I got back from my first official RUF training last Friday. The four days of training in Atlanta with all the other interns, campus ministers, and staff could not have come at a better time! I went into the week feeling tired and cynical, and I left feeling refreshed and energized to continue pushing on towards Clemson.
Being around the other interns, especially the first year interns like myself, was encouraging and fun. We talked about bad times and good times we’ve had this summer. We sat in the same rooms and listened to the same campus ministers tell us hard and good things that we needed to hear about what our jobs are going to be like next year. We got excited together. We got scared together. We laughed together, and occasionally cried together. We had great nights of fellowship, going out to dinner and even going to a Braves game.
One of the best parts about training was my prayer group. Five of us female first-years spent 3 hours in my hotel room spilling out the honest truths of what’s going on in our lives right now. Our same group had met once before, back in May at Orientation, when we spent the better part of 4 hours opening up about our life stories. (When I saw how much time was alloted for prayer groups on the schedule I thought it was a type-o, but, honestly, when you put 5 girls, who are raising support, in a room and tell them to pray for each other that’s about how much time you need.) We got really personal really fast back in May so there was no beating around the bush this time at training. It is a blessing to be amidst a group of people (that you’ve only been around for a total of 8 days ever!) and feel so much safety and acceptance. If you haven’t ever experienced that kind of unconditional love, the kind where you can say anything and the people you’re talking to don’t flinch, I hope that one day you do. As we went around the room I was reminded again, as I had been in May, that God does not call people to ministry who have their lives together. He calls the broken, the weak, those of us who have had great struggles and continue to struggle greatly to do his work and to gather His people to himself. I appreciate and love RUF all the more after those prayer groups: RUF chose to be interns people with really messy lives but who are loved by God and who have been called according to His purpose, not perfect people (they’re are none) to whom “sin” is a only chilling word they once heard on their way home from church. And, in light of unmerited choosing, how much greater is God’s love than RUF’s?! God chose sinners, not for a two year stay, but for an eternal life with Himself! I believed in the Gospel so much more after leaving that hotel room.
What Did Y’all Talk About At Training, April?
I am so glad you asked.
We went over RUF’S Philosophy of Ministry (POM), which I am about to (very) briefly outline below, and then broke it down into pieces. Different campus ministers addressed each piece. (You can probably find the seminars on ruf.org.)
*Side note: I really appreciate how RUF does not teach a process or a 12-step program on “how to minister.” Instead, RUF teaches the Gospel itself (see Principles below) and trusts that it alone is enough to inspire, motivate, and cultivate ministry. True ministry flows from a proper understanding of The Gospel.
Basic Philosophy of Ministry:
Purpose: To reach students for Christ and equip them to serve
Goals: 1. Growth in Grace 2. Fellowship and Service 3. Evangelism and Missions 4. Biblical World and Life View
Principles: 1. Scripture 2. Justification 3. Sanctification 4. Glorification
Presuppositions: 1. God is at Work (I find myself saying this one a lot now) 2. The Bible 3. The Church 4. Demographics 5. The Individual 6. The Learning Process
April Goes to Clemson 