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August Wesley Foundation Update
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Greetings!
The summer is flying by. The Wesley Foundations have been keeping busy and are preparing for the upcoming school year. Be sure to make it a priority to visit them this year!
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University of Iowa
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University of Northern Iowa
Student story:
As I write this, I am looking at a bag of Chinese tea given as a thank you from Jessie. Jessie is a music graduate student at UNI. She was matched up with Bill and Jane for conversation partners soon after arriving through the Wesley Foundation ministry. Interestingly Jessie seemed to find more connection attending worship with Bill and Jane at St Timothys. From time to time she would even play for the worship. A change of her plans this summer found Jessie needing some furniture for her apartment for another semester. Bill and Jane knew that Wesley's Furniture Loan program helped students such as Jessie. Through that connection and with some additional help, Jessie was able to get reestablished in an apartment for the fall semester. Jessie in turn helped another Chinese student get some furniture for an apartment through the Wesley Furniture program.
Wesley Foundation Building Update:
As of this update, we have settled into a "Wesley in Exile" location in the old Bought Again Books location on 23rd Street (for any UNI or Cedar Falls folks reading this.) The location is across the street from campus right on "The Hill" area next to campus. I can look out the front window and see the blue tarp covering the Wesley Foundation roof over on College St.
We have selected the replacement roof, which will be installed within the next several weeks. We have had all of the storm damaged asbestos ceilings and flooring removed, as well as any other storm damaged walls or other material. Basically we are finished with the demolition phase. The Wesley Board has determined that while we are displaced and doing work on the building, that we will also take a careful look at other work that makes sense to complete now. For example, we are looking seriously at replacing the old (highly inefficient) steel single paned windows with more functional and efficient windows, insulating some of the exterior facing walls, and making a couple of other changes that seem appropriate given all of the other work taking place.
Our insurance is covering the storm damage related work. We will gladly welcome folks who like to paint walls and ceilings in a few weeks when we get to that stage of the recovery.
We are looking at needing to do a capital campaign for some of the other work. We will be releasing more information soon.
The "Wesley in Exile" location could prove to be an unexpected blessing in the midst of the mess. The volume of student and community traffic has already proven to be higher. We plan to take advantage of the traffic to attract interest and participation and to help connect this location with the Foundation location.
As always, thank you for your support. Whenever you find yourself in Cedar Falls, please stop by "Wesley in Exile" at 909 W. 23rd St. or at 2422 College St. or www.cfwesley.org.
Dave Glenn-Burns, Campus Minister
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Drake University
Drake Wesley House is ready for another semester. First year students will soon begin finding there way through the maze that is college life. Some of the temptations they will face are easy to spot, while others lie hidden just beyond view. Upper-class students will return with worries about internships and an uncertain job market. Even under the best circumstances, college life can be difficult to navigate. So, please remember college students, faculty, and staff in your prayers. Wesley Foundations, like other campus ministries, are uniquely positioned to provide a mature spiritual presence in this difficult time. Drake's campus has seen a recent burst of religious activity. We are working on some exciting partnerships that will strengthen our roll on campus and provide us with opportunities to extend our reach. The details of these partnerships and upcoming exhibitions in the Wesley House Gallery will be forthcoming.
We continue to enjoy our relationship with Justice for Our Neighbors. Some Drake Law School students have discovered the work being done here. Providing free, high quality immigration legal service is important work in these troubled times. The Drake Wesley House aims to support JFON's efforts to encourage deeper theological reflection on this issue.
Thank you for your continued support of campus ministry and your Wesley Foundations.
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Iowa State University
After the relative "slow-down" of Summer, where activities were limited to "Barbecue Bible Studies" on Wednesday nights and Sunday morning discussions called "FaithLink" (plus a couple of student-initiated and operated brunches for the congregation and some ditch-cleaning), students at the Wesley Foundation at Iowa State are ready to move back into a more active, diverse schedule.
