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University of Iowa
University
of Iowa Wesley Foundation peer ministers wanted to help students make a
difference with families hard hit by the June flood. They also wanted
to get to know students from other religious backgrounds. They decided
to put these two good intentions together. Peer Ministers called on the
Hillel Jewish Student Center to invite them to join Wesley for flood
recovery work. A partnership was born. Once a month students from the
Wesley Center and Hillel give a Sunday afternoon for flood recovery
work and faith reflection. Work together, then reflect on what faith's
got to do with it. What does your faith tradition teach about service?
What meaning do you take from the flood and your work here? Where do
you find God in the midst of this?The
two groups came together for the first time in September. Peer
minister, Eddie Crise, observed "This was a great opportunity to help
right in our back yard. Hillel was a great partner and fostered a good
sense of interfaith community." The next work date is this Sunday!
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University of Northern Iowa
The Wesley
Foundation in Cedar Falls
has had ministry connections in both the American student community at UNI (for
80+ years) and the Chinese community for 10+ years. We celebrate that in many ways. But for most of those years, they were
separate, almost parallel ministries sharing the same facility. Most of the time that worked well, but from
time to time, it caused conflict.
For two
years now, the spring semester concluded at Wesley with a trip, first
to Washington DC and then New York City. For both of those trips, the
group, totaling
25-30 people each trip, was split nearly 50/50 between American
students and
Chinese students.
Participant
evaluations each year suggested that one of the best parts of the experience
was getting to know folks whom we didn't know very well before the trip. Students who had been hanging out almost
exclusively within their ethnic group were describing the fun of getting to
know folks from the other group.
In planning
for the leadership for this school year, it was decided to implement a Peer
Ministry program again. There had been
peer ministers in Cedar Falls
about 8 years ago and before that. So to begin a Peer Ministry program again
from scratch, it was decided that the Peers would reflect the student community,
Chinese and American students.
The Peer
Ministry team consists of Amber Howe, Marion; Andrea Baker, Wilton; James
Dalluge, Marshalltown, Elizabeth Collins, Cedar Rapids, ShiYu Dong, China; Emma
Gu, China.
The each
have an area of ministry they focus on, as well as working together as a team
to welcome new students, connect with returning students and this year working
to facilitate the communication between the Chinese students and the American
students during any programming.
What a
wonderful process to watch. The
development of faithful leaders who see the beauty of a diverse community and
who work to welcome anyone into the community.
Our Peer
Ministers lead our effort to live up to our banner proclamations, which say,
"ALL ARE WELCOME".
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Iowa State University
Each week the Wesley Foundation @ Iowa State distributes a
newsletter ("Faith @ the Center") to students attending worship and
via email. Each issue features
comments from a student regarding their experiences at Collegiate/Wesley. Here are two of the most recent
commentaries.
Reaching Out
By Lisa Putz Last spring break I
went on the service learning trip to Chicago. We toured the southern part of
the city, taking part in service specifically related to immigration. The trip
was fantastic and amazing and I returned ready and eager to start initiatives
regarding immigration and/or social justice within Ames. As is common, however, the last
few weeks of school caught up with me and all of a sudden all ideas of social
justice within Ames got put on the backburner.
Fortunately, soon after my ideas got pushed aside, I got a call from Craig
Ogilvie saying that the Wesley Board wanted to have a social justice group
within the church. Things fell into place, and now I am co-leading the Students
for Social Justice Group with another member of the Chicago spring trip crew, John Sheldahl.
Social Justice is something that affects everyone. Even though I am fortunate
to have many opportunities available to me doesn't mean that I can forget
about the millions of people who don't. Students for Social Justice is a
group that works on remembering about and helping those less fortunate than
ourselves. During our time together we discuss different social justice issues
and learn how we can make a difference within Ames. We are called to serve others. I
encourage all to do so. Whether it is something large or small, the important
thing is that you are reaching out to others. So go-start reaching!
Finding My Path
Carli Johnson-Scott
 I must say,
coming to a new place where I know almost no one has been an interesting
experience so far. As I have discovered, the people here at the Wesley Foundation
are so amazing and incredibly welcoming that I have probably immersed myself
more in this church than any others in the past. I went the first Sunday after
I moved into my dorm and found out about some various Bible studies for college
students. I have been attending "Paths" for four weeks now. Through
the past few weeks we have been discussing and discovering our spiritual types
in our relationship with God and how we go about getting closer to God. Because
of this study, I have learned more about myself as a Christian than in my
entire life. I finally understand why certain parts of worship just bore me and
why I am so in touch with other parts. If I had any advice for someone who hasn't
been a part of a real supportive community or just need some people to talk to
and confide in, join a Bible study. There are so many and I have no doubt they
are all equally as life-affecting as "Paths." Chris is a great
minister I have gotten to know and has so much to teach that it's an
experience you just can't pass up.
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Drake University
The Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA
discovered that most university students and faculty members consider
spirituality to be an important part of their lives. Over 40,000 professors
from 421 colleges and universities and 112,232 first-year students from 235
colleges and universities were surveyed about how their religious and spiritual
beliefs affect their everyday activities.
Seventy-nine
percent of freshmen surveyed said they believed in God, and 69 percent said
they pray. Eighty-one percent considered themselves spiritual.
The
study found a link between students' political views and their religious
involvement. In addition to answering questions about how often they attend
religious services and the importance of religion in their daily lives,
students were asked to agree or disagree with statements that included whether
marijuana and abortion should be legal and the role women should play in the
family. The study found that students with high levels of religious engagement
are more likely to support increasing military spending and oppose the death
penalty.
Drake
University is not unlike colleges and universities across the country.
Spirituality is an important part of the lives of students as well as faculty
and staff. The Wesley Foundation is committed to providing the entire campus
community opportunities to integrate their faith with their daily lives. This
integration happens when students are engaged in deep, meaningful conversations
with peers and mentors. It happens when students and faculty and staff are able
to respect the rich diversity found on campus. Integration happens when
intentional effort is paid to that which united us and makes us whole.
The
spiritual life on campus is alive and well and we who are actively engaged in this
ministry do so on behalf of the entire church. Thank you for you continued
support and unceasing prayers.
Ted
Lyddon Hatten,
Director,
Drake Wesley Foundation
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Month-by-Month: Connecting Your Church with Campus Ministry (October)
- Promote the World Communion Sunday offering.
- Send
a letter to all high school seniors in your church summarizing all
United Methodist scholarships that are available from the local church,
annual conference, and the general church.
- Send students a copy of Singing the Songs of Zion in a Strange New Land.
Prepare to observe United Methodist Student Day
in November.
- Interpret and promote
the United Methodist Student Loans and Scholarships Programs. (Obtain
offering envelopes, bulletin inserts and posters from United Methodist Communications.)
- Coordinate
a visit by your church's high school youth to a nearby United Methodist
college or campus ministry. (Many colleges plan a student day in the
fall. Contact the admissions director for more information.)
- List
the names and addresses of your students in the church newsletter.
Invite members of your church to make contact with them.
- Take notecards
addressed to each student to different Sunday school classes and ask
class members to write a short greeting to send out to students.
- If your church has a prayer chain, invite the
coordinator to have the chain pray for one student each week. Send the
student a note telling them of your prayers and support for them.
© 2008 General Board of Higher Education & Ministry
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