FAQs

Hello All! As I have been traveling I have been getting a lot of the same questions, so I thought I might answer some of them here, in case you were wondering too!

If I have been giving monthly, do I have to renew my pledge?

If you have automatic withdrawal, RUF will continue to automatically take the pledge each month until you ask them to stop or I no longer work with RUF. If you have made a pledge but just send it in each month, RUF assumes that you will continue to do so through my second year.

The internship is two years?

Yes, the internship is a two-year program. It is designed that way so that interns have a prolonged period on campus to make connections and form deeper relationships. RUF does not want to break the relationship with the students and campus that we worked so hard to form after one academic year. Having just finished my first year, I am excited to have another year to go. I would hate to break the relationships I have made, and am thrilled to get to make new ones this year.

How much money do you need for the second year?

My budget for the second year is the same as it was last year, $31,804. Total monthly pledges made in the 2009-10 school year were $18,960. That means that last year I received $12,844 in one-time gifts. If all of my monthly donors stay with me this coming year then I will need to raise $12,844 to meet my 2010-11 budget. This money can be in either one-time gifts or monthly pledges. You can give online at www.ruf.org. Thank you to those who have been part of my team this last year.

Do you have to have this money by a specific date?

August 1st would be most helpful. Classes start August 23rd and things get very hectic after that. In order to best minister to students, it would be helpful if I had a "healthy" support account by then. There is no definite date though.

How can I give monthly? What if I cannot continue giving?

You can send in a pledge and/or set up automatic withdrawal at www.ruf.org. If you cannot continue giving, I understand. Thank you for the part you have played in ministering to the OU campus. Please let me know if this is the case, since it will help me determine how much I need to raise. Again, thank you so much for your prayers and support.

What is all of that money used for?

The money I raise is used for: my paycheck, insurance, books for my study program, costs of conferences (2 per year) and training (3 per year), and occasional traveling expenses. This is not quite everything it covers, but these are the main categories.

Are you the only intern on campus?

Last year I served with Benjamin Nichols, our male intern. Unfortunately, last week we learned that Ben cannot return to campus because of a budget deficit in his support account. Thus, I will be the only intern in the coming year. This is very sad for us. Ben served the OU campus with a lot of enthusiasm. He has a great heart for campus ministry. The loss of him on our staff will be greatly felt.

These are the most common questions I have gotten so far this summer. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. My email is natalie.haynes@ruf.org. My phone number is (904) 651-2166. I will be in Jacksonville July 21-25. Sarah Wilkening and I will be co-hosting a lunch for RUF at Pinewood Presbyterian on July 25 immediately following the 11 o'clock service.