At the time of this writing 5 students (the Vision/Action Team), along with Campus Ministry Associate Chris Hockley and Campus Pastor Rev. Jim Shirbroun are on a 3-day retreat. Nearly all of the Fall activities are scheduled...the retreat is an opportunity to get the leadership team together to re-connect with one another, to study scripture and worship, to work out details and coordinate their various ministry areas, to get ready for the influx of new and returning students...and to have fun!
The Fall schedule will have a great deal to offer. In addition to four worship experiences each week, students may choose from a smorgasbord of activities and events including: Christ Clips (movie discussion), Dream, Think, Do, Be (deep theological discussions), monthly Spiritual Mountaintops (a variety of spiritual disciplines are examined in creative settings), Third Way Team (an analysis of social justice issues and opportunities to act), Saturday Service Projects (monthly opportunities to put faith into action), Friday Night Praise (weekly "jam session"), FaithLink (our version of "Sunday School") and Covenant Discipleship groups (spiritual accountability and encouragement based on John Wesley's class meetings).
There are music groups (Wesley Bells, faithspring band, Wesley Singers), worship planning and leadership teams, many fellowship opportunities and, of course, lots of FOOD. In addition, students at our ISU Wesley Foundation are welcomed at the full range of opportunities at Collegiate United Methodist Church whether it be singing or playing in (or directing or accompanying) choirs, teaching Sunday School, working with youth groups, serving on Clusters and so much more (including lots of meals!).
A special "Faces of Jesus" is being sponsored by the Wesley Foundation this Fall. Approximately 30 images, some very traditional, others very NON-traditional, will be on display in our Student Lounge from mid-August through September. Everyone is invited to come view the images and comment (via "sticky notes") on the emotional, theological impact of the image. Two discussion events will not only take participants through the images one by one but give each person to design their own "Face of Jesus" via a variety of art materials on hand.
We look forward to greeting visitors to our Wesley Foundation throughout the year, whether it be confirmation classes or youth groups coming to faithspring (Sunday night alternative worship), pastors coming to lunch with ISU students from their church(es) (we'll buy!), families on college visits dropping in for a quick look...even the individual with a little time to kill who'd like to see the new addition to the Collegiate/Wesley facilities (including our brand-new Student Lounge!).
We'll also come to you! If you'd like a team of students to come to a youth group meeting or retreat, let us know! Each local church should have received our "Summer Mailing" (along with every incoming ISU student with United Methodist connections). If you know of someone we've missed, please contact us! For more information or to get in touch with a Collegiate/Wesley staff person, go to our website @ cwames.org.
Thanks for your prayers!
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Avoiding First-Year Pitfalls
By Vicki Brown
Failing to find the right balance of social life, work, and study may be the single most common mistake college freshmen make, according to campus ministers, chaplains, and student-life staff.
"Some students try to take on too much. They join every organization on campus and have a great time with the extra curricular activities but forget to go to class and study. Those students, if they don't change their ways, don't come back the next semester," says the Rev. Leigh S. Martin, Reinhardt College chaplain.
On the flip side, other students do nothing outside of class or their room. The Rev. Betsy Eaves, chaplain at Centenary College in Shreveport, La., says involved students are better and happier students.
"We find that the most successful students are those who live on campus, get involved in campus activities, but don't get involved in so much that they have little time to sleep or study. If they are involved in campus ministry programs, student-life activities or clubs, they have a chance to meet other students who then can become study partners and supportive friends," Eaves said.
That balance includes not taking too heavy a load, not working so many hours that work interferes with classes, and staying on campus.
"Frequently going home or leaving campus on weekends is not a good idea," said Annie Laurie Cadmus, coordinator of student activities at Green Mountain College.
Martin agrees.
"Your parents and high school friends want to see you, but pick and choose weekends to stay on campus and make new friends and a new home," she said.
Partying too much means students will not be in any shape for classes.
"Seems obvious, but it's a trap many freshmen are eager to fall into," says Naomi Ramon Krzyzaniak, girls' chaplain for Ecuminical Ministries on the campus of Saginaw Valley State University.
The Rev. Mike Lavelle, United Methodist campus minister and an adjunct professor at Western New Mexico University, said those students often pay the price with failing grades or even having to drop out.
