Who We Are

 

Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) is the campus ministry of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Though we exist on campus through the PCA, you will find students from a wide variety of backgrounds here at Furman University, because we welcome students from any and all walks of life. We are here for the "convinced" and the "unconvinced." It is our aim to "reach students for Christ and equip them to serve in His church."

Why Reformed?

The word "reformed" identifies our perspective--we operate from a Biblical worldview that is rooted in the rich tradition of the Protestant Reformation. Our teaching and ministry are informed by reformed theology, including a commitment to faith in Jesus Christ as the only means of salvation. Contrary to the idea that "truth" is relative or unknowable, Christianity stands upon very clear and specific truth claims. Jesus taught that we must believe who he claimed to be and hold to his teachings. Our ministry is set up in such a way that students are given opportunities to wrestle with the truth (through the Bible--God's word), and to see that the gospel speaks to every need and every area of life. Through exposure to truth, we hope that many will come to know the One who is truth, Jesus Christ. Also, we believe that Christianity is not just a moral system. It does contain a moral system, but that is not the heart of what it means to be a Christian. Rather than simply becoming a better person, the gospel makes you a new person. It brings new life for those who are dead in sin, and brings hope for the hopeless. We believe that those who come to see that Jesus is the truth will also see that He is life.

Why the University?

Jesus said, "I am making all things new!" RUF was born out of a desire not to abandon the college campus, nor to be lost in it. It is the dream of RUF to be a ministry for our campus, not for ourselves. This hope is founded in the belief that the gospel can change any person and any place. Our leading question is not "what kind of ministry can we be?" but rather "what kind of university can this be?" Our hope is that the power and beauty of Christ will transform university people and institutions.

Why Fellowship?

The Christian faith is not something that can be lived out alone. The Christian is called to live within community--the Church. We face our struggles together; we taste the life of heaven together. RUF is committed to building up and inviting people into this unique and loving community. The glory of the church is not her people, however. Her glory is her Redeemer, Christ the Lord! Because Christ loved the church, and gave himself up for her, we are then delighted to gather under her care. It is here that God is at work, gathering his people, and strengthening them for the work of his kingdom.

What we Believe

In the transformational power of the gospel
The message of the gospel is that Christ has done what is necessary to bring us into a relationship with God. That means that our sinful ness does not count against us and it also means that our religious efforts don't count for us. The good news is that Christ hasn't given us a philosophy or list of rules to follow, but that he has given us Himself, and that His life of perfect obedience is credited to all that repent and believe.

In the truth and authority of Scripture
We not only believe that the Scriptures are true, but that through them God is "at work in those who believe" (I Thessalonians 2:13). It is also through the Scripture that God changes the hearts of those unconvinced of the truth of the gospel. Therefore, the Bible isn't just to be held in high regard, it is to be used in every aspect of life.

In the Church
The Christian faith is not something that can be lived out alone. The Christian is called to live within community--the Church. We face our struggles together, we taste the life of heaven together. But the glory of this distinct community is not her people. Her glory is her redeemer, Christ the Lord! Because Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her we are then delighted to gather under her care. RUF is a ministry of the Presbyterian Church in America and adheres to its confessional standards.

In kingdom responsibility
The church is the institution through which God is building His kingdom and is renewing every aspect of life. Every Christian has a unique calling and a unique giftedness to serve others in his or her community. Christians should demonstrated this by serving others and working with excellence, for God's glory, in all that they do. That God is at work Our great confidence is that Jesus said that He would build His church. Our hope is not in ourselves and our abilities, but in the goodness and grace of God. We are not called to "get things started", but rather to recognize and participate in what God is already doing in our city. That the gospel changes people and places While the historic message of Christianity is unchanging, the context of our ministry constantly changes. But in any context, we believe that the gospel speaks to the whole person, whether religious or irreligious, and that it can transform any place, bringing the healing and restoration of Christ's Kingdom. Jesus said, "I am making all things new!" Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) is the campus ministry of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Though we exist on campus through the PCA, you will find students from a wide variety of backgrounds here at Furman University, because we welcome students from any and all walks of life. We are here for the "convinced" and the "unconvinced." It is our aim to "reach students for Christ and equip them to serve in His church."

What Sets Us Apart

A typical university will have several Christian ministries represented on campus. An important question is, what makes RUF distinctive? Our distinctives are found in the following 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. Christianity is a way of seeing all of life. We believe that God is at work in the world, upholding his creation and ruling over all his creatures. His revealed truth is the integrating principle for all knowledge. This provides the Christian with a frame of reference for thinking and life-style.