With more than 22 million people, Mexico City is the largest metropolitan area in the western hemisphere and one of the top three urban areas in the world. And with more than 178,000 students, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) is probably the largest university student population on the planet.

After arriving in this vast city and relocating close to the colossal campus in January of 2005, campus minister Peter Dishman began to lay the groundwork for the first international chapter of Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) in partnership with Mission to the World (MTW) and the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico. In January of 2006, UNAM alumnae and Biblical counselor Ruth Martinez moved to Mexico City to assist in the RUF work as female staff. Finally, in August of 2007, Jared Weatherholtz and Josh & Amy Oettle arrived in the Federal District to serve as 2 year interns, rounding out our full time missionary team.

As we reach the midpoint of our third full year on campus, we have developed many personal relationships and meet with Christian and non-Christian students each week to talk with them about their lives and encourage them in their relationship with Jesus, his church, and his kingdom. We have also grown into two weekly small groups, our main study centering on Paul’s letter to the Philippians and averaging around 20 students, and our smaller study focusing on the basics of Christian faith and discipleship. We also do large group activities, in particular seminars, outings and retreats. Finally, with the arrival of the interns, we have expanded our service to the university community through our conversational English Clubs, which attract anywhere from 25 to 50 students, and through which we have been had the opportunity to help and befriend many students.

The goal of RUF is to “reach students for Christ” and “to equip them to serve”. We want to shepherd the children of the church as they grow through the college years, and with and through them to make an impact for Christ at the UNAM, calling students to faith in Christ, to life in his community, and to service in all areas of life in his kingdom.

Please surf through the rest of our site to understand who we are and what God is doing at the UNAM. Consider signing up to receive our updates so that you can pray. And think about making a tax-deductible gift to free us to dedicate all of our energy to loving UNAM students and helping them to grow in grace, to fellowship and serve inside our community, to reach out to others in evangelism and missions, and to pursue a world and life view in which Jesus rules all.