Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) is a Christian community at Northwestern University that aims to reach students for Christ and equip them to serve in his name. We strive to be a group that takes the gospel seriously without taking ourselves that seriously.

Centered on the Gospel

The “Reformed” in our name reflects our commitment to the biblical and historic faith celebrated by the Reformation and confessed in the Westminster Standards. We believe that the gospel is centrally a message about what Jesus Christ has accomplished on our behalf. Our prayer is that RUF would be one place on Northwestern’s campus where you do not need to be somebody or do something, but instead get to hear and rest in the good news about what Christ has done for you.

Committed to the university

The “University” in our name reflects our commitment to serve the community of Northwestern University and to help students to walk with the Lord in their vocation, both today as students and tomorrow in their many diverse callings. We believe that the gospel does not draw us out of the world, but instead calls and equips us to live in it as faithful sojourners, using our gifts for the glory of God and the good of our neighbors.

Caring for each other

The “fellowship” in our name reflects the heart of our community to be a place of mutual love and encouragement. It is not easy to follow Jesus at Northwestern or in this world, and it is virtually impossible to do it alone. RUF aims to be a community marked by hospitality and love that both welcomes the outsider and serves as an incubator of deep Christ-centered friendships.

Connected to the church

RUF at Northwestern is committed to the church and the priority of its ministry, which God has uniquely entrusted with his means of grace to bless and grow his children, both in college and beyond. RUF is the national campus ministry of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), which sends seminary-trained, ordained ministers to college campuses across the nation. Though we have an official relationship with the PCA, our community of students comes from a wide variety of denominational backgrounds and attends a number of different local churches.