Summer Conference
What will we do?
NEW! Download the Week One Booklet and Week Two Booklet here! This details everything you need to know about Summer Conference for those attending!
During the day (from after lunch to dinner) you will have time for volleyball, basketball, swimming, sailing, and of course plenty of time to sit on the beach! You'll have a very open schedule that you can fill with whatever you choose! Summer Conference is a place for you to gather with other students from across the United States at the end of the school year for teaching, prayer, discussions, and fun with friends.
RUF Film Festival 2012: For the first time ever, RUF will host a Film Festival at Summer Conference. All submissions are welcome. Our National Office will select the top films to be screened at the conference. The deadline for submissions is April 27. Download details and guidelines here.
Seminars: Seminars provide students a special opportunity for biblical, honest, compelling, and respectful teaching on specific issues or facets of Christianity in a focused setting. Students at conference are coming from many different places spiritually. Please know that we are not only aware of this, but we welcome and delight in this reality. We hope that these seminars give you a unique and insightful opportunity for growth and exploration of the Christian faith.
You will select one 4-day seminar and two 2-day seminars from a list of over 25 including topics like Can I Trust the Bible?, Faith & Science, Dating & Relationships, God's Covenant through Scripture, Justification, God's Will, Suffering, Sharing the Gospel, Christian Liberty, and many more.
Week One Seminar List | Week Two Seminar List
Large Group: Each night we'll hear from our speaker (see bios below), pray together, and worship through music.
And much more: Cookout, dancing, laying on the beach, swimming in the ocean, talking with friends, endless games, dodgeball, a sandcastle contest, dinner out on the town with your campus, you name it...
Who will be there?
Download a list of schools and their respective weeks here.
Our Speakers
Week 1: Jean Larroux
Jean Larroux was born in New Orleans and grew up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Raised Roman Catholic, he was later converted in the Episcopal Church. He graduated from Ole Miss and married a girl from the Mississippi Delta. Jean planted and pastored Lagniappe Presbyterian Church in Bay St. Louis, MS in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. At ground zero of the landfall, Lagniappe started a relief/social service/spiritual aid non-profit to address the needs created by Katrina. Jean is now senior pastor of Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. Jean and his wife Kim have been married almost 20 years and have three children: Jean IV, Ann Elizabeth, and Hannah Grace. Their golden retriever is named "Stonewall" Jackson.
Week 2: Les Newsom
Les is a native of Memphis, TN and graduated from The University of Memphis in 1991. He earned a Masters of Divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, graduating in 1994. In the Fall of '94, Les moved back to Memphis to start the ministry of RUF at The University of Memphis. He soon met and married Ginger Hubbard, a Jackson, MS native and graduate of Ole Miss with her Masters in Mathematics. After five years in Memphis, Les was called to The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) in the Fall of ’99. In the summer of 2011, Les accepted a position as Area Coordinator of RUF ministries in Arkansas, West Tennessee, and Mississippi (Midsouth) and Alabama. Les and Ginger are the proud parents of three beautiful children: Anna Grace, '99, Caroline, '01, and Luke, '04.
Week 3: John Stone
John Stone was born and raised in South Carolina. He graduated from Clemson University a certain number of years ago....A Campus Minister for eleven years, John spent four years at Belhaven College, seven at the University of Tennessee, and now serves as the Assistant Coordinator of RUF. John has spoken at several RUF conferences and is generally known for his dynamism and rollicking good-humor. John and his wife Marissa have three daughters: Sarah, Katherine, and Mary Simpson.
Where is it?
Location: RUF Summer Conference is held at Laguna Beach Christian Retreat, 20016 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413.
Transportation: Talk to your Campus Minister about travel arrangements. If you are traveling independently use the address above for driving directions via google maps, etc. The closest airport is the Panama City-Bay County International Airport. You will need to arrange your own transportation from the airport to Laguna Beach. Your Campus Minister or Intern may be able to help with this. Onsite check-in will begin on the Monday of conference at 2:00 p.m. Dinner will be served that evening at 5:45 p.m. Summer Conference will end Saturday morning. No meals will be served on Saturday.
What to do I need to bring?
Pillow, bedding (sheets, blanket or sleeping bag, etc), towels, casual beach clothes, bathing suit, a notebook if you like, and a Bible if you have one. Bring enough money to cover small expenditures (souvenirs, a meal, ice cream, etc.) as well as a special offering.
Each year RUF collects an offering on one night of Summer Conference to benefit a scholarship or ministry. This year we will be supporting The Global Orphan Project. The Global Orphan Project cares for orphans in some of the poorest villages in the world by mobilizing local churches in community-based care and welc oming the orphans into the church family. The model includes care for all basic needs including schooling, clinic care, housing, and a support infrastructure. Click here to read some of the stories of GO Project partners and church-based homes for orphaned children across the globe. And please plan to bring any amount you would like to contribute to the work of this ministry.
What will all of this cost?
--REGISTRATION GOES LIVE MARCH 1--
Early Registration (on or before April 20) - $315
Late Registration (April 20 til May 1) - $350
Any balances for summer conference can be paid onsite with cash, check or credit card.
Scholarships: Don't let the cost prohibit you from coming, as scholarships are available. Contact your Campus Minister prior to registering if you are interested in a scholarship. You will input your scholarship code at the time of Registration. Scholarship codes, however, cannot be applied to the deposit (i.e., if you register and withdraw, you will be responsible for the non-refundable $75 deposit)
Cancellation Policy: A cancellation refund will only be processed if a request is submitted using the RUF Cancellation form. Students who wish to cancel their registration may receive a full refund (minus their processing fee) if they submit their request by April 30. After this date cancellations will only be processed if an unforeseen circumstance or tragedy occurred.
How do I register?
Starting on March 1, you can register online by clicking the appropriate registration button below. Online registration will continue until May 1 or as long as space is available. Don't wait to register! Here are some great reasons to register early:
- There is limited space. With over 100 campuses attending, slots will fill up quickly.
- Cost is $35 cheaper if you register on or before April 20 (Earlybird!)
There is no mail-in registration for Summer Conference. If you need to pay by check, you will have the option of choosing alternative payment options on the registration page.
On-site registration will begin at 2pm the Monday of conference and will continue as long as space is available. All balances will be due at that time and can be paid using cash, check, or credit card.
