About GCF

Our Mission

We seek to be a vibrant and welcoming community through the study and application of God's word in our life together, faithfully praying for each other, our community, our departments, and our campus, fostering the growing and deepening of relationships with our Lord Jesus Christ and each other, and serving those in need.

In striving to do this Graduate Christian Fellowship provides a place for Christian dialogue and discipleship within the University community in order to bring a Christian perspective to the academic arena and to enable Christian graduate and professional students to become more effective witnesses to the glory and honor of Jesus Christ.

Our Objectives

As a group of committed graduate students, we seek to balance our calling to be a community of Christian disciples with our calling to reach out to the campus. We desire to spur one another on in our mutual journey of faith, to grapple seriously with the intellectual issues of our times from a Christian perspective, and to engage the campus with Jesus Christ. To that end, we have the following objectives:

  • Spiritual Formation

    GCF is committed to the ongoing development of faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. Through the disciplines of Bible study, prayer, and worship, we seek to become more Christ-like in all areas of our lives. Through small group Bible studies, prayer groups, large group speakers, retreats, and training opportunities, we strive to meet graduate students wherever they are in their spiritual journeys and to challenge them to continued growth and development.
  • Integration of Faith and Academics

    We believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord of our whole lives, including both the personal and public areas. As Christian graduate and professional students, Christ calls us to excellence in scholarship and career as well as unwavering obedience to His Word. GCF is committed to affirm the Christian worldview in the university culture by presenting Christian thought in ways that are meaningful to our colleagues and by supporting each other as we explore our call to be servants of Christ in our culture.
  • Evangelism and Service

    Our primary mission field is the university. We believe that God cares about the university, both the institution and the people who study and work there. Because we feel that the best way to reach other graduate students is through one-on-one relationships, we put emphasis on training and encouraging individuals to reach out to non-Christian friends and colleagues. In addition, we organize regular service opportunities for graduate students to help those in need in our community.
  • Fellowship

    As graduate and professional students, we are called to live out Christ's love as a community of believers. We desire to be known as a group that has genuine love for one another. Through our Bible studies and prayer groups, large groups, social events and retreats, we can develop friendships which serve as a base of support and encouragement during challenging times.

The Fellowship

Graduate Christian Fellowship is a Chapter of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, which in turn is part of a world-wide, student-led Christian movement, active in colleges and universities, known as the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES). GCF seeks to minister to graduate students through a variety of student-led programs and activities:

  • Small Group Bible Studies

    Small groups are the heart of GCF. Meeting weekly for Bible study, prayer, worship, and outreach, these groups (usually 6-10 people) are a key source of support, fellowship, and study.
  • Large Group Meetings

    The chapter regularly gathers as a large group for corporate worship and either a speaker or a facilitated discussion.
  • Prayer Meetings

    GCF coordinates weekly prayer meetings.
  • Outreach

    GCF sponsors various programs to reach out to the University community. We seek to engage the campus with our faith on an intellectual level, as well as train and encourage others to do the same.
  • Other Activities

    GCF also organizes a variety of special activities, including reading or discussion groups, departmental prayer groups, and various social events, retreats, and conferences.

Basis of Faith

As a chapter of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Graduate Christian Fellowship is committed to the doctrinal basis of InterVarsity:

The only true God, the almighty Creator of all things, existing eternally in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - full of love and glory.

The unique divine inspiration, entire trustworthiness and authority of the Bible.

The value and dignity of all people: created in God's image to live in love and holiness, but alienated from God and each other because of our sin and guilt, and justly subject to God's wrath.

Jesus Christ, fully human and fully divine, who lived as a perfect example, who assumed the judgment due sinners by dying in our place, and who was bodily raised from the dead and ascended as Savior and Lord.

Justification by God's grace to all who repent and put their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.

The indwelling presence and transforming power of the Holy Spirit, who gives to all believers a new life and a new calling to obedient service.

The unity of all believers in Jesus Christ, manifest in worshiping and witnessing churches making disciples throughout the world.

The victorious reign and future personal return of Jesus Christ, who will judge all people with justice and mercy, giving over the unrepentant to eternal condemnation but receiving the redeemed into eternal life.

To God be glory forever.

Further Information

For more information about Graduate Christian Fellowship at the University of Michigan, contact Rob Narske.

To contact the GCF leadership via email, send a message to GCF Requests.