Christian Union: The Magazine Summer 2017 | Page 28

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“We wanted to provide some time for the seniors
and founding class to connect before they headed
off into their careers,” said Justin Mills, founding
ministry director. “We emphasized vocational prep
of the years ahead and the need to continue in faith
by joining a community to pursue Jesus alongside,”
said Mills, Penn ‘05.
Christian Union’s ministry also paid tribute to
seniors during its annual spring formal.
About 50 students plus ministry facul-
ty attended the event on April 27 at
Barra Rossa, a popular Italian restaurant
on Walnut Street.
There, undergraduates mingled while
enjoying a delightful evening of cuisine
and fellowship.
“The seniors were sent off with
hand-written notes from all those in
attendance to say thank you and God-
speed in their future endeavors,” said
Else. “The senior class truly has a love
for one another and it was a great send-
off. It was also powerful to see the fresh-
In May, Christian Union’s ministry at the University of Pennsylvania celebrated its first
men and sophomores honoring those
graduating class.
who have gone before them with toasts,
notes, and hugs.”
and the need to move into the next season with a
As the class of 2017 prepared to depart Penn,
community of Christians around them, especially
Christian Union faculty members emphasized the
from a local church.”
significance of seeking God above personal achieve-
While the weather was not ideal, the students
ment.
enjoyed their jaunt to Ocean City and its bustling
“There are so many distractions in the world,
boardwalk. “It was a wonderful time to cook and
and so many voices telling us to pursue other things
eat together, to watch a video prepared by one of
like wealth or prestige,” said Else. “Everything pales
“Being involved in a Christian community has been crucial to my
spiritual development at Penn.”
—Aimee Knaus, Penn ’17
26
the seniors celebrating the ministry’s genesis, and to
see a few of the seniors risk hypothermia as they
went body surfing,” said Else.
In turn, the upperclassmen described the seaside
trek as a fond, but bittersweet, respite. “It was a
beautiful time of farewell. We prayed together,
laughed together, and stayed up late,” said Knaus.
“The senior retreat reminded me of why I love this
community so much.”
At the same time, the conference provided a
venue for the seniors to look ahead to some of the
challenges of post-baccalaureate life. “We had some
pretty sobering conversations about the difficulty
in comparison with pursuing the one hope that any
of us has.”
“The world is a tough place to follow Jesus. Your
life will consist of 1,000 tiny decisions that will move
you toward Jesus and His people or away from Him,”
Mills told the seniors.
“If Jesus is the most amazing treasure in all the
world, He deserves not only to be the center of all
those little decisions, but also of the most important
choices of our lives.” | cu