Christian Union: The Magazine Summer 2017 | Page 30

christian union universities
creased understanding of the human propensity for
sin, but also a deepened appreciation for God’s for-
giveness and grace,” said Ligh. “It has led to an
observable inner calm and peace.”
Manion is actively involved with College
Mentors for Kids, Multicultural Business
Association, and Columbia Culinary Club.
Along those lines, one of Manion’s key spheres
of collegiate influence involves her role as a defend-
er on Columbia’s women’s soccer team. In 2016,
the accomplished athlete started all 17 games at
center back for the Lions, earning an All-Ivy League
honorable mention, her second such recognition in
three seasons.
“God has blessed me in ways I could not even
imagine,” said Manion.
Also on campus, Manion is actively involved
with College Mentors for Kids, Multicultural Busi-
ness Association, and Columbia Culinary Club.
But nearer to Manion’s heart is her work as a
Columbia ambassador for Team IMPACT, a na-
tional organization that “drafts” chronically or ter-
minally ill children into college athletic teams. As a
result, an infirm child becomes part of a squad, and
college students bolster the child’s support team.
“It’s really a privilege to make them happy,” said
Manion, also a veteran camp counselor. “I don’t take
anything for granted.”
With that, Manion expressed gratitude for one of
the major recurring lessons of her summer journey
through Judges, namely that God commissions ordinary
individuals for legendary battles. “The world needs
leaders,” she said. “God can really use anyone.” | cu
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The Sacred Search
Christian Union at Yale Hosts Author Gary Thomas
by kayla bartsch , yale
28
’20
dom, as Bland remarked, “Yale, even especially
What if it’s not about who you marry, but
amongst universities, is pretty steeped in the hook-
why?
up culture, enough to bleed into the Christian com-
This is the question that was posed
munities too, unfortunately.”
to the audience of Battell Chapel on a cold, rainy
Hernandez echoed those senti-
spring day. Hundreds of attendees
ments.
from Yale and the broader New
“Yale doesn’t have much of a
Haven community came to the
culture of thinking about or pre-
Old Campus landmark to hear the
paring for a marriage relationship,
words of Gary Thomas, a bestsell-
ing author and expert on the mat-
even though there is a culture of
temporary relational or sexual grat-
ters of marriage and relationships.
ification,” she said.
His most recent publication on
Thomas’ talk challenged those
the topic, The Sacred Search, pro-
in attendance to analyze their in-
vided an outline for the evening.
tentions and methods of seeking
Christian Union at Yale host-
out a marriage partner. Hernandez
ed the event, which was emceed
was impressed by the “way he de-
by Jess Hernandez ’16, a Christian
Christian Union’s ministry at Yale
bunked the misperceptions from
Union intern, and Sean Bland ’18,
University hosted author and
modern culture about what to look
a key leader in the ministry.
international speaker Gary Thomas
The campus was uniquely for a seminar on relationships.
for in a potential partner,” and
poised to receive Thomas’ wis-
“gave an incredibly insightful pre-