who we are...

(pronounced "Are you ef" and not "rough")

reformed

During the history of the Christian Church, the Church went through a time when the light of biblical truth became increasingly dim.  It was left to a few men to rekindle the flame of the Gospel and to call the Church back to the Scriptures. Instead of being conformed to the world, the Church is to be transformed - that is, "REFORMED" - by the Scriptures. The people who sounded this alarm were called the Reformers of the Church -- people like Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, and John Knox.

Arising out of this period of Reformation were five foundational stones -- five banners which summarized in part what the Reformers were trying to do. These banners were known as the "Five Solas" (Latin for 'only' or 'alone') of the Reformation.

Click here to learn more about the "Five Solas" of the Reformation

In short, "the Gospel -- known in Scripture alone, and in Christ alone, given by God's grace alone, received by faith alone to the glory of God alone--is still 'the power of God unto salvation.'" (Romans 1:16)

Since our hearts are so "prone to wander" from this glorious Gospel, we always stand in need of reformation.  That's why we are called Reformed University Fellowship: we are to be "reformed, always reforming." 

university

RUF is a ministry to the university campus.  During these years at Tech, you are making major decisions that will affect your life for years to come.  "What's my major or my career?" "Who will I marry and what does a marriage look like?"  Beneath all these kinds of questions, you are developing your outlook on life in an often challenging environment.   

Jesus said, "I am making all things new!"  RUF was born out of a desire not to abandon the campus, nor to be lost in it.  Our dream in RUF is to be a ministry for Texas Tech, not simply 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 dream is to see Texas Tech University (both her people and institutions) transformed by the power and beauty of the presence of Christ.

fellowship

The Christian faith is not something that can be lived out alone. The Christian is called to live within a very special community, the Church. We taste the life of heaven together. We face our struggles together. RUF is committed to building up and inviting people into this unique and loving community.

But, we know that the glory of the church 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. We know that it is here that God is at work, gathering His people, and strengthening them for the work of His kingdom.

RUF is a ministry under the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and each campus minister, including Marc, is ordained and given the charge of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and providing pastoral care for students. Our ministry is done under the oversight of God's ordained means, the Church.  Christ has established the Church for the building up of His people, the evangelization of the world, and the destruction of the gates of hell (Matt 16:18).   

Therefore, RUF is an officially recognized student organization at Texas Tech that gathers together to encourage and build each other up in our faith as we sit and learn at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ. More than just hanging out and having fun (which we love to do), we seek to be involved in each others lives as we learn about each other's story and how that fits in with the overall story that God is telling. We are not the Church, but rather a ministry of the Church on campus. Therefore, we encourage you to love Christ's Bride (Rev. 19:7) by committing to a Bible-believing church here in Lubbock

We Believe...