What Is RUF?

RUF MeetingRUF Meeting

What Is RUF?   RUF is a college ministry known for its commitment to the visible church, in-depth worship (we are the group behind the Indelible Grace cds ( www.igracemusic.com ), Bible study, and equipping students with a Biblical worldview.  We are an official student organization on the campus of Belmont University.  Rev. Kevin Twit has been the campus minister with RUF at Belmont for 18 years.

 

We want to challenge students, encouraging them to think, and to take seriously their vocation and how the gospel impacts all of life.  Though receiving oversight from the Presbyterian Church in America, RUF (www.ruf.org) chapters are non-denominational in terms of their fellowship.  All who are interested are welcome, both the convinced and unconvinced.

 

What Does RUF Do?


RUF's ministry is composed of at least five different kinds of activities.  To stay updated on what RUF is doing through the year, please join our facebook group "Belmont RUF"  Click here

  • Large Group: RUF Large Group is usually the easiest way for students to "plug into" the ministry. The evening consists of a time of singing and worship ending with a message from Scripture. This is usually the place where you can find out what all is going on within the ministry of RUF.  You can hear Belmont RUF campus minister Kevin' Twit's messages by subscribing to our podcast (it's free).  Just go to the itunes music store and search "RUF at Belmont"
  • Small Groups: In any given semester, students participate in several small group Bible studies over all kinds of topics. These small group studies are very informal in design and give you the chance to look deeper into a topic as well as make a few friends in the process. To see the small groups that are being offered this semester, click here
  • One-on-One: RUF's commitment to reaching and equipping students means that one-on-one meetings with students is a vital part of our ministry.  This time is usually spent getting to know each other personally, investing in on-going discipleship, dealing with personal issues with which the student struggles, and addressing any crisis counseling that might arise during the students' time at school.  RUF campus minister Kevin Twit, his wife Wendy, and our RUF intern Syneva Colle are all available to meet.  Click here for contact information
  • Service: RUF desires to see a true body of Christians formed at Belmont. Living out a true sense of community is built into every activity that we do. Therefore, RUF is committed to serving in our community.
  • Conferences: Finally, at least a few times during the year, RUF is committed to getting out of town and gathering with other Christians for student conferences. Fall Overnight in September, Winter Conference in February, and Summer Conference in May are all great opportunities to get involved with RUF's ministry.

When And Where Do We Meet?  We have our large group meeting (where we worship and study the Bible together) at 7:30pm on Tuesdays at the Hope Center 1/2 mile from campus.  (It's the big white building on 12th Ave 1/2 mile south of Wedgewood.)  We also have a number of small groups, including freshman girls and freshman guys studies and sponsor lots of convos.  If you would like to be on our email list contact Kevin Twit (RUF campus minister) at 473-5826 or kevintwit@comcast.net

 

What's Up With The Name "Reformed University Fellowship (RUF)?

 

Reformed:  An odd word ? why take this name?  It comes from a Christian rallying cry of the 16th century, ?Reformed according to the Word of God.?  Behind this slogan are several assumptions.  First:  Christians aren?t always right.  Sometimes believers distort and confuse very basic issues.  Second:  The Bible is intended by God to inform and nourish all of life.  Third:  The Bible can be understood.  So, RUF is reformed because we put the Bible first and work to listen so that we will understand all that God communicates.  Our commitment as a campus ministry is to the centrality of what the Scriptures call "the gospel" (or, "the good news"). We hold to the historic Christian faith, especially as recovered and celebrated in the Reformation.

 

University:  Our intention is not to speak at the Belmont campus. Rather, we want to enter in and be part of the university's life. We want to be part of making Belmont a better place and are here for the convinced and for the unconvinced.

 

Fellowship:  The claims of Jesus Christ are best understood in connection with other people, not in isolation. We want to see students engaging historic Christianity with one another - in large groups, small groups, or simply one-to-one.

 

Some Of RUF?s Commitments

 

A COMMITMENT TO The Visible Church  RUF ministries are not to replace the church. We are the church going to the campus. Essential to our ministry is a commitment and accountability to the visible church. It is of first importance in our practice and teaching. The church is never seen as merely a useful means to grow, but rather it is seen as God's ordained institution by which the gospel is proclaimed and Christians become more like Christ. It is in the context of the church that all the means by which we grow are available. It is to the church that Christ has given the task of evangelism and discipleship.

 

A COMMITMENT TO In-Depth Bible Study  At RUF we believe in having fun, but also that the quality of our fun and relationships as a group will be better, more mature, and more fulfilling when our lives are being transformed and seriously affected by a real encounter with all of God's Word. We believe that college students are ready for and interested in knowing God deeply.

 

A COMMITMENT TO The Student's Vocation  The vocation of university student is just that - a university student. RUF takes that seriously and strives to equip students to be faithful and growing Christians who are conscientious in their studies. The campus is not reduced to a convenient pretext to do evangelism, but rather the place where God has providentially placed students to prepare for legitimate vocations after graduation. Christians learn, grow and reach others in the midst of this, not in spite of it. Our activities and expectations always seek to be consistent with this view.

 

A COMMITMENT TO Emphasizing Being Rather Than Doing  RUF ministries will have a variety of activities on the schedule, but we do not expect everyone to be involved in everything. We have no agenda to involve students in a crush of activities, something that often burns them out. Rather, our goal is to help students become people who truly know God, and whose lives are profoundly affected because of it. This, rather than a flurry of activities, is what we believe people (especially students) need. And we believe that it is only this, more than techniques and memorized methods, which will make their life and witness more effective and authentic.

 

A COMMITMENT TO Challenge and Think We believe in absolute truth, and we also believe the most helpful thing we can do for people is to help them learn to recognize and discover that truth themselves. We avoid giving a set of pat, canned answers. We encourage thoughtful questions and place a strong emphasis on critical thinking, learning how to interpret and understand the Bible properly, and then applying it to all of life today.

 

Support:  RUF is supported by tax-deductible donations from churches and individuals as well as by support from the Nashville Presbytery of the PCA.  Click here for more information on this.