Over 350 Christians gathered for the historic first Reformed University Fellowship Convention (RUFCON) in Port Dickson earlier this year!
The crowd came in all shapes and sizes. Some pushed babies in strollers, while others drove down late at night after exams. Some were new to the call of the gospel, while others, having been impacted by university ministries, are now full-time ministry workers for the Malaysian church!
University Christian Fellowship (CF) members and alumni came from all over the country for a singular purpose: to celebrate what God has done over these years — and is still doing — through university CFs in Malaysia.
As Reformation Day (31 October) approaches, reminding Protestant churches all around the world of our roots, here are some of the sweetest moments from RUFCON.
CF Carnival started off RUFCON with a bang! RUF’s partner CFs showcased key gospel moments from their universities. Pictured here is IMU Christian Fellowship, re-enacting the era when students first built a CF grounded in Scripture, even stepping into popular clubs like cheerleading to reach friends for Christ. What was once a competitive passion became a platform for proclaiming the gospel, calling students to live not just for sport, but for our Saviour!
A decade on, IMU CF continues in the same heartbeat, not merely saving lives for physical health and wellbeing, but pointing to the gospel that secures eternal life with God. Hence their tagline: truly saving lives.
RUF-ers celebrating God’s grace in using RUF by singing praise to Him. RUF students, staff and alumni alike were greatly encouraged by God’s word on grace and its implications for university ministry in the Klang Valley – more on that from a student attendee later!
We also celebrated God’s grace with a gala night, filled with laughter, performances, and student leaders’ vulnerable sharing about the hardships of Christian life and ministry.
Yi Jia, President of Taylor’s Christian Fellowship, shared how comparing himself to others led him to doubt his faith and struggle to love.
Stories of how God used staff workers and fellow CFers to bring students back to grace abounded. For Yi Jia, his freedom to love with a God-glorifying love began when he was confronted by God’s Word in Ephesians 4 and 1 John 4.
Speaking of the moment he realised his deep sinfulness and helplessness, Yi Jia shared, “I realised my answer to, “Yi Jia, do you love God?” will always be No – unless God changes my heart. The answer to “Will I persevere to the end?” will always be No – unless God Himself perseveres me! [Any struggling university Christian must] realise that our Lord is gracious, turn to his gospel, and remember that you’re not defined by your failures, but by the blood on the cross.”
We were also moved by new CFs like UKM Cheras CF — a medical campus in a government university with very few Christians. They gather faithfully each week with a big heart for Jesus and their numbers have been steadily growing. Gala Night reminded us that whether big or small, what matters to Jesus is that ministries honour Him by submitting to Scripture and preaching the gospel.
In light of the need for faithful university ministry, RUF’s staffworkers ran electives leading students to think critically and biblically about the Malaysian culture we live in — and how to build ministries that last amidst this.
From exploring how culture shapes our view of success, to rethinking leadership and relationships, to practical sessions on small group discipleship and evangelism, each elective was crafted to equip Christians not just for today’s campus, but for a lifetime of gospel-centred and cross-bearing Christianity.
In between talks and workshops, the attendees bonded over fun-filled beach games like President’s Sumo. In light of the topic – grace empowering perseverance – we had fun watching the presidents battle it out on whose CF president is the toughest!
Reflecting on his experience at RUFCON, Joshray, a Monash student shared, “I came to RUFCON expecting a vacation but RUFCON has brought me face to face with a humbling truth: I am far more sinful than I ever wanted to admit, and yet far more loved than I ever dared to hope (Ephesians 2:1–5). I realised that I find it hard to love others like God, because I never truly appreciated God’s love for me. To live under grace is to love like Jesus: Loving, forgiving, and serving even when it hurts – not because I’m better, but because this is His world and His holy people. If I can’t love His people, how will I ever enjoy Him?
“RUF has shown me who I would be without them: I’d still be performing for love instead of resting in it, serving with only myself in mind, without joy. Which is why RUF is precious to me – because I’m not the hero – Jesus is. And I’m not alone, because God has given me a family. It is not just another student group – it’s love lived out by university students, alumni, and staff workers.
“So I leave RUFCON humbled. Not confident in myself, but resting in Christ. And not alone—but part of a fellowship shaped by grace as I continue this race, hopefully into RUFCON2030!”
Reformed University Fellowship Malaysia could not have imagined that we’d have impacted the landscape of university ministry in such a manner. It began with a handful of students who started taking Jesus’ ministry seriously in their universities – all because they were convicted by the weight and worth of the gospel. By grace, RUF Malaysia still carries that same conviction: that all ministry done in the name of Jesus Christ in Malaysian universities would be done in a manner pleasing to Him.
As we approach Reformation Day, we thank God again for his mighty hand that saves unworthy sinners for life in Christ. May his grace grip the next generation of Christians in universities to build ministries that are loyal to Jesus and his gospel.
Don’t wait for RUFCON 2030 – university ministry never stops! Find out more about Reformed University Fellowship Malaysia at ruf.org.my. If you’d like to learn more, support this work, or become a partner, reach out to info@ruf.org.my or DM us on Instagram at @rufmalaysia.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)
“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith…
Note: This article is a contribution. Christianity Malaysia extends its thanks to Reformed University Fellowship Malaysia for their generosity in sharing their story.
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I was there at RUFCON as an alumnus and cried so much when I saw the new generations sharing about their growth as Christians on campus! From struggles in CF (persecutions, lacking manpower, failures) to celebrating maturity and growth, praise God indeed! University ministry is really such a precious gift from our Lord Jesus. Praying that as RUF-ers who graduate will still be zealous for His gospel, just as we were in our youth!