Spring '08 update

by Rob Rynders

As the spring semester begins at ASU, I cannot help but be excited for what is in store for the Wesley Foundation in the coming months.

Last semester saw record attendance at our Wednesday night dinner and worship gatherings, averaging more than 30 students per week! We expect our attendance to grow even more each semester. Our new Wesley offices and lounge opened at First Tempe UMC, giving students a place to take a break, study, have wireless Internet access, grab a snack and hang out with other students. Our students also had a sense of mission and outreach. Students volunteered with Sidewalk Sunday School, the Walk for Diabetes and after-school programs in Phoenix.

In March, during spring break, 10 Wesley students will head to New Orleans to help repair the People’s UMC as they continue to recover from Katrina. We will also be kicking off our faith sharing groups and introducing more service and mission opportunities for students over the semester.

Work continues to bring campus ministry to the Downtown and Polytechnic ASU campuses, as well as Chandler-Gilbert Community College. Having full-time United Methodist campus ministry at ASU for the first time since the 1970s would not be possible without your help. Thanks to you and our other supporting churches we are able to do effective ministry at the world’s largest university.