Alumni Updates
We celebrate with all the former students who have added to their families since our last newsletter!
Abbey Perscehall and Matthew Bernier married on
Nov. 4, 2023.
Sara Massi and Andrew Graves married on
Dec. 29, 2023.
Gwyneth Gallow was born to Sara (Muckleroy) and Cullen on
Feb. 2, 2024.
Haley DeRome and Luis Nila married on March 23, 2024.
Theodore “Theo” Lee Kaupert was born to Joe and Meagan on
Jan. 15, 2024
If you have an update you would like to share, please let us know!
Contact
us!
P.O. Box 4609 SFA
Nacogdoches, TX 75965
936-564-7257
connect@sfawesley.org
tom@sfawesley.org
ben@sfawesley.org
louann@sfawesley.org
Finding Faith with Friends!
Whether it’s large blowup obstacle courses, giant bouncing pillows, or a game of live hungry hippos, having fun at Wesley activities is a great way to make friends, relax, and take a much-needed study break from the rigors of class. If you actually fall asleep at Wesley, though, you do so at your own risk! You never know what will happen before you wake up!
Our slogan that all our students know is “finding faith with friends,” and ministry from that perspective is why the friendships we make at Wesley are so critical to our mission.
All Campus Retreat
All Campus Retreat is a weekend where all the Wesley Foundations in the Conference gather for a time of worship, relaxation, and discipleship. Our praise team did a fantastic job leading the Saturday afternoon’s music during worship. On Sunday morning, students were invited to speak a few words of testimony about their walk with Christ and how Wesley has impacted them, and seven of our students took the mic to share about their experiences.
On Campus
We spend hours on campus each week and have a trusted reputation with SFA. A group called the SFA admissions office asking for the name of a Christian group to host them and speak with them when they visited, and the Wesley Foundation was the name they trusted.
SFA Wesley Foundation
SPRING 2024
connect @sfawesley.org
WEsley
Witness
Finding Faith with Friends
Campus Conversations
In my senior year of high school, my English teacher wrote a quote from Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr on the blackboard: “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” I honestly don’t remember the discussion that followed, but the quote and its meaning have stayed with me for a long time and are especially relevant in campus ministry. Despite apparent changes that happen in society or on campus, certain fundamental things remain constant.
For example, this summer, we will remodel Gunter Chapel to update the space to be used more effectively. Once we are finished, it will be able to be used as a worship space, a prayer space, a classroom, or a small group meeting room. We plan to start the approximately $30,000 remodeling effort in mid-May, and we are excited to start using it this fall.
Several years ago, we had a group of former students from the 70's gather at Wesley for a reunion, and the memories of the chapel were a treasured aspect of that
weekend. Even though there will be a significant facelift, it will still be easily recognizable as the same space that has ministered to so many students since it was built over 70 years ago. More importantly, the purpose of that space to bring students closer to Christ will remain the same. Every room in the Wesley Foundation will have been updated in the 26 years since I’ve been here, but some things never change--like our passion for reaching students for Christ.
We have been saving for several years to remodel Gunter Chapel, and if you’d like to help us with the costs, please go to www.sfawesley.org/donate and type “chapel remodel” in the ‘comments’ section.
In Christ,
Tom Teekell
Student Spotlights
Hunter Bagott, First-Year Filmmaking Major
“Wesley has been a great outlet for me to meet new people and make great friends. During my first semester it was a welcoming place that I could always come to no matter what. Early on before I had established a lot of relationships anywhere else, Wesley was one of the first places where I could make new friends.”
Aniah Stansell, First-Year Animal Science Major
“I believe that Wesley’s true impact lies in its openness, warmth, and friendliness to anyone who walks through their doors. As a result of Wesley’s profound impact on my life, and through participating in weekly worship services, small groups, and gospel choir/praise team, I am able to give time to securing a deeper faith of my own.”
Matthew Purcell, Junior Music Education Major
“After my first visit to Wesley, I came back because of how important it is to them to be a visible and active presence on campus, and how much they care about every single one of us. It is increasingly hard to be a Christian in college, and having that familiar face who offers to pray for you or asks how you are with no judgment or hesitation is such a positive, healing attribute.”
Benefit Auction on May 4th @ 4:30pm!
Join us for our 22nd Annual Benefit Dinner and Auction. It’s both a live and a silent auction, and onsite childcare is included for children under 10. We will have ribeye steak from CC’s Smokehouse with loaded mashed potatoes, green beans, and cobbler for dessert. This year’s entertainment will be Jacks of Steel, SFA’s steelpan ensemble. Scan the QR Code on the right and RSVP today!
Elsa Esquivel, First-Year Kinesiology Major
“When I first got to SFA I was struggling with my faith and was very homesick so I decided to go Wesley. When I got there everyone was so welcoming and became my friends. They have helped me learn more about the Bible and my faith and have encouraged me to be a better student, friend, and person.”
Wesley News
Taking Steps in Faith
At the end of every worship service, Ben and I make it a point to invite students into a relationship with Christ through baptism or other commitment to express what is on their hearts. One thing we do in the United Methodist Church is offer opportunities for people to re-affirm their faith, especially if they’ve already been baptized and confirmed in the church. The vows are the same vows one makes when they are baptized, and Elsa Esquivel chose to do this at one of our recent worship services. She also recently joined the Methodist family at FUMC Nac.
Music Retreat
Hearts Afire, our praise team, and our budding gospel choir were led in a Saturday workshop at Journey of Faith Methodist Church in Humble. Journey’s staff helped guide them through the basics of how to lead a congregation in gospel music. The following morning, the students led a song in Journey’s worship service. We plan to incorporate gospel music regularly into our worship services moving forward, and this was a great primer for the students who weren’t as familiar with the worship style.
Christmas Party
Our annual Christmas party was a little different this year. We added a cookie decorating contest, candlelight worship, and a trombone choir from SFA to our list of things we did. Of course, we had our White Elephant Gift Exchange, annually passing along our painting of Jesus that former student Paul James found in our attic two decades ago!
Gospel Night at Wesley
Seeing the increased diversity at the Wesley Foundation, especially in worship and leadership, has been a fabulous thing. About half of our worshipping community is non-white, and we have Latino and black students serving in leadership and on staff. We recently held a gospel night in February, black history month, recognizing our growing diversity. Dr. Rhonda Christopher, pastor of St. Paul’s CME church in Nac and a board member, preached. Our attendance surged by 23 students over our average that night.