Ministry STAFF
Christian Union Lux is fortunate enough to have the blessing of three Christian Union ministry staff on Yale's campus. They all come from different backgrounds, but share the same calling of serving the ministry on Yale's campus.
CHITRA KOVOOR
Ministry Fellow
Born and raised in India, Chitra has a BA in Psychology and Sociology and an MBA. After work in the corporate sector, she moved with her husband to serve the church in the UK. While raising three children and supporting her husband in ministry in Derby, Birmingham and Bristol, she managed a graduate center run by University of Birmingham and the Selly Oak Federation of Mission Colleges, UK, offering training in the areas of management, leadership development and cross-cultural mission. She was also involved in university ministry during her time there.Three years ago, in another continental maneuver, they found themselves in New Haven USA, following God's call to ministry in the city. Chitra encountered Christian Union through its then student executive members and was drawn to the mission and vision of CU for university contexts such as Yale. Investing in the development of young christian student leaders, who could have a profound influence for the glory of God in the US and beyond was a powerful vision and Chitra felt the strong call of God to actively participate in it. She has worked as a Ministry Fellow with CU Lux for over 6 years. To see her students grow in faith during their time at Yale and discover more of the immense potential that God has designed for each of them brings her great joy!
In her free time, Chitra enjoys playing tennis, walking, exploring the subject of nutrition, cooking healthy and being hospitable. She loves stocking up the ‘Mouse’(the student hangout space) with a variety of teas and other delicious things. So stop by to meet her for a cuppa, snack and a chat!
MICHAEL RACINE
Ministry Fellow
Michael Racine has been with Christian Union since 2017, first as a Ministry Fellow at CU Lux, and since fall 2020 as the writer of a series of Christian Union Bible Studies, the first volume of which has just been released by Tyndale House Publishers. He is delighted now to begin dividing his time between ongoing writing projects and working directly with students again.
Michael was highly involved in campus ministry as an undergrad at Brown, leading worship, co-leading small groups, and graduating with a concentration in Religious Studies. Upon graduation, he moved to Hunan, China, where he taught English for two years at a public middle school and led a small house church. Michael later headed English teaching and curriculum development for a college scholarship program in Haiti, then taught for a year in Spain before returning stateside to study at the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. He earned his M.Div. from Yale in 2015, and besides his work with Christian Union he has been an active musician, singing, playing, and directing in a range of settings and styles from Renaissance polyphony to funk. He currently serves on the worship team at Vertical Church in West Haven.
JEFF WALSH
Ministry Director
Jeffrey Walsh is a retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant with over 23 years of experience as a Military Police Soldier, Educator, National Director of Police, and leadership education. He is also an ordained Christian minister with a lifetime of experience in pastoral ministry. He has served in various assignments and attachments worldwide with the U.S. Army National Guard Bureau, the 5th Special Forces Group, and the 169th Regional Training Institute. Jeffrey spent the last ten years in senior leadership positions, including National Director and Subject Matter Expert of Military Police Education and Leadership and Senior Leader of Advanced Leadership Training Programs.
Jeffrey is an expert in spiritual care and reducing destructive behaviors like suicide, sexual assault, and domestic violence. He has trained military leaders across North America in his former role as the National Military Law Enforcement Subject Matter Expert and Connecticut State Equal Opportunity & Sexual Assault Program Coordinator. He is pursuing his Doctor of Ministry at Alliance University in New York City, with prior education in Biblical Theology and Pastoral Ministry from Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs. Jeffrey's overseas combat experience has earned him numerous service awards, including the Bronze Star medal with Valor and four presidential unit awards. His passion for serving others stems from a personal journey of healing and transformation through the Spirit of God.