Our Vision Statement

We envision environments where God impacts each person within Millersville University to be like Jesus and transform their communities.

What is "Vision?" Vision is to see a destination even though there may be miles of road between where you are and where you are going. With God, nothing is impossible (Jeremiah 32:17). In fact, He is able to do more than we could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20-21).

Vision is what guides you down the street through a hundred distractions on either side that try to get you to stop. There are many good things to do, but vision helps you keep focused on the specific task God has called you to. Vision is a picture of work God will accomplish.

We believe that every healthy church should have a healthy understanding of biblical community. There are five areas that we believe God wants us to excel in through the power of the Holy Spirit - (Acts 1: 8):

Prayer -- intercession in faith for each other and the world around. - (Talk with God)
Opening the treasure of the Word and applying it. - (Understand the Bible)
Worshipping God in celebration for who he is and what he has done. - (Honor God)
Encouragement of each other in supportive and accountable relationships. - (Build up People)
Reaching out to others who need Christ and positive friendships. - (Share Christ)

Our Faith Confession

• We believe in one God eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
• We believe that God revealed himself in Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, the inspired Word of God, without contradiction, the only reliable guidebook for life.
• We believe God revealed himself supremely in his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ born of a virgin, being both fully human and fully divine.
• We believe that in the beginning God created all things by His Son. He made humanity in the divine image, with free will, moral character, and a spiritual nature.
• We believe that humanity fell into sin, bringing depravity and death upon the race; that as a sinner, man is self-centered and self-willed, unwilling and unable to break with sin which will lead to eternal separation from God.
• We believe that on the cross Jesus Christ took our place, bore our sins, died our death; and for that reason alone God freely forgives those who repent and believe in faith.
• We believe that after Jesus took our place and died our death, he rose from the grave conquering death forever and ascended to the Father. He has promised to return again, so we actively wait in great anticipation for him.
• We believe that the Holy Spirit convicts of sin, gives guidance for life and empowerment for service. His supernatural work makes new life and new birth possible.
• We believe that the church is the body of Christ a redeemed people, obedient to God, a people of love, prayer, and healing.
• We believe that God gave the whole church and every member of it the task of making Christ known throughout the world.
• We believe that the gifts of the Spirit are distributed to all God's people, women and men, so that the church is built up and the world to Christ.
• We believe that spiritual warfare demands special weapons, that the Word must be preached in the power of the Spirit and that we must intercede for Christ's victory to be established over principalities and powers of evil.
• We believe that we must demonstrate God's love visibly by caring for those who are deprived of justice, dignity, food, and shelter.
• We believe that those who repent and believe should be baptized with water as a symbol of cleansing from sin, new life and commitment to Christ.
• We believe that the church should observe the Lord's supper as a symbol of Christ's broken body and shed blood, and the fellowship of his church until his return.
• We believe that Christian marriage is intended by God to be the union of one man and one woman for life.
• We believe that Jesus Christ's personal return will be visible in power and glory to consummate salvation and judgment thus the church serves sacrificially and joyfully anticipating eternal life with God.

