New RUF Affiliated Chaplain – Rev. Richie Sessions
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UCRL is excited to welcome our new Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) Affiliated Chaplain Rev. Richie Sessions to Vanderbilt! With the year just starting, we wanted to get to know him a little better.
Welcome to Vanderbilt! Tell us a little about yourself.
I was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas. I graduated from Belmont and then attended Reformed Theological Seminary. I have served Churches in Mississippi and Memphis before moving to Nashville to work with RUF. I am married to Laura and have three children Mamie (13), Griffin (11) and Margaret (8).
For those who don’t know, can you tell us about RUF and some of the things that your ministry does?
RUF is a Christian ministry that seeks to spread the “gospel” (the good news of Jesus Christ) through ourselves and into the campus by word, deed, and lifestyle. We believe the gospel is what brings about personal change, social healing, and cultural renewal. Everyone is welcome regardless of personal or religious background. Vanderbilt RUF is here for the “convinced” and the “unconvinced,” the lost, the found, the burned, bored, cynical, or spiritual.
We do this through large group, small group and one on one meetings.
What are some of the events that RUF participates in during the year?
We have a in the fall we have a conference out of town, a barn dance, parents weekend and a Christmas party at a local home. In the spring we have a summer conference at the beach and mission trip.
Tell us how long you have been in Campus Ministry and your history with RUF.
This is my first year with RUF! I was an intern with RUF in seminary and I have spoken at several of their regional conferences.
How does RUF approach the spiritual lives of students on a busy campus like Vanderbilt and the intersection between faith and reason?
We approach by making the gospel of Jesus central to everything we do. In it we find that our relationship with God, self and others are being gradually healed by his love and mercy. This is an ongoing work that involves the whole person mind, will and emotion. We firmly believe that the truth of Jesus is both reasonable and captivating to the heart and mind.
Speaking of Faith and Reason, RUF is cosponsoring and event with The Veritas Forum next spring, tell us about this exciting event.
We are exploring the issue of the Christianity and Race. This is still in the planning phase, so more to come.