University of Virginia
Join us Tuesdays from 8-9:15 pm; Location: UVA Chapel
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Welcome to RUF at the University of Virginia! We are a community of students learning how to love! We are learning to love God, learning to love our neighbors, and learning to love this world, beginning by learning to love UVA & Charlottesville.
And yet we struggle to love. The unrivaled claim of the Bible is that God has revealed himself in Jesus as the one who both defines Love and still loves us who struggle to love.
Therefore we learn to love by first receiving and resting in Jesus’ great love for us, in particular his work of love at the cross and empty tomb. So this is why we gather in Large Groups, Small Groups, and one-on-ones: that by hearing His Word of love for us, we might rest in his love, that His loving voice might conform us to his love.
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Join us for our
25th Anniversary Celebration
November 8-10, 2024
REGISTER HERE
Host Committee: Ruth Crumplar Whitmire (‘02) and Will Whitmire (‘01); Jennifer Wilson Becker (‘02) and Christian Becker (‘02); Meg Chapin Haden (‘02) and Jon-Marc Haden; Cindy Chapin Kean (‘05) and Andrew Kean (‘02); Allison Hudson (‘03); Meg Ridley Hooper (‘04) and Travis Hooper; Allison Buchignani (‘05); Mary Elizabeth Warren Stone (‘05) and Meade Stone; Ila Hughes Broyles (‘07) and Jim Broyles (‘06); Savannah Sielbeck Van Pernis (‘09) and Brandon Van Pernis; Andrew Thrash (‘13); Ashley Shamblin Nettles (‘15) and Jamie Nettles (‘15); Taylor Puhl Sturman (‘18) and Gunnar Sturman (‘18); with Kelley and Josiah Carey (‘07), RUF Campus Minister
Meet Our Team
Josiah Carey
Josiah is from Charlottesville. He studied at UVA undergrad and at Covenant Seminary in Saint Louis, where he met Kelley. Kelley and Josiah have three girls and a boy. Kelley is a voracious reader who loves good conversations. Josiah loves lawn games, local establishments, legendary adventures, and logophilia. He is entering his tenth year with RUF and third year at UVA, previously serving at Tulane for seven years. He is immensely grateful to have received the grace of pastoring UVA RUF.
Annie Kate Barr
Annie Kate is from Clemson, South Carolina, and studied Art History at the College of Charleston. After graduating from CofC in 2014, Annie Kate did three years of the RUF internship. Following one year as intern at Samford University, Annie completed her internship at CofC after marrying her husband, Thompson, and returning to Charleston for him to attend medical school there. In the summer of 2021, they made the move to Charlottesville for his residency at UVA. Annie Kate is thrilled at the opportunity God has given her to work for RUF once again as Campus Staff and to care for the women at UVA. Annie Kate loves doing anything outside, horseback riding, reading, and going on long walks with her dog Maggie. In May of 2022, Annie Kate and Thompson welcomed their first daughter, Susan!
Anna Plybon
Anna is from Kernersville, North Carolina, and graduated from NC State University in May 2021 with a degree in Nutrition Science. Anna loved being involved in RUF at NC State as she learned about the Lord’s loving kindness and compassion. She served as an RUF intern for 3 years at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA, and is thankful for how the Lord has faithfully led her to Charlottesville and the Campus Staff role. Anna enjoys running, drinking coffee, reading, crocheting, eating ice cream, and exploring the Virginia mountains!
Matt Holdsworth
Matt is from Wilmington, NC where he studied biology and chemistry at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. In college, he met his wife Brooke. Brooke grew up near Winston-Salem, NC before going to UNCW and beginning a career in wedding photography. Matt loves playing sports with friends, reading a good book, and backpacking. He is thrilled to move to Virginia and begin connecting with students at UVA, where he hopes to help them see what it means to serve and enjoy the Lord in college.
Mamie Sessions
Mamie was raised in Memphis and Franklin, Tennessee. She recently graduated from Mississippi State where she loved her time at RUF. This inspired her to serve as an RUF Intern. She is very excited about moving to Charlottesville and getting to know the students at the University of Virginia. Mamie loves reading, going on walks, spending time with friends and family, being silly, long talks, and snacking. She is looking forward to seeing how the Lord works during her time at UVA!