How University Christian Fellowship Started and Progressed

• Early Eighties - A vision for ministry at M.U. was discussed by members of the Lancaster Conference of the Mennonite Church, but not acted on.
• 1991 - God began speaking to Dave & Carol Witmer, Duane & Kris Metzler, and Dan & Amy Yocom at different places and in different ways concerning campus ministry at M.U.
• 1992 - The Church was planted in prayer with Dave Witmer leading as Church Planter. Three Sunday Celebrations were held in room 161 of the Student Memorial Center.
• 1993 - A core group of community members and students began meeting regularly for worship in the Multi-Purpose room of the Student Memorial Center at 4pm on Sundays. Average attendance was 26
• 1994 - Official membership was established, by-laws approved by the University, and Pastor Duane Metzler was designated as primary pastor. Average attendance about 28.
• 1995 - Worship location moved to Chryst Hall with Sunday attendance averaging 40. Cell group attendance was averaging 60 people in 7 cell groups.
• 1996 - Pastor Duane Metzler was ordained and cell group coordinators were appointed to help oversee the cell ministry. Attendance for Sunday worship increased to 60.
• 1997 - Began with a Weekend of Prayer. Initiated Mission trip with much planning being done in the fall. Spring Break prayer teams were sent out to various locations. UCF hosted a church-wide conference on Cell Churches. Cell group attendance average 70 in 10 cells.
• 1998 - Began with first Mission trip to Venezuela. Average attendance was around 70 people weekly, still meting in Chryst Hall. UCF presented a "Relationships Seminar" and later in the year, commissioned a group of members to plant a new church called Living Hope Community Church.
• 1999 - Began with "Renewing the Vision" as a church. More members went to Venezuela on mission trips, a bus load spent a day at the Bowery Mission in NYC, and a Spring Break service project was done in Florida. UCF also hosted a Worship Conference in Lyte Auditorium. We commissioned our largest group of graduates in May, and also sent missionaries to Thailand and Mexico.
• 2001 - A season of growth, moving from 75 attending in the Spring, to 105 average in the Fall. A mission team went to Africa for two weeks.
• 2002 - The Spring semester launched the vision for care groups in every dorm and target group. We moved our Sunday worship location to First United Methodist Church due to church growth.
• 2003 - We continue to change and grow as God leads. The first baby was added to our church in many years in November. Spring Break took several teams out of PA through Mennonite Disaster Service to help those devastated from hurricanes.
• 2004 - Average attendance was about 130 for Sunday worship. Our church hosted a "Mind Games" Conference in October through Probe Ministries, TX. We sent a team of 18 missionaries to Peru for two weeks. Kris Metzler and Jon Knaub were added to the staff of University Christian fellowship as pastoral assistants. We commissioned our largest group of graduating seniors (17) in May.
• 2005 - The year started off with a winter retreat in Coatesville for the church. Sunday sermon series included one on the Song of Solomon and one on the Armor of God. We celebrated with six believers in baptism in the spring. Students were able to join a UCF choir and Pastor Duane reached out to Greek life. 21 Graduates Commissioned.
• 2006 - We started a new ministry strategy of "dorm representatives" which are students who live in a specific dorm and are those who help connect students with various ministries within UCF. The year also experienced the launching of L.I.L.I.E.S (Ladies In Leadership Intentional Encouragment and Support). A mission team was sent to Alaska for the first time and to Peru for the second time. 34 seniors were commissioned to continue serving the Lord wherever he leads them.
• 2007 - We purchased our first laptop computer which provided much needed flexibility for worship and presentations. We volunteered at Gretna Glen for spring cleanup. Biggest news of the year was moving Sunday Morning worship to the Multi-Purpose Room of the Student Memorial Center in the fall and adding a Hospitality Team ministry. A second mission team went to Alaska. UCF (worship) Dance Team began.
• 2008 - UCF coordinated move-in volunteers better known as the JAM crew. A third mission team went to Alaska and Peru. Pastor Duane took a 2 month sabbatical in the spring. The "Spotter Team" model was presented as a team of community members who help assist the student leadership team in "big picture" decisions.
• 2009 - The "Freshman Five" experiment was introduced which included 5 Sunday morning sessions with topics relevant to helping freshmen adjust to college life. Those attending the fall UCF retreat experienced a powerful time in sharing "cardboard testimonies". We sponsored a campus-wide symposium on Iran with speaker David Shenk. Students and community members served on service trips to the Bowery Mission in New York City on winter break and to Louisana on spring break. 30 seniors were commissioned.
