University of Illinois
Join us every Thursday at 7pm in Chemistry Annex 1024 for worship, teaching, and free food!
Contact
Welcome to RUF at Illinois! We are a Christian campus ministry that seeks to reach college students for Christ and equip them to serve. We want RUF to be a place for both skeptics and believers to engage with the teaching of the Bible, experience the love of Jesus, and grow in community with one another.
Join Us
Large Group
Connect
RUF offers multiple small groups throughout the week for men and women. Check out our Instagram for more details.
Meet Our Team
Ethan Brown
Ethan was born and raised in South Florida and attended the University of Florida, where he met his wife Amanda. Following graduation, he served as an RUF intern at Duke University. In 2018, the Browns moved to Charlotte, NC where Ethan attended Reformed Theological Seminary. In 2021, the Browns moved to Champaign-Urbana to plant the ministry of RUF at Illinois. Ethan loves getting to know students and helping them get to know King Jesus. Ethan loves going on walks, drinking craft coffee, reading good books, playing Spikeball, and spending time with Amanda and their three kids: Judah, Ellis, and Ezra.
Jenn McFadden
Jenn was born in Ft. Hood, Texas and her family settled in Huntsville, Alabama after her dad retired from the Army in 2008. In 2018 Jenn graduated from Mississippi State University with a BFA. During her time at MSU, Jenn participated in RUF and loved it. After graduating, she worked as a designer in Philadelphia for 3 years before moving to Charlotte, NC to attend Reformed Theological Seminary. She plans to complete her MA in Christian Counseling by May 2025. She is thankful for how the Lord has called her to the University of Illinois with RUF and looks forward to the years to come!
Ashley Preston
Ashley is from Forney, TX, the youngest of 4 sisters, and married to her high school sweetheart, Luke. In her free time, she loves creating art, journaling, reading, baking, going on walks, watching movies, and exploring new coffee shops. Ashley graduated from Midwestern State University (not in the Midwest but in Wichita Falls, TX), where she studied Marketing and Nonprofit Management. During her 3 years in college, she became very involved in campus ministry, loved leading and learning at bible studies, and found incredible gospel community and discipleship. She graduated and then married Luke in June of 2023!
Ashley then moved to be with Luke in College Station, where she taught as a reading assistant for one year and then did marketing for local restaurants the next year. She got to experience Texas A&M RUF there and loved seeing how it nourished meaningful fellowship and friendships. She is so excited to serve at Illinois RUF and see what the Lord has in store there!
Luke Preston
Luke was born in Paris, Texas and grew up in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas. He attended Texas A&M University where he got his B.S. in Civil Engineering and M.S. in Business. While at Texas A&M, Luke got involved with RUF and found his best and closest friends there. He learned what the Bible teaches and experienced the love of Jesus during the most formative years of his life. RUF has been a home away from home for Luke and he is looking forward to getting to serve the students at RUF in Illinois. In his free time, Luke enjoys reading, golfing, and hanging out with his wife, Ashley. He also enjoys playing any sports outside and watching movies or playing games with his friends. Luke is thrilled that the Lord has placed him at RUF in Illinois and is excited to be a part of the work that God is doing on the campus there.