RUF Summer Conference: Demand Outpacing Supply

April 2008

For the first time in recent years, RUF’s national Summer Conference will take place over one week instead of two.

“All 900 students will be together this year, mainly because of the way exam schedules fell at the schools this spring,” said J.R. Foster, RUF campus minister at Virginia Tech University, and the coordinator of this year’s Summer Conference. “But we’re maxing out the conference space, so we’re actually breaking the students into two smaller groups with two separate speakers throughout the week.”

Both Howard Brown and Jack Howell will serve as primary speakers for the May 12-17 conference, which will take place in Laguna Beach, Fla., and will focus on the theme of “Glorification.”

“We want to communicate the hope of glory, and the hope that God is making all things new,” said Foster. “This knowledge encourages us in trials and discouragement, and that makes a difference in how we live our lives now.”

RUF Summer Conference rotates through a series of four topics every year, so that every class of students is exposed to all of them: Justification, Sanctification, Glorification, and Scripture.

More than 900 students from 60 college campuses will attend the May conference. In addition to nightly plenary sessions and free afternoons at the beach, they will be able to attend a number of morning seminars on a variety of topics: Calvinism, prayer, missions, idolatry, and dating and marriage, to name a few.

“As RUF’s ministry grows, demand is greater than supply,” said Foster. “We may host more regional conferences in the future.”

To learn more, visit www.ruf.org.

Comments


Jerdone Davis


Clemson, SC


Back in the late 80's and early 90's, there were a few times when we had one week conferences rather than the two week split. The Laguna management "grew" their land holdings as RUF grew. What became a lunchroom was originally their chapel. I remember sitting outside of the chapel in a plastic chair and wiggling my toes in the sand as I listened to the speaker. I marveled at the packed and overcrowded conditions of the chapel--with these college students, so eager to hear God's word.

The next summer, the Laguna management had built a new facility (a tin building) to house our ever growing numbers of students!

RUF has had a wonderful relationship with this great Laguna staff for many, many years now.

I pray God will bless all (RUF staff, Laguna staff, the special speakers, and students) during this May's conference.

2008-05-01 08:37 Permalink Reply


Rod Culbertson


RTS/Charlotte


The first "national" RUF Summer Conference was actually held in the mountains of north Alabama on the beautiful grounds of Camp Alpine in May, 1982. The Reverends Charlie Chase and Bob Mounce, Sr. were the speakers and there were about 30 students in attendance. We had "large group" meetings twice per day. There were 8 RUF campus minstries at that time, but some campuses could not send students because of academic schedules. It was cold at night and gorgeous in the daytime, but beach weather prevailed and the conference was moved to Laguna Beach the following year.

I was working at the University of Florida at that time and although I love the mountains, I was the one who was cold the most and have enjoyed going to Summer Conference at Laguna Beach off and on for the past 25 years!

Pray for the good work which God has raised up in RUF; lives are being transformed and Christ is being glorified!

I'm still amazed....

2008-05-01 17:52 Permalink Reply

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