• 2010 - We hosted the "Beyond Idols" worship concert in the SMC Multi-Purpose Room. The "Truth Project" video series was offered for the first time. Renovations on the Student Memorial Center began, which caused us to move back to First United Methodist church until renovations were completed. A hot dog outreach was started to reach out to those who party on Thursday night at Brookwood apartments next to campus as a way to open doors for sharing Jesus. Service teams reached out in Ramona, CA; New Orleans, LA: and the Bowery Mission in New York City. 25 seniors were commissioned. For the first time, UCF budget surpassed $100,000.
• 2011 - We held our first, and only, "Ugly Sweater Party". Winter Break once again was a time for students to reach out to needy in New York City at the Bowery Mission. Spring Break took a service team to Louisiana. With the Student Memorial renovations completed, we moved back into an updated Multi-Purpose Room. Office space was expanded at Potter House with United Campus Ministries moving their offices to First United Methodist. 37 seniors were commissioned. The fall saw the start of two new care groups: "Redefined", a care group for women, was started in connection with Susquehanna Valley Pregnancy Center and "Manversations" was started as a care group for men.
• 2012 - UCF celebrated 20 years of existence at Millersville University. We spent the time not only looking back at God's faithfulness and much of what took place over the past 20 years, but also looking ahead and saying "Lord, what are the steps ahead that you have ordained?". The process took us into a time of examining our current structures and "retooling" to keep this a healthy ministry into the future. 14 Seniors were commissioned to "Live out the call of God upon you, serving in the name of Jesus wherever you go." Ministry teams went to Peru in May and to the Bowery Mission, NYC and Joplin, MO to share help and hope. "Finals Week Survival Kits" were assembled by community members and handed out to students attending UCF.
• 2013 - As part of the "retooling" process, UCF transferred it's credentials from Lancaster Conference of the Mennonite Church to HopeNet fellowship of churches. HopeNet is a non-denominational network of churches and has had close ties with University Christian Fellowship for many years. Spring break included a team going to Birmingham, AL to minister with Mennonite Disaster Service. We hosted an Easter outreach on campus by bringing in a group called "Piercing Word" who gave a dramatic presentation of passion week directly from the gospels. UCF's student president had a heart to see positive activities available on campus that would give students an alternative to drinking and partying. Partnering with the university, "SMCtivities" was born. In an effort to partner with other christian groups on campus we joined Bible Campus Ministry (the main African American group on campus) at LOVE Cafe - a celebration of God through African American culture.
• 2014 - Two new small groups were started. Explorers - for those who are "exploring" who God is, what the Bible is, and what a relationship with Jesus means. SLUG's (Sports lovers under God) - similar to Explorers, but with a special emphasis on those involved in/or who just love sports. Brittney Hacker joined UCF as a special minister to the females at UCF. Partnering with the university, "Sunday Funday" was started in the Fall semester. Partnering with the Catholic Campus Ministry (John Newman Association), we hosted Christopher West on campus for a seminar titled the "Theology of the Body" focusing on God's design for sexuality and the awesome gift that it is. New activities for the year included a gigantic slip-n-slide and exploring a local cave.
• 2015 - Spring break team to Far Rockaway, NY with Mennonite Disaster Service. Partnering with ACTS Community Fellowship, we had a new influx of "community members" (non-student adults/families) who felt a call to minister to students at Millersville through UCF. With the start of the Fall semester, a new Sunday morning format was implemented with community members and students sitting around tables of 10 to greet, talk, pray, and discuss sermon application. There is no longer a single student who leaves without someone talking to them and caring for them. The John Newman Association joined us for our annual barn party - a rousing success!
• 2016 - Spring semester got off to a quick start with a Women's Retreat in February with the theme of being "Created for Relationship". Following came Friends & Family day, baptisms, our first attempt at "Battleship" in the Brooks pool, and commissioning 11 seniors. There was a special addition to the commissioning this semester - Pastor Duane and Kris Metzler. After 24 years of ministry at UCF, Pastor Duane and Kris were commissioned by UCF as they followed God's leading into a new leadership role at New Life Fellowship in Ephrata, Pa. With the transition of leadership, God brought Josh and Trista Lamb (along with their children Ember and Cedar) into the pastoral role at UCF for this new season.
• Each year, there were baptisms, new members, new leaders, leadership retreats, and ongoing worship teams.