Professional Excellence and Spiritual Growth! - Anonymous employee Christian Union Employee Review

CU has a strong culture and emphasis on seeking God with lots of prayer, bible reading/teaching, and fasting. All ministry faculty are required to adhere to a certain level of these habits called "Daniel Spirituality" which can be found on the main website. The ministry model on campus is excellent with bible courses, one-on-one discipleship, and training students in Christian leadership through student ministry teams. Plenty of emphasis on evangelism on campus as well as intellectual rigor in our bible courses and discipleship. The students we get to work with are wonderful and there are many powerful testimonies of God's work on campus every year. I also like that CU is continuationist and appreciates the use of all the gifts of the Spirit. Their emphasis and belief in the possibility of revival on campuses and throughout America is inspiring and they're willing to put in the effort to seek the Lord for his Kingdom to come! They also have proof of concept with two periods of significant revival having taken place at one of their campuses. Also, great salary compared to most campus-ministry jobs.

As others have mentioned, there are some communication and organizational issues. Getting a ready response to concerns or issues from upper management can take a while. While the management style can be top-down in some ways, it's never been to such a degree that has turned me off. They're all great folks! I think it's more about the systems they have (or don't have). While it would be nice for employees to be able to provide more feedback, it doesn't surprise me that bosses just need to make decisions sometimes. For example, requiring that employees adhere to Daniel spirituality (a particular set of spiritual disciplines) has been something I've enjoyed, but I know of some employees leaving over that issue, feeling that their spiritual disciplines ought to be personal. Also, people who are "open but cautious" to the gifts of the Spirit, but have never really been around their use, have sometimes had trouble adjusting to the culture at CU (not everyone though, as some have adjusted beautifully!). Some people who have left disgruntled at CU never fully resolved their differences with management but rather gave in to complaining. While some of their expectations may have been reasonable, others simply haven't been. CU is a very unique culture for sure and it's not for everyone. For those who like it, we've had plenty of people stay past the 5, 10, and even 15-year mark. There are 4 who have been around over 20 years (CU was founded in 2002). So I don't really understand people claiming that the culture is "toxic." Problematic at times? Sure. But nothing unworkable. I think they simply found the culture unlike anything they had experienced before and thought that therefore it was wrong. It's all written down in a very thorough job description that I think some people overlook because they think they're willing to compromise some of their values for the sake of a nicer-than-most salary. Sadly, some people don't figure out that they aren't a fit until a longer-than-ideal time has passed. CU's 5-year ministry contracts haven't helped in that regard. If people want to go, make it easier for them to leave before they begin bad-mouthing. Keeping people around who don't want to be there helps no one. Also, no one likes fundraising but I get that we need to do it sometimes.

I have been serving with Christian Union for the past year, and I can honestly say it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional and ministry career. The staff are deeply encouraged to prioritize their relationship with God, including taking one day each month to seek Him through prayer, reflection, and spiritual renewal. The leadership model developed by the founder is unlike anything I have experienced elsewhere. It is intentionally designed to cultivate leadership capacity while keeping the gospel and God’s purposes at the center. There is a strong emphasis on seeing God transform lives, and it is a privilege to work alongside students who are genuinely pursuing His calling for their lives. One of Christian Union’s greatest strengths is its commitment to reaching students for Christ. Every effort is measured by its effectiveness in advancing the mission of introducing students to Jesus and helping them grow in their faith. The organization is led by individuals who are deeply committed to prayer, fasting, sharing the gospel, and spiritual discipleship. The people are exceptional to work with. The team consists of individuals from diverse backgrounds who are united by a common commitment to excellence. There is a strong emphasis on both spiritual health and professional development. Leadership is committed not only to helping staff grow in their roles but also to supporting their personal spiritual formation and long-term effectiveness in ministry. Every Wednesday morning, the leadership team gathers for prayer for each staff member. This intentional practice reflects a genuine culture of care, where leaders seek God’s guidance and blessing for those they serve. There is a sincere desire to see every employee flourish in their calling and become all that God has created them to be.

As with any mission-driven organization, the work can occasionally feel demanding due to the magnitude of the vision and the opportunities before us. However, this challenge stems from a deep commitment to ensuring that no opportunity to reach students with the gospel is overlooked. The organization remains focused on welcoming and guiding students into a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ.