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Dear Friend,

We live in worrying times. I'm not thinking primarily of the pandemic, the economy, or the lawlessness. I'm thinking of the anxiety gripping Christians. Frightened by all that is happening, too many have become distracted and timid, losing Scripture's sustaining perspective. Too many are drifting from the gospel and afraid to lift high the grand old banner of Christ. 

This should not be. 2021 will mark the five-hundredth anniversary of a great stand for the gospel. On April 18, 1521, Martin Luther stood before the Holy Roman Emperor and was asked to deny the good news that Jesus saves by his grace alone. He is said to have bravely replied "Here I stand; I can do no other. God help me. Amen." Amid all that is happening, at Union, we defiantly say with Luther,

"Here we stand. We will be all about the gospel of Jesus Christ." 

Our story started in Wales, which is still Union's home. But seeing the spiritual need across Europe, we began to open hubs to train and raise gospel leaders across the continent. We now have 25 hubs in 10 countries. And after unprecedented growth, we have now reached a new tipping point. So, over the next ten years, we plan to reach beyond Europe, from Wales to the world. Raising leaders, resourcing Christians, and helping plant churches: we want to see the reformation of Christ's church worldwide. 

At the heart of this expansion is a transatlantic pulse, embodied in the appointment of Dr Dustin Benge from Kentucky as our new provost. It is apt timing, for 2020 marks the four-hundredth anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower. Since then, the church in the US and the church in the UK have always been most fruitful when we have stood together. From the days of John Eliot's translation of the Bible into Algonquian, enabled by a London corporation, to the friendship of George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards, the world has been most blessed when there is transatlantic gospel partnership. We will therefore be serving the US more intensively, with more hubs and more resources over the next ten years. And in partnership with friends in the US, we mean to reach out to South America, Africa, and Asia with a new platform we are currently developing. 

The Lord has richly blessed us in so many ways, but we could not expand as we have and as we plan without ministry friends like you. At the end of this year, I want to ask you: will you stand with us as we stand for Christ? Will you support us financially to fuel the reformation of Christ's church? Your gift of any amount this month will help move the mission of Union forward and end 2020 in a position of strength. Thank you.

Revd Dr Michael Reeves
President and Professor of Theology

Ways to Give

Online
Give using your credit or debit card through our secure portal. 

Give by phone
To support Union by giving over the phone, please call 630.580.5637 in the U.S. or freephone 0330 123 4446 for those in the UK.

Give by post
To support Union by post, please make cheques payable to ''Union Foundation US'' and send them to Union Foundation US, PO Box 1157, Wheaton, Illinois, 60187-1157.

For UK residents please make cheques payable to 'Union' and send them to send them to Bryntirion House, Bridgend, CF31 4DX together with your contact details.

Copyright ? 2020 Union, All rights reserved.

You''re receiving this email because you joined the Union site to hear from us occasionally about our news and activities.

Despite the challenges that we've all faced over the past few months, we are thankful to the Lord that this has also been a year of unprecedented growth - not least because of the prayerful support of the Union family.

Read our Ministry Report 2020 to find out more.

Union Mission

Throughout the pandemic, we've been helping our students and graduates answer the need for churches in underreached areas. This year, we've distributed ?165,000 from our generous partners to 28 church planting projects. We've also expanded the reach of Union Mission, and have many more project proposals in the pipeline from Union students and graduates around the globe.

Union School of Theology

Although the global pandemic has affected education in countless ways, Union has been well positioned to respond to the new challenges and restrictions by God's providence. We've seen considerable interest from prospective students and churches, leading to the highest number of applications and enrolments in the history of our School. We've also grown our faculty and added to our network of Learning Communities that enable students to study within the context of their local church.

Union Publishing

Our faculty have published several books this year - including Robert Letham's Systematic Theology, and Michael Reeves' Following God Fully: An Introduction to the Puritans, co-authored with Dr Joel Beeke. We've also been working on a major new series with our partners at Crossway, the first volume of which is due for release in January 2021.

Union Research

To nurture the theologians, authors and teachers of the future, we host various events and conferences as well as supporting our PhD students in research and writing projects. This year's research conference was well attended by scholars and theologians from a number of international institutions and ministries.

With kind-hearted supporters and donors partnering with us, we have been able to strengthen our ministries to raise and equip more and more leaders to grow Christ's church. Would you consider standing with us in prayerful support as we press on to see God's glory fill the earth?

Copyright ? 2020 Union, All rights reserved.

You''re receiving this email because you joined the Union site to hear from us occasionally about our news and activities.

Dear friends,

Thank you for all your support and prayers through 2020. Despite all the difficulties of the year, we've seen a record student intake, welcomed seven new members of staff, and prepared some major new developments for 2021.

And now it's time for us to celebrate Christmas! However hard your year has been, remember the Light who cannot be overcome, and celebrate.

