Give to RUF-I at Columbia University
UPDATE: We are currently working to raise the needed support for year 2 of this ministry! Join our team!
Thank you for caring for the Bragg family!
I may be an avid internet blogger, but my day job is even more thrilling: a Campus Minister at one of the United States oldest and most prestigious colleges.
Columbia University is located in Manhattan near the Bragg’s home. The University hosts over 14,000 international students. It is estimated that 90% of these students are not Christians and have never been in a Christian’s home, never opened a bible or heard the Word of God in any way. Yet, during their time at Columbia, they will make crucial life decisions, develop a deeper sense of their own identity, and set the trajectory of their life for years to come. The years students are at college are often incredibly impactful. This is a strategic mission. Many of these students (mostly graduate students at Columbia) will return to their home countries where they are often some of the most influential individuals in their communities.
It is the mission of RUF-I (Reformed University Fellowship, International Student Ministry) to reach and equip the international students on Columbia’s campus with the good news of Jesus Christ. Through RUF-I, international students who may have never heard of Jesus will come to know and love Christ, be rooted and built up by the Gospel, equipped to participate in God’s mission, and planted in churches throughout this city and the world.
RUF-I at Columbia was began by Rev. Andrew Terrel in 2016. Andrew built the program into a robust community of students who meet each and every week on campus to explore the claims of Christianity together under Andrew’s leadership. Andrew has now accepted a call to begin a new chapter of RUF-I at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. I (Micah) will be stepping into Andrew’s role this Fall. This means I will be leading an already existing community of students and leaders which has already been the source of much fruit. And yet, most of the group members would not call themselves believers, they simply want to know more.
I will lead a team of volunteers from the local church in first welcoming students with Christian hospitality, inviting them into a community of people who care for them, and then engaging them where they are, caring for their spiritual and physical needs, and then equipping them as those who will go out into the world knowing the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. He has acted to save us from sin and death and it is to Him we give all praise!
This is an opportunity and challenge that I am excited to take on! I have accepted the challenge of picking up the ministry slack caused by Andrew’s call to Vanderbilt; I now need the community of believers surrounding Leila and I to help pick up the financial slack so that this ministry can continue to glorify God for years to come. I will be raising the entirety of both my salary and the operating budget for the ministry from those who want to partner with this mission. This means Leila and I are in complete reliance on God as we boldly ask those who we know care for our family and those who we know care for International students to jump on the opportunity this ministry presents. This ministry is a direct and strategic way to advance Christ’s kingdom on earth. Partner with us in this work!
Stewarding your money well is no light task and this is a big ask. Creating a sustainable ministry in NYC in expensive. Our hope is to continue in this ministry for years to come. I would love for RUF-I to be a part of how you engage generosity, steward your resources, and—ultimately—how you praise God. I would expect you would want to know the what, why, and how of RUF and of the ministry work at Columbia before you re-shape your budget in order to make a gift possible. If you want to know more details, please feel free to reach out to me at micah.bragg@ruf.org. I would love to find a time for a call, Zoom, or in-person meeting to explain my budget, calling, and vision in more detail.
If you are one of my readers who is also a believer, thank you for being the Church (the people of God) to us and consistently surrounding our family with love and care.
Check back soon to join my RUF-I newsletter which will allow you to pray for the ministry as it takes place with updates of what we are doing and what we are trying to do.
Love,
Micah
Use the link here to give online.
(RUF is a registered 501(c )3 non-profit and all gifts are tax deductible. If you have any questions about giving, reach out to donorservices@ruf.org
If you would like to give through check, in the memo line, please include RUFI Columbia (Micah Bragg) and send to:
Reformed University Fellowship
P.O. Box 890004
Charolette, NC 28289-0004
You may also give a gift of stock. Reach out to donorservices@ruf.org to do so.