February 2011 Wesley Foundation Update

Greetings, 

 

The new semester is off to a busy start. As spring approaches, consider scheduling a visit to one or all of the Wesley Foundations. Join them for a study, activity, or event. Please help us to bridge the gap between high school and college by allowing the students a preview of campus ministry while they are still in high school. 
 
University of Iowa

Spiritual Journeys of Women

 

During spring semester UI Wesley Foundation hosts a gathering on campus for women's stories of spiritual journey. We meet twice monthly at the Women's Resource and Action Center during lunch break on Mondays. To inaugurate the program Wesley invited UI Department of Religious Studies graduate, the Rev. Anna Blaedel to return to campus and speak. Anna graduated from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkley, California and now serves as minister at Osage UMC. Questions for Anna from the group ranged from describing her call to living within structures of organized religion. We look forward to rich and deep conversations with a diverse group of speakers.

 

Our next speaker is Seniha Kraina, an international studies major at UI originally from Kosovo. Seniha is Muslim. Seniha will be sharing her story on Monday, February, 21 from 12:30-1:20 p.m. at the Women's Resource and Action Center (130 N. Madison St., Iowa City, IA). Contact Rev. Marsha at marsh@iowawesley.org

if you have any questions.


 

Iowa State University

Spring Studies

 

This semester we are excited about several studies at the Wesley Foundation at Iowa State University. A student is leading a study entitled "Praying in Color." In this study, we are learning that anyone with a box of colors and some paper can have a conversation with God. We are reading through a book and practicing praying with the right side of our brain. Another study is "The Music that Makes us." This study provides an opportunity to look at a wide variety of music and how it relates to faith. We are looking at hymns, contemporary music, and more. Participants also have the opportunity to bring in their own music and answer the question "How do you hear God in your playlist?" On Tuesday evenings we gather in the student lounge to watch a movie and discuss how spirituality is found within the film. Thursday mornings we start off the day with a devotional and time of exercise. This semester we are also very excited about Covenant Discipleship groups. These are small groups that meet once a week for an hour at a time/place convenient to all. They first spend time writing a spiritual disciplines covenant focusing on how they will demonstrate compassion and work for justice and how they'll grow in their relationship with God through their devotional and worship life. The participants come to a consensus about the covenant...everyone must feel it fits them. Once the covenant is written, the weekly, hour-long meetings THEN become a time of support and accountability as group members work on living out the covenant they've written.

 
Drake University
My experience at the Wesley Foundation...

by Courtland J. D. Powers


When I came to Langston University the fall of 2006, I was a freshman. The first time that I was introduced to the Wesley Foundation was when I met Rev. Brooks. She was walking around the campus and talking to students. That was when I told her about my membership at Quayle UMC in Oklahoma City. From that point, I started coming to Bible studies at her home where I met other United Methodist students from around the country. Thus, I embarked on a
lasting membership that has helped to transform my matriculation through college.

The Wesley Foundation has helped me to become more active in my faith. I have been able to meet friends who share the same joy in the goals of Christianity and sharing our faith. We now have strong student leadership and as a part of the leadership team, I act as a "lay leader" for Rev. Brooks. As a part of the team, I help make decisions on programming, ethical decisions, and we help manage the new building.

Through the hard work of Rev. Brooks and our leadership team here at the Wesley, I have been able to network in the UMC. I have also embarked on a once in a lifetime experience. I traveled abroad to Chile in South America as a missionary with Chapel Hill UMC. I was also able to represent the Wesley Foundation as "Miss Wesley Foundation at LU 2006" during homecoming that year. Our growing group of students look forward to attending "Black Methodist for Church Renewal" in 2010. We would like to meet other UMC African-American leaders.

I have also grown spiritually in my relationship with God through Jesus Christ, and I have become more intune with my faith since I became a member. The Wesley Foundation creates a loving and spiritual atmosphere for students no matter what their cultural, religious, or racial background. I think that is the mission of the ministry and is the primary reason why it will continue to be a success. The Wesley Foundation is an advocate for the cultivation of future young professional and educated leaders in the church and world. I am proud to soon be one of them.