RUF stands for Reformed University Fellowship. Let's break those down one by one.

Reformed is simply a way of reflecting our history. Like my kids' names, the word reformed is a family name of sorts. It connects us to one of the most important times in the history of Western Civilization—the Protestant Reformation. More importantly, it connects us to the things the protestant reformers took seriously, things like the Bible, Jesus Christ, the Grace of God. We use the word reformed because it reminds us of what we believe.

Those beliefs lead RUF to be a ministry for our university, not for ourselves. (Hence the "U" in RUF). Our leading question is not "what kind of ministry can we be?" but rather "what kind of university can this be?" Of course being "for our campus" means we are "for" our students too. RUF is led by a pastor. A pastor who is around just for college students.

Finally, we believe 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 laugh together. We cry together. We learn together. We play together. Christians for centuries have called this kind of life Fellowship.

So whether you spell it all out (Reformed University Fellowship), Acronym it (R.U.F.), or bark it (RUFF!), we hope that you'll find RUF to be a place where God's Word is taken seriously, deep questions are handled with honesty and care, and people truly care for one another. To find out more about RUF's ministry on more than 100 campuses across the country, visit the RUF national website.