin conner

The great commission of Jesus Christ, to his followers, is to “go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

At universities across America, students entering college can discover a culture that seems to silence discourse about existential purpose and meaning; about faith and God. This is especially true at the ten academic institutions where Christian Union serves. To follow the great commission in these contexts requires courage to resist the pattern of this world. 

A Devotional

By dr. Marcus buckley

Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” – 1 Peter 1:23-25 

“The grass is always greener on the other side.” It has been said that cliches which linger in our vocabulary do so because they have a strong element of truth, and the endurance of this statement is good evidence. How many times have we been enticed to wander off to pastures a deeper shade of emerald, only to find that they are filled with problems not readily visible from a distance?

An Update

By erin conner

Fasting and prayer are two spiritual disciplines recorded in Scripture that help to align people’s hearts with the Lord’s. Which is why, in part, Christian Union America leads two nationwide fasts each year toward its mission to develop and connect transformative Christian leaders for national revival and reformation. As Chuck Hetzler, Vice President of Biblical theology for Christian Union, states, “the Scriptures are clear: God is moved by the humility that fasting demonstrates when it is combined with proper attitudes and actions surrendered to God’s ways.” 

Currently, one of CU America’s bi-annual fasts is underway. It began on Tuesday, August 1 with 5,175 participants from across the country and will continue through Monday, August 14, 2023. Approximately a quarter of the participants involved in this fast are alumni from our nation’s top 30 colleges and universities. 

A Devotional 

By Dr. Chuck Hetzler

For the shepherds are stupid
   and do not inquire of the LORD;
therefore they have not prospered,
   and all their flock is scattered. – Jeremiah 10:21

Jeremiah 10:21 is a jarring verse that you might not expect to find in the Bible, “the shepherds [i.e. leaders] are stupid!” For this reason it gets our attention and lets us know how important it is to God that His leaders inquire of Him. 

Matthew 9:35-38

"And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.  When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” – Matthew 9:35-38 

CU Lumine Sees Renewed Commitment To Prayer And Fasting

By Anne Kerhoulas

For many ministries, gathering people together for prayer can be difficult. There are scheduling conflicts, demands on time, and oftentimes, a genuine lack of interest. But for CU Lumine students, prayer and fasting have become an essential part of their week. 

Seeking a Christ-Awakening

Editor’s note: The following article, by David Bryant, was originally posted in 2021 and is adapted from his essay in the 2004 updated edition of Jonathan Edwards’ influential book on prayer. It was marked by a thirty-six word title that began with three famous words: An Humble Attempt. The modern version’s title is “A Call to United, Extraordinary Prayer…An Humble Attempt.”

The Winter Retreat Was Marked By God’s Presence

By Cynthia Makachi

Although the spring semester is winding down, the impact of Ski Safari, the annual CU Nova winter retreat, is still evident among the CU Nova community today.

Self-Denial Is At The Heart of Christian Faith

By Matt Bennett, Founder and CEO

Thus says the LORD of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities. The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the LORD and to seek the LORD of hosts; I myself am going.’ Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’ – Zechariah 8:20-23 

Christian Union Board Member Explores A Life of Signs and Wonders in New Book

By Anne Kerhoulas

Ken Fish wants believers to know that God is not in theory. So often in the western church, Christians read the stories of the Bible and assume that signs and wonders were events that occurred in biblical times and simply don’t happen today. Fish is here to tell you otherwise in his upcoming book, On the Road with The Holy Spirit: A Modern Day Diary of Signs and Wonders. 

Harvard Law School Students and Professor Host Powerful Time of Prayer

By Anne Kerhoulas

It’s not every day that a deliverance event is hosted at Harvard Law School. But that’s just what happened in the fall of 2022 when Marianna and Jacob Hawkins contacted a Harvard Law School professor with the idea of hosting a spiritual freedom event for Christian students at Harvard. 

CU Lux Will Host Carter Conlon of Times Square Church

By Anne Kerhoulas

Christian Union Lux will host the Worldwide Prayer Meeting on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. The Worldwide Prayer Meeting began in 2015 as a prayer ministry of The Times Square Church in NYC. For the past eight years, the gathering has challenged believers to seek the Lord in prayer, crying out to Him on behalf of their churches, families, and nation. 

CU Lumine Alumna Experiences Inner Healing and Transformation

By Feven Negussie, CU Lumine '22 

But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. - 1 Corinthians 15:57

I found Christian Union when I was in a desperate position as a sophomore in college. I spent (or rather wasted) my freshman year of college in the most ungodly lifestyle—I will not even venture to describe it here. That year, I also experienced the biggest onslaught on my mental health. I experienced frequent panic attacks and severe insomnia. I lost weight dramatically and I found myself not being able to eat or sleep properly. Even when faced with these attacks on my mind and body, I continued on in my wayward ways. 

A Trio of Christian Union Bible Studies Explore the Psalter  

By Anne Kerhoulas

Christian Union seeks a spiritually vibrant nation marked by Christian values permeating every corner of society. This vision is being advanced through the launch of Christian Union Bible Studies that are available to anyone who seeks to know the Lord and His word better. 

Staying True To Your Word Matters

By Matt Bennett, Founder and CEO of Christian Union

But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.  – James 5:12 

Christian unity cannot be achieved without trust, and trust only endures if persons are faithful to their commitments. In this passage, James echoes the words uttered by Jesus in Matthew 5:33-37 where He also seeks integrity among believers.  In the Matthew passage, some were trying to get out of their commitments by swearing by less valuable things, but this is not acceptable. 

Healings, Miracles, and Tens of Thousands of Baptisms

By Anne Kerhoulas

Something is happening in a small town in North Georgia. Todd Smith, the pastor of Christ Fellowship Church, says his church has been in revival for five years. Smith’s church had plateaued and wasn’t seeing significant growth in their body. The lead pastor was weary and hungered to see a move of God in his church, one that looked like the kinds of things that happened in the book of Acts.