Emily Crutcher is Campus Staff at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
RUF is a community of students that are trying to learn how to love God, love people, and love the campus. The way that we do that is by creating safe places (weekly large group, small groups, one-on-ones) for students, of all types and backgrounds, to process the story of Jesus and learn how they can integrate themselves as a character in God’s story. By doing this, we pray that we reach and equip students for Christ and it leads them to loving Jesus for a lifetime. RUF at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, (where I am currently on staff) has been on campus since 1990. That is 31 years and at least 124 graduating classes and over 3,000 students that have been impacted by the ministry of RUF!
Large Group is an essential piece of ministry with RUF. It is a weekly gathering for students to connect with each other, worship, and receive Gospel centered teaching. At UT, Large Group happens every Tuesday night, on-campus at 7:30 p.m. Our goal is to offer students a respite from assignments, expectations, and performance while giving them space to rest in Jesus’ love for them. UTK’s RUF Large Group is uniquely large with about 150-200 students attending on a weekly basis. This is by God’s grace and blessing that He would bring this many students to hear the Gospel!
What I love the most about Large Group is that every week, students are receiving rich teaching rooted in Scripture. This past semester, we focused on recognizing our individual part in God’s big story through Jonah, Ruth, and Jesus’ birth. Students need this weekly reminder to reorient themselves in the Gospel so they can face the demands of college and life with confidence and hope.
“RUF is a group of students trying to grow in love– Love for God and each other. That we might be a blessing to the world, not because we think we’re awesome or better than everyone else, but simply because God chose to delight in us. And what that means is that no matter who you are or what you’ve done or where you’ve come from, RUF is a place for you to come as you are and to hear about the grace of Jesus.”
