Providence worships only a few blocks from Michigan State University and is committed to ministering to students, faculty, and staff on the campus. As a church, Providence prayed and labored for years to see a university ministry started in East Lansing. In the Summer of 2010, Rev. Shawn Newsome moved with his family from Dallas, Texas to East Lansing, Michigan to begin Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) at MSU.

RUF nationally began in the late 1970’s and is now on over 120 campuses across the United States. It grew out of the dream of beginning a campus ministry that was both theologically honest and winsomely welcoming. From those passions grew two great convictions.

The first was that campus ministry ought to be centered on the word of God proclaimed. “If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead,” said Jesus. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ,” said Paul. A commitment to Scripture as being the only rule of faith and practice was to be the guiding principle of all campus ministries.

The second was that campus ministry needed the community of the church. Jesus promised that when his followers were sent out that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The church was both responsible and equipped to bring the gospel to the campus to see students reached for Christ and equipped to serve.

Shawn would be happy to hear from anyone looking for more information or questions. Email: shawn.newsome@ruf.org