A very happy Christmas to you all,

Revd Dr Michael Reeves
President and Professor of Theology

Coming Soon: The Foundations Course

We''re excited to announce our new Foundations Course: a flexible theological course run by pastors in the local church to train their future leaders for ministry.

We'll be launching the course in 2021. You can find out more below:

Featured from Union

Read our latest ministry updates below, alongside some of the best Christmas-themed content from our archives to help you enjoy this season!

From youth work to church planting | Mission

Ondrej Paulus shares how Union is supporting his church planting ministry in the Czech Republic.

The Humanity of Christ | Publishing

''Your salvation depends on the fact that one of the Trinity cried as a human baby': Robert Letham reflects on the staggering reality of the incarnation.

Jesus: Everlasting Father? | Publishing

How can Jesus also be called 'Everlasting Father'?
Daniel Hames explores some wonderful truths about the Trinity revealed in the book of Isaiah.

Stand with Union

As we approach the end of the year and head into a new season of mission and ministry, will you prayerfully consider standing with us by making a gift today?

Your support will enable us to continue equipping leaders, help plant new churches, and support gospel mission around the world.

US Donors: double your impact today

All gifts given in the US until the end of December will be doubled, at no extra cost to you, up to $15,000. This was made possible by a friend who is committed to the ministry of Union.

Copyright ? 2020 Union, All rights reserved.

You''re receiving this email because you joined the Union site to hear from us occasionally about our news and activities.

On 31st October 1517, Martin Luther famously nailed his ninety-five theses to a church door in Wittenberg. His decision to stand on the truth of the gospel would resound around Europe and the world, culminating in one of the greatest moves of God since the days of the apostles: the Reformation.

The call to proclaim the gospel boldly is as relevant for the church today as it was for Luther. As we celebrate Reformation Day, we remember the great need in our own day to raise up reformers: people who take the gospel out and unflinchingly share Christ in all his glory.

In a new series of short videos, Michael Reeves draws our attention to key figures of the Reformation and the need to herald the gospel in our own day.

How are sinners made attractive?

Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley were burned at the stake for preaching justification by faith alone. In this video, Michael Reeves reminds us of the great need to trumpet this gospel message afresh today:

How do we stay faithful today?

If we are to be faithful today, we must see the Word of God as supreme; able to overrule and contradict all other teaching. In this video, Michael Reeves introduces us to William Tyndale who died for this vital truth.

Union exists to raise up reformers: leaders who rejoice and tremble before God, boldly advancing in the power of the gospel of an all-sufficient Saviour. Find out more about our vision here:

Copyright ? 2020 Union, All rights reserved.

You''re receiving this email because you joined the Union site to hear from us occasionally about our news and activities.

New year, same vision: the reformation of Christ's church worldwide.

As our staff and students settle into a new term, we are immensely thankful that God has enabled us to resume teaching with the largest number of new students since Union School of Theology was established.

Watch this message from our Provost, Dr Dustin Benge, welcoming you to a new year at Union:

"From the school, to missions, publishing, and research, we are here to glorify God by serving the church."

- Dustin Benge

Union Conference and Dedication Service

We recently welcomed our new students during our annual Union Conference. This was a wonderful opportunity to gather and pray for our students from across the UK and around the world in our various learning communities via virtual platforms.

You can watch our plenary sessions led by Michael Reeves and Dedication Service led by Dustin Benge here:

"The first thing that the reformation of the church must mean is that the great truths of the gospel that were trumpeted out aloud by the Reformers in the 16th century are trumpeted abroad again."

- Michael Reeves

Featured from Union

Read our latest ministry updates and featured articles from Union faculty.

Gospel training in Athens | Mission

Georgios Kalantzis shares about his apologetics work in Greece, and the value of theological training and support from Union.

Planting Grace Church Didcot | Mission

Daniel Gandolfo shares how a new church plant in Didcot came about and the encouragements they have experienced so far.

Confessions in Practice | Publishing

Michael Reeves writes on the value and limitations of creeds and confessions for TableTalk Magazine.

Stand with Union

As a valued member of the Union family, would you consider standing with us in prayer and partnership as we seek the reformation of Christ's church worldwide?

Pray

• Praise God for the 94 new students we've welcomed to our academic community this year. Please pray that they would come to delight in God, grow in Christ and be equipped to serve the Church as they begin their studies.

• Please pray that our leadership team, including our new Provost Dustin Benge, would lead with wisdom and diligence as we enter a new season of mission.

• Please pray that the Lord would provide partners with a heart to financially support the 8 new church planting projects led by Union graduates.

Give

Would you prayerfully consider partnering with Union to equip leaders, plant new churches, and support mission in the UK and overseas, by making a gift today?

Copyright ? 2020 Union, All rights reserved.

You''re receiving this email because you joined the Union site to hear from us occasionally about our news and activities.