Student stories: Lizzie Horne

“I first came across RUF in the Fall of my freshman year at VSU. The VSU chapter was just getting started in its first year. I had grown up knowing a little about RUF as my father is a Presbyterian minister and has had close connections with RUF. I initially checked it out on campus because Chad, the Campus Minister and a friend of my father’s, reached out to me to connect. Initially, RUF seemed to be the perfect place of community that I was looking for, seeing as I had made very few connections on campus thus far. I enjoyed the teaching and the social time spent during the first several meetings. I even attended the RUF Fall Conference, which I’ll admit I was reluctant to go to. 

A few months into the fall semester, however, I became discouraged with my lack of progress in forming authentic friendships. Although I’m an extrovert, I found it hard to step out of my comfort zone to connect with other students. Chad took notice of my withdrawal from RUF and, after discussing my perspective with him, he challenged me to try and make some real connections despite my hesitancy. I decided to try again, and the results were more than successful. 

Many of the girls I became friends with that semester through RUF have become some of my dearest friends and sisters in Christ. RUF has since then become one of the few comfortable places in my life, where I know I am loved and cared for always. RUF has challenged me to think deeply and grow brutally to become a woman of God. The Gospel throbs in the heart of RUF and I can always count on my campus minister to minister to us students in a Gospel centered way. I am so grateful to have met my friends through RUF and that I get to participate in this ministry of the Kingdom while studying at VSU.”

Love Lizzie's story. Love how when we trust God and take a chance to open up our lives to others, we get the gift of community in return.