What is RUF Bama?

A Catechism on RUF Bama!
**Historically a catechism is a way to equip and form people to grow our minds and hearts towards a particular end**

1.) Q: Why does RUF Bama exist?

A: Because the Presbyterian Church in America believes that the most effective way to reach and equip college students is to send a Campus Minister to the college campus to meet students where they are at in order to share the gospel and his life.

2.) Q: What makes RUF "RUF"?

A: Fixed theology, flexible methodology.

3.) Q: What fixed theology does RUF hold to?

A: Reformed Theology, as expressed through the Westminster Confession of Faith and Shorter & Larger Catechisms. 

4.) Q: Why does RUF belong to a denomination?

A: Denominations exist to protect the truth of biblical teaching and biblical practice across centuries. We believe it is an asset to be connected to a stream attached to orthodox Christian belief and practice. We specifically love the rich thoughtful theology and network that the Presbyterian Church in America provides.

5.) Q: Does RUF want me to be a Presbyterian?

A: No and yes. In order to find out what RUF wants, please look around at the philosophy of ministry displayed on this website, as shown through "The Posture of Christ", "The Message of Christ", and "The Vision of Christ". You will notice that while RUF is distincitvely, proudly, and unapologetically Presbyterian we do not have a goal of making Presbyterians, but faithful Christians in many faithful Christian denominations.

6.) Q: What does RUF believe about the church?

A: RUF believes what the PCA believes about the church, RUF does not have its own beliefs from the PCA. The PCA believes that the church is God's called-out people, whom God is loving locally organically and institutionally. The PCA holds to the teaching of the visible and invisible church. The invisible church is all Christians from all times and all places, and the visible church is the church institutionally here on earth. Not all who belong to the visible church are a part of the invisible church. All who belong to Christ are called to be a part of the visible church.

7.) Q: Who is RUF for?

A: All undergraduate students at The University of Alabama, Christian or non-Christian. Involved in RUF or not.

8.) Q: Can I bring a non-Christian friend to RUF things?
A: Absolutely. Our three avenues (large groups, small groups, one-on-one's) are designed with the presence of non-Christians in mind.

10.) Q: What is meant by flexible methodology?

A: Flexible methodology means that every RUF does not look the same (ex. RUF at Bama vs. RUF at Auburn vs. RUF at Washington), we do not come to the campus with specific ways of doing 'evangelism' or 'discipleship'. We want to embody the collective wisdom of PCA pastors for 50+ years who have compiled the RUF Philosophy of Ministry. Since we are Campus Minister driven, our methods develop within relationships between the Campus Minister, interns, other staff, involved students, and the PCA in general.

11.) Q: What are spome specific ways that RUF Bama looks different from other RUF's?

A: Our vision statement is as a ministry of Jesus Christ, RUF exists in step with the local church to see the flourishing of life at The University of Alabama through a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ, the breaking down of barriers among campus groups, and grace based community that seeks God together in order to serve the campus and Tuscaloosa for the Glory of God. We are trying to be a part of God's Kingdom work of loving people, places, and things to life and we believe that one of the specific ways that happens at Bama is when Greek students serve non-Greek students, and when non-Greek students begin to love and care for Greek students. We want to own our racial history, the reality of gospel ministry in this state, and move beyond unhelpful well-meaning evangelical tendencies to turn worship into an event or a decision apart from the local church. We long for people to live by grace, not just as a way of trusting Jesus, but as a life of a disciple who walks with Jesus come what may.

12) Q: What are the main avenues of ministry at RUF Bama?

A: Our three avenues of ministry are Large Groups, Small Groups, and One-On-Ones.

13.) Q: Why does RUF do ministry through these three avenues?

A: Because everything RUF does is a lived relational spirituality. We believe that Jesus is Lord of all things and that Jesus has called us to love Him and our neighbor, these three "avenues" allow us to have differing levels of contact with God and our neighbor, which both allow us to grow in depth with God and each other and reach towards those who aren't here yet.

14.) Q: Why does RUF do Large Groups?

A: Large Groups provide space for the breaking down of barriers among existing campus groups, space to receive biblical Christ-centered Alabama student centered teaching, and an opportunity to participate in seeking God.

15.) Q: What happens in a RUF Large Group at Bama?

A: Students are welcomed into a hospitable environment to pray, sing, hear biblical teaching, and fellowship with others. 

16.) Q: Why does RUF do Small Groups?

A: Small groups provide space for trust building through friendship, relationship building, asking questions, having conversations, and listening and learning from others in more intimate environments.

17.) Q: What happens in a RUF Bible Study?

A: We will either go through a section of the Bible or a book and there will be some discussion, prayer, and time of fellowship.

18.) Q: Why does RUF do One-On-Ones?

A: God created each person in his image, unique, and yet interconnected both to him and each other. A one-on-one provides an opportunity to be seen, known, and loved in ways that are specific to our stories, in a way that helps locate us within God's grander story.

19.) Q: What happens in a RUF One-On-One?

A: A student or a staff member will get to know another student by asking questions, spending time with them, and listening and speaking according to the conversation, the relationship, and the relational statuses of the student (1.) relationship with God  2.) relationship with the church).

20.) Q: What do you hope Jesus produces in our group and in students involved in RUF Bama?

A: We hope that by faithfully preaching and living the gospel both in word and culture that our group and individual students would grow in love for God (growth in grace), grow in love for God's people (fellowship & service), grow in love for the lost (evangelism & missions), and grow in love for God's world (biblical world & life view).

21.) Q: What assumptions does RUF Bama bring to campus?

A: There are six: (1) the individual, (2) the learning process, (3) demographics, (4) God is at work, (5) Reformed Theology, and (6) the church. The first three are flexible while the last three are fixed.