This Q&A is part of a series of interviews featuring RUF Alumni.
Let’s start off with who are you and what you do?
My name is Audrey Fields and I am currently a first year student at Covenant Seminary pursuing my Masters of Arts in Counseling. I worked for RUF for two years as an intern in Lynchburg, VA and have had a love and passion for women, friendship, and singleness for a long time!
What college did you graduate from?
I graduated from Appalachian State University (Go ‘neers!) where I was involved with RUF all four years and couldn’t get enough of it!
Who was your campus minister when you attended RUF?
I had the infamous Matt Howell for my freshman year and then the following three years a newb by the name of Chris Horne (or Crisp Corn, to his followers).
What is your favorite memory from RUF?
There are so, so many. The first one that came to my mind took place my sophomore year standing on the stage of a middle school gymnasium for our first annual Sadie Hawkins dance with four other dear friends. We were doing this weird dance that the crowd then mirrored and adopted. This dance has made its way across App State RUF all the way to Lynchburg RUF dance parties. RUF is where I learned to take myself less seriously and (praise Jesus) listen to more than Bob Dylan and The White Stripes. Seriously, thank you.
RUF is also where I made some of my dearest friends who I talk with weekly to this day and have showed me Jesus’ face in more ways than I can count. I would not be able to be a counselor apart from their friendship and care.
How has RUF impacted how you approach your career?
RUF is where I was encouraged in profound ways in my giftings and was provided opportunities to explore those gifts in ministry at App, and for two years as an RUF intern in Lynchburg. When I think of my approach to counseling now, I think back to learning about RUF’s presuppositions of their philosophy of ministry: God is at work, the Bible, the church, the individual, the learning process, and demographics. I have learned to approach each person as an image bearer, made with dignity and deserving of empathy and respect.
Additionally, I followed my RUF intern, Jennifer Wainscott, all the way to Missouri, which probably says something.
What would you say to an incoming freshman?
RUF! RUF! RUF! I would encourage them to pursue friendship through RUF community groups and Bible studies. In this I would share that the intimacy we all long for is impossible without honesty, and that the risk of honesty is more than worth it for the love, grace, and acceptance that comes in good relationships. We see this ultimately in the Trinity, powerfully through Jesus taking on human form and coming right to us, and kindly through friendships with other believers.