Reaching Students for Christ, Equipping Students to Serve
Friends of Samford RUF,
As spring starts to make its inevitable comeback after a cold winter, I’m reminded that God’s good purposes for his people always outlast the seasons that make us doubt if He’s at work. As one songwriter says, “under all the snow is something green, hiding in the winter is the spring.” I love that this is true in the big picture (God’s kingdom) and in the ordinary, mundane, often uncelebrated little pictures (our lives). “God is at work” - ministry happens in my heart and in students’ hearts when this beautiful truth comes alive; when it transforms a worn out slogan to a ray of sunlight in the darkness.
I was reminded recently of something Mark Lowery (who helped start RUF) said: “the key to ministry is being insatiably curious about God’s work in a person’s life.” I love that, and I love the front-row seat I get to God’s work in these students’ lives. Thanks for being a part of it with us.
Here’s a little window into how the semester’s going!
Students have been filling up Hodges Chapel and lingering long afterwards - please pray for us on Tuesday nights at 8pm! Pray for students to hear the gospel, wrestle with doubts, grow in love, and keep discovering the beauty of Jesus.
I’m teaching through Ecclesiastes this spring, an unsettling but beautiful book that could have been written yesterday and specifically for college students. You can follow along here.
Step-Sing takes up a lot of students’ bandwidth in January. If you know, you know. It’s a fun tradition, and I love seeing our RUF students spread out on all the different teams.
Our Servant Team stuffs into our living room every few weeks to talk, plan, pray, and laugh. Always an encouragement.
Our RUF intramural teams always win at fun. This could be our year for a soccer trophy, if enough NIL money comes in.
Prayer Request - pray for our Winter Conference this weekend! We’re taking 50 students to SharpTop Cove in Georgia, our biggest group yet. I offered to pay half for any student who’s coming to their first RUF retreat - the hit on our budget is so worth the students we pushed off the fence into signing up! Please pray for a fruitful and fun weekend!
Our “January mini-series” during the three weeks of Step-Sing madness.
Another boot stomping good time last week at our Swing Dance! We brought in a “pro” square dance caller. So good.
Upperclassman girls small group at Maggie’s apartment.
Freshman pancake supper earlier this week. Always a big hit.
And another one of Freshman pancake night. My big Blackstone griddle is the best ministry investment I’ve made in years.
Filing out of Hodges Chapel after large group.
The ministry of RUF happens because of the partnership and generosity of God’s people. Thank you for giving - every time I pull up to campus, I know that I’m sent there by you. If you’re not giving yet, it’s easy to jump in and we’d love for you to be a part of the team!
