Get To Know The NTC Wesley Foundation Directors
Brown-Trigg, Burrows, Jones, Parker, Terry and Woods thriving in ministry on campuses
Sunday, Nov. 28 is recognized as United Methodist Student Day Sunday. The funds received from this special offering go into the United Methodist Student Loan Fund to underwrite scholarships for United Methodist students. Scholarships are awarded to deserving United Methodist students annually.
Many college students at schools in the North Texas Conference are actively engaged in their school or area’s respective Wesley Foundations. We are blessed by the leadership of each foundation. Take a minute to learn more about the directors of these important groups:
Denton Wesley Foundation | Campus Minister Marianne Brown-Trigg
Campus Minister spotlight:
- Where are you from? Arlington, Texas
- What are you currently reading/watching/gaming? Reading: Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid, Watching: Good Trouble
- What is one scripture passage that inspires or motivates you? "Don't hesitate to be enthusiastic — be on fire in the Spirit as you serve the Lord!" — Romans 12:11
- What's your favorite thing about your campus ministry role thus far? I love getting to know each of my student's stories and helping them discern the unique ways God is calling each of them
- What's one thing you're most excited about this school year? Enjoying time with my students in-person!
Upcoming events:
- Advent Service on Dec. 3, 2021
- Winter Gala on Feb. 5, 2022
Ways people can support this ministry:
- Funds: Donate to us our website. We are looking for partners who can donate to the Wesley monthly and pray for the Wesley everyday. Marianne is supplying specific requests and updates to these partners.
- Volunteer needs: To bring and serve Free Lunch on Thursdays to help us reach out to new students. We also have lots of projects around the building that individuals or groups could help us with: organization, landscaping, painting, flooring.
- Donations of items: We are always accepting non-perishable foods and toiletries for the Shiloh Food Pantry. You can also purchase items off our Amazon wish list
- Expertise or skillset: We are in search of an experienced landscaper to help us with some trees growing too close to our building. We are also interested in hosting folks willing to teach "Adulting" classes on cooking, crafting, car and home maintenance, personal finance, etc.
Contact information: Email Marianne
Synergy Wesley | Campus Minister Brittany Burrows
Campus Minister spotlight:
- Where are you from? Carrollton, Texas
- What are you currently reading/watching/gaming? Ted Lasso
- What is one scripture passage that inspires or motivates you? Isaiah 41:10
- -What's your favorite thing about your campus ministry role thus far? I have the best job ever! I love getting to journey with students as they discern their vocational calls, deepen their understanding of their identities, and are empowered to use their gifts and talents to serve God and fellow students.
- What's one thing you're most excited about this school year? Wesley programs were 100% online last year, so I’m super excited that we can meet in-person again — albeit masked, distanced and outdoors — at least for right now. We are ready to adapt to meeting online again as needed, but it is so good to worship God together, in-person as the new school year begins!
Contact information: Email Brittany
Wesley of Wichita Falls | Campus Minister Marcus Jones
Campus Minister spotlight:
- Where are you from? Oak Cliff, Texas
- What are you currently reading/watching/gaming? The Power of Ritual by Casper Ter Kuile
- What is one scripture passage that inspires or motivates you? Just one? Proverbs 20:6 has always grounded me in ministry.
- What's your favorite thing about your campus ministry role thus far? I get to do life and build community with young people/adults during one of their most transformative periods of their lives.
- What's one thing you're most excited about this school year? I am excited about the opportunities to continue impactful ministry to the MSU community.
Upcoming events:
- Wesley on Wednesday: Small-group style bible study with food and fellowship (Wednesdays 7-8:30 p.m.)
- Wesley Free Lunch: Free lunch to the students, faculty and staff of MSU (Thursdays noon-1 p.m.)
- Soul Nite: Monthly open mic event with coffee, tea and snacks. Open to the MSU Community. (4th Friday of every month, 9-11 p.m.)
- Community Worship: Open to MSU Community (4th Sunday of every month, 10-11 a.m.)
Ways people can support this ministry:
- Funds: 30/30/30 for 30 Campaign: 30 partners, 30 churches, $30/month for $30k per year. Commitments can be made through the NTC website or through the Wesley website
- Volunteer needs: Area churches can host Thursday lunch by cooking and eating with college students. Churches and partners outside the area can donate funds specified as Free Lunch to host a lunch and our staff will serve on their behalf. Average lunch cost: $100/week
- Donations of items: Bibles. Students are always in need of good study bibles, preferably The Wesley Study Bible.
- Expertise or skillset: Area musicians and women looking to serve with women bible studies
Contact information: Email Marcus
The Wesley at TAMUC | Campus Minister Rev. Payton Parker
Campus Minister spotlight:
- Where are you from? Merrillville, Indiana
- What are you currently reading/watching/gaming? Big Brother Season 23
- What is one scripture passage that inspires or motivates you? "Christ in you, the hope of glory" Colossians 1:27
- What's your favorite thing about your campus ministry role thus far? I love being in intentional relationships and with young adults. I felt like this demographic wasn't well represented or active in the local church, so I love the fact they are my target audience now.
- What's one thing you're most excited about this school year? This is my first year and I'm most excited about building a solid foundation to propel us into our future.
Ways people can support this ministry:
- Funds: 30 for 30k
Contact information: Email Parker
Wesley House at SMU | Campus Minister Isaiah Terry
Campus Minister spotlight:
- Where are you from? I was born in Lubbock, raised in Burkburnett Texas and I currently reside in Royse City.
- What are you currently reading/watching/gaming? Because I'm in seminary, I am currently playing Rocket League. It's a very short and mindless way of having fun.
- What is one scripture passage that inspires or motivates you? Our whole ministry is focused on 4 main passages - Matthew 25:14-30, The fellowship of believers in Acts 2; Luke 10:38-42; Matthew 25:31-46 because we want to be a ministry that models Mary in that we hope that we are first finding our joy in being with Jesus rather than the things we are doing for Jesus. We are focusing on actually knowing Jesus rather than just doing things for Jesus. And, we believe that if we do that and are faithful with the people and the resources we are given that God will add to our numbers daily as it says in Acts 2! We are really amped about this right now.
- What's your favorite thing about your campus ministry role thus far? It might sound cheesy, but the students. We spend 15 hours a week minimum in 1-on-1's on top of our programming. We end up spending 25+ hours (each) with students. It's amazing!
- What's one thing you're most excited about this school year? I am excited to see a ministry that evaluates its success on being on fire for Jesus. We are really going back to the basics this year. I think we are going to have a blow out year!
Contact information: Email Isaiah
The Wesley at Paris Junior College | Campus Minister Michelle Wood
Campus Minister spotlight:
- Where are you from? I was born in Oklahoma City, but grew up in Garland, TX
- What are you currently reading/watching/gaming? Currently reading I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
- What is one scripture passage that inspires or motivates you?: Luke 8:38-39 "The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him."
- What's your favorite thing about your campus ministry role thus far? I love journeying alongside students as they ask big life and faith questions. Ping-ponging back and forth between laughter and conversations of depth are my favorite.
- What's one thing you're most excited about this school year? We're starting with really strong student leaders this year and I'm so excited to see how they continue to grow.
Ways people can support this ministry:
- Funds: We'll participate in East Texas giving day, but that doesn't come around until April.
- We invite everyone to pray for our students as they figure out their passions and how those intersect with God. The majority of our students come from no faith background or have left the religion of their parents. Our campus ministry leans heavily on prevenient grace and wants every student to feel fully loved and accepted in our space.
- Donation here
Contact information: Email Michelle
Learn More About Collegiate Ministry
Published: Tuesday, November 23, 2021