An Update on Wesley Student Ministry
Thank you, Lord!
Since beginning my role on July 1, I’ve learned so much about our ministry with students at Iowa State! Even before that, I attended orientation sessions two or three times a week in June to meet other campus ministers and see what their ministries looked like. It was important to connect faces with churches, and also to understand what each community truly believes. Words like “open” and “affirming” don’t always mean “progressive” or “inclusive.”
This summer, Claire—our student ministry intern—and I traveled to Dallas, TX, for a national campus ministry conference. We networked, shared resources, swapped business cards, and learned a lot about how other ministries operate. Thank you for making that opportunity possible!
One lesson we carried home: our ministry won’t look exactly like anyone else’s—and it won’t look the same as it has in the past. We’ll try new things. Some will succeed, some won’t. But through it all, God will use us to make a difference in the lives of students, faculty, and staff.
To kick off the semester, we hosted three Grillin’ & Chillin’ nights. We fired up the grill, gathered on the patio, and welcomed students. The first week, I thought we had 19 students when the evening was winding down. But 20 sounds better—so I ran across the street, invited a guy who was taking pictures of the church, and he joined us. Just like that, we hit 20!
During ISU Welcome Weekend, we handed out nearly 1,000 bottles of water (with Wesley koozies), energy packets, and granola bars. Our goal was simple: keep students safe, hydrated, and cared for. The football game that weekend was livestreamed from Ireland in Stephens Auditorium, and many students appreciated the snacks!
We also welcomed students back on the first days of classes, cheering them on as they hurried to class or home. A few even stopped for “first day” photos. When a CyRide bus pulled up by the church, we offered treats to drivers and passengers alike. That’s also how I met my new friend, Spencer!
Our second Grillin’ & Chillin’ was full of food and great conversations. That same evening, Pastor Lee, I, Claire, Bibhas, and Carter attended Welcome Fest on campus to spread the word about our ministry. Divide and conquer worked beautifully—thank you, Lord!
Another exciting first: the Residence Life Association (RLA) hosted FaithFest, an event showcasing campus ministries in Ames. FaithFest happened to fall on the same night as our third Grillin’ & Chillin’, but we packed up quickly and still enjoyed a wonderful evening on the patio. Smiles were everywhere as Pastor Lee, Pastor Erika, Claire, and I joined the crowd on the patio.
Yes—Pastor Erika! She is serving as Interim Redevelopment Pastor for the ELCA Lutheran Campus Ministry at ISU and has asked to partner with us. She’ll be present with us a couple of times a month and will encourage ELCA students to participate in our ministry. What a gift to share in this work together!
By the time you read this, ClubFest will be over, but right now our swag is piled in my office and ready to load in the truck. Student Engagement expects more than 10,000 students to attend. Our hope is to spread the word about Wesley, invite students into community, and send them away with a “little Jesus.”
Moving forward, I’ll continue to meet students for coffee on Tuesday mornings in Campustown or on campus, sharing Christ with students, professors, and staff. Bible studies are taking shape, and we are following up with students we’ve met through events. So far, we’ve reached out to about 145 students (100 from events/referrals and 45 from parking connections).
Please remember: you can refer students you know—your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, neighbors, or friends’ kids. ISU is full of connections waiting to be made!
This is an exciting season of ministry. Students are hungry to grow in faith, explore Scripture, and build relationships with God and one another. Please keep this ministry in your prayers.
None of this would be possible without the vision of those who came before us, and the faithful leadership of our church and Wesley Foundation board to continue this ministry. Thank you for your guidance, patience, and support as I learn (and sometimes double-book myself!). Thank you, Claire, for your creativity, connections, and social media work. And Pastor Lee—your wisdom continues to guide me. And of course, Janelle who keeps track of everything and Doug who cares for our equipment and connects me with parking guests! Thank you, all!
Blessings abound!
Rev. Jena – your associate pastor and campus minister
