University of Texas at El Paso
Join us Wednesdays at 12pm and 2pm in Leech Grove!
Contact
Welcome to RUF at The University of Texas at El Paso! Picks Up!
RUF at UTEP is a campus ministry dedicated to being rooted in Scripture, fostering a faithful and genuine community, and enhancing the college experience for every student who joins us, both before and after graduation.
Our mission is to convey that no one is ever too far from God's reach and that we all constantly need His grace. We communicate this truth through every Bible study and event we host.
No matter where you are in your journey—whether convinced or unconvinced, burned out or bored, cynical or spiritual, passionate or stagnant—we invite you to bring your whole self to RUF. Join us as we explore who Jesus Christ is and learn how to follow Him together.
Join Us
Lunch and Bible Study
Connect
If you'd like to get connected, please fill out this form.
Meet Our Team
Eduardo Ovalle
Eduardo, a native of El Paso, has a deep connection to our city and its neighboring city, Ciudad Juárez. He completed his education at El Paso Community College and The University of Texas at El Paso, earning a BA in Communication Studies with a minor in Chicano Studies. Currently, Ed is pursuing his MDiv at Covenant Theological Seminary. Eduardo became a Christian at 19 and has since been dedicated to sharing the gospel with college students and young adults. His passion for campus ministry came through a local Bible study at EPCC, where he also met his wife, Ana who is also an El Paso native. Ana recently graduated with her Pharm.D. at the UTEP School of Pharmacy. Together, they have a spoiled pup named Ozzie, a turtle named Mikey, and a goldfish named Clyde. In his free time, Eduardo enjoys bicycling, exploring new coffee shops, visiting bookstores, thrifting, and collecting vinyl records. He also loves photography, playing the bass guitar, and reading new books. Eduardo is passionate about witnessing the Lord’s work at UTEP. If you see him on campus and would like to talk or pray, don't hesitate to reach out. He would be delighted to grab coffee with you one of these days.
Sebastian Avalos
Sebastian Avalos is in his second year of the RUF internship, passionately pursuing the students of the University of Texas at El Paso and El Paso Community College with the gospel of grace. His life was drastically changed in 2018 when the Lord brought him out of New Age Spirituality and witchcraft, breathing life and vigor into the core of his being. He resonates heavily with the passage of Luke 7:41-50, as he was forgiven of much, and the Lord used that to spark a large fire in his heart to proclaim Christ's victory.
He serves as a Deacon and Music Director at New City Fellowship, his local church and creates Christian music to reach an unreached culture under the artist name "THE ONE HE LOVED" (a reference to John in his gospel). He is married to Sara Avalos, his best friend and partner-in-Christ. They have been married since 2021, and she helps him immensely in his pursuit of vocational ministry. He started pursuing a Masters in Divinity in the year of 2023, and went under care of his presbytery in 2024. "The idea of being a pastor is terrifying to me," he says, "but I have a deep sense of calling to teach and love God's people. I know God will take me, grow me, and mold me, and use this broken jar just the way He wants to."
Pray for him and his wife as they walk through this journey together, and pray for those he has been called to minister to.