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Welcoming the Nations. Exploring the Gospel. Equipping the Saints.


That's a Wrap (on Year 4)!

Dear <<First Name>>

WHAT AN AMAZING YEAR IT HAS BEEN!!! From our first Welcome Party back in September to our End of the Year Party in May, this year of ministry was filled with so many events, meals, Bible discussions, great spiritual conversations and countless opportunities to extend welcome and hospitality to international students coming from  many different places. Our reputation on campus has grown a ton, but more importantly, our group has become a place of community and belonging for the students that are participating. Our friends *Stuart* and *Preston* would say as much. After almost every event we had, *Preston* would tell me, “these are memories that I will never forget.” While eating dinner together at Table Talk one evening, *Stuart* told me, “my life in the United States has been so much better after joining RUF.” Both *Stuart and Preston* have tasted Jesus’ love for them even as they have been looking at Jesus through His Word through Table Talk all semester. Please pray for them, that the Spirit would give them new hearts to receive Jesus by faith! Your prayers, your giving and your participation in this work have given us the opportunity to love these students well in Christ’s name. 

*Names changed for his protection*

Group Photo from our End of the Year Party (eyes blurred for their protection)
Food and Fellowship!
Playing with Chopsticks (Once Again)
Summer Conference 

At our Winter Training this year, a group of RUF International campus ministers and staff began to dream and pray about taking international students to the RUF Summer Conference. RUF Summer Conference takes place in May over 4 weeks, and has historically been a huge hit with the RUF National students. Many RUF ministers and students would describe it as a whole year of ministry packed into 1 week! RUF International has not normally attended the conference, but we began to think this year, what if we could make Week 4 of Summer Conference an International Week? Not only would we get International students from around the country to join us, but we could also collaborate more with RUF National. So we began praying that the LORD would send 5 or more students from each of our campuses to Summer Conference with us this year. I am grateful to say that we were able to take 7 international students with us from Texas A&M, and altogether we had 36 students from 7 campuses! What an amazing answer to prayer! And despite having a lot of rain that week and some COVID cases, I would also say that we had a blast! We enjoyed a lot of time on the beach, a number of different sporting activities, several great seminars (including one that was similar to Table Talk), some wonderful preaching by Matt Odum (a former RUF campus minister), and lots of fellowship with students from other campuses. Our students loved it, and we are already getting excited for next year, especially now that we know what it's like and how we also might improve the experience. 

 
Group Photo of RUF International Students at Summer Conference 
Our Group Photo at Summer Conference 
Global God Seminar at Summer Conference
Looking Back with Thankfulness and Looking Forward with Anticipation

There are so many things to be thankful for as I look back over this year. I am thankful for the diverse group of students we’ve been ministering to. I am thankful for a growing group of solid volunteers that I've ministered with. I am thankful for my interns Harrison and Josh. I am particularly grateful for the last two years I’ve had with Harrison. He was my first intern here at Texas A&M, and he has loved and served international students well during his internship which started in the middle of a pandemic. Harrison is moving onto the job world, but he will be staying here in the BCS area and plans on volunteering with RUF International going forward. I am so grateful for his service and friendship, and I am excited to keep up with him in the years to come! 

And most certainly, I am grateful for you all as ministry partners! We simply could not love and welcome the nations here in Christ’s name without you. Your generous time, support and prayers are having a great impact in the lives of the students here! As we close out this year, and look forward with anticipation to the next, I am more excited than ever about this ministry and about our potential to continue sharing the good news of Jesus to the nations at Texas A&M. Thank you for considering us in your prayers and giving for the coming school year. I look forward to connecting with you more this summer and creating new opportunities for how you can be involved with our ministry going forward. Stay tuned for more details to come.

International Spring Potluck Picnic
Girl's Night Out!
Our last Table Talk of the semester
A Big Thanks to Harrison for his two years of service!
Welcome Hannah!
I’m excited to announce that Hannah Blakenship will be coming to intern with us this coming year! Hannah just graduated from Mississippi State University with her bachelor’s degree in Communication and Spanish. She has been active in RUF the last 4 years, and has spent some time aboard in Columbia working with a soccer ministry that seeks to help at risk children get out of bad situations. She loves international students and that love for them has even led her to start an international outreach team in RUF with a friend this past year.  We are thrilled to have her come join us at Texas A&M! Please pray for Hannah as she makes her way here to start this next exciting chapter of her life.

Prayer Requests

We greatly covet your prayers for our students and for us personally. Here are some ways you can praise God with us and be praying for us in the weeks to come:

  • Praise God for a fantastic time at Summer Conference and for a great end to the year with our students
  • Praise God for Harrison and his service with RUF International these last 2 years. Pray that he would continue to thrive in his new vocation
  • Pray for Hannah as she raises her support and moves to the BCS area
  • Pray for Josh and Sarah Coleman as they make their way to Jackson MS for seminary classes and work in a veterinarian clinic 
  • Pray for the safety of our students that are traveling this summer for internship, to sightsee or visit family and friends 
  • Pray for our continued witness, community and activities that we will have with international students that are here this summer
  • Pray for some good time off and for rest to recharge for next year
  • Pray for time with family and friends this summer

Please let me know how we can be praying for you as well!

Your gifts play a vital role in helping us to share the good news of Jesus Christ with students coming from all over the world through gospel deeds and gospel words. Please help us to continue welcoming the nations at Texas A&M through our 22/23 school year.

If you would like to give to this ministry financially, please click the GIVE button below to make a contribution on the RUF-I Texas A&M donation page. 
If you would like to give by check, please write "RUF-I Texas A&M" or "account # 0512" in the memo line and send checks to:

Reformed University Fellowship

P.O. Box 890004

Charlotte, NC 28289-0004

RUF is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.


May the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,
Titus, Crystal, Brighton, and Blaire Bagby
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