"Often they wait until it's too late, and they try hard to catch up - which usually doesn't work or if it does, now they have a D or an F in the class when a little time management and goal setting would have easily helped them earn a B."
Good sleep habits are part of the balance, too, said the Rev. Eric Doolittle, chaplain at Hiwassee College. "With the availability of 24-hour entertainment, especially online gaming and chat rooms, many of my students try to get by on four hours of sleep or less. While college students have always been sleep deprived during stressful times of the year such as finals week, today's students push themselves all the time."
Doolittle recalled a student who suddenly seemed to disappear, missing three weeks of classes. "Since he preferred late nights, and the Internet access was smoother in the wee hours, he had taken to going to bed at 8 p.m., waking up at 3 a.m., and then running his day from that time," he said. But when the student caught a bug and became ill, he ended up sleeping from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. and missing all his classes.
Students who excelled in high school take college academics for granted, said the Rev. Glenn Tyndall, director of the Wesley Foundation at Virginia Tech.
"There is no one to remind them to study and not fall behind. There is increased peer pressure to stay up late, party, use alcohol, and a huge problem on most campuses - video games! My advice is always - get off to a good start, since you will always have to average this first semester into your overall GPA. Sadly, this advice most often falls on deaf ears," Tyndall said.
Several campus ministers said students let their spiritual life slide.
"Many students do academic, social, and extracurricular activities but forget spiritual development and growth," said Scott Parish, director of the Augusta State Wesley Foundation. In addition, he sees some students who become so absorbed in their own lives that they neglect "giving a helping hand to others."
David Hindman, Wesley Foundation at The College of William and Mary, said students put prayer, Bible study, worship, and community service on the back burner. "When spiritual struggles occur, they try to solve them on their own or drop out of their faith community because they (wrongly) think everyone there already has things figured out," Hindman said.
Eric Van Meter, director of the Wesley Foundation at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Ark., said it is easy for students to lose sight of God in college.
"Most local churches, at least in my experience, do a poor job of connecting with college students, and many denominations are pulling out of campus ministries. That means it's harder than ever for young adults to find a place where they can explore their changing relationship with God and with the church. But those opportunities are still out there, if students will look," Van Meter said.
The Rev. Mary Haggard, executive director of the Wesley Foundation Campus Ministry at the University of Delaware, says students should remember to include God in their weekly plans. "I know your parents aren't there to wake you up to go to church, but if God was a part of your life before college, God should still be a part of it now," Haggard said.
Hindman also said freshmen are often afraid to go to a professor for help. "Or they assume the professor won't be able to relate to their situation," he said.
Eaves said most professors are helpful when student come to them concerned about their work. "Most, but not all, professors appreciate students who are trying. And it can make a big difference to a professor when the student is on the line between grades. If they know the student personally and recognize their efforts, they are positively influenced by that," Eaves said.
A number of campus ministers said debt can be a crushing problem for students who are not accustomed to budgeting and find themselves bombarded with credit card offers when they enter college.
"Some students sign up for credit cards from the vendors on campus because of the free gifts they offer. Too often they end up with big credit card debt," said the Rev. Mary Kay Will, United Methodist campus minister at California State University-Long Beach. Credit card debt prompted the student government at CSU-Long Beach to ban credit card vendors from campus.
Van Meter said a credit card is great if students pay it off every month, but is a serious problem if they do not. "A friend of mine is 36 and still paying off tacos he bought in college. Seriously," Van Meter says.
Students are often on their own financially for the first time, and they don't know how to live on a budget, so they run out of money before the month is out. Many colleges offer budgeting classes or financial counseling.
Freshmen tend to jump into too much, too soon - falling in love with the first person they date, declaring a major too soon without exploring other options, trying to work a full-time job while still studying, taking classes and having a full social life.
Haggard says many students get too wrapped up in the dating scene.
"You have plenty of time to find him or her. CHILL! Just because you haven't found the woman/man of your dreams during Freshmen Orientation does not mean that you'll never date again."
Brown is associate editor and writer, Office of Interpretation, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry.
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