Student Giving Increases

A few months ago I was part of a conversation dealing with a campus ministry audit form. I asked the question, "How come we don't ask any questions about student giving/stewardship?" The response I got was, "You are working with college students and we don't expect them to give."

Every school year I make it a point to preach on finances and giving at least once every year. This past semester I actually did a three part series on giving and generosity (listen here). Despite preaching on it and believing it is important, I was always reluctant to pass offering baskets during weekly worship. This year we decided to get out of the mentality of, "they're just college students, we don't expect them to give," and we began making offering a regular part of our Tuesday night worship.  

While I believe our students still have a ways to go when it comes to generosity and sacrificial giving, I'm so proud of the way they responded this school year. Over the past school year our students gave not only to support the ministry of the OU Wesley but also to special offerings to support the Center for Children & families, clean drinking water in Africa, Manos Juntas, the OK Boys Ranch, Springfield Victory Mission & UMCOR.  

Between these offerings and money students raised for mission trips our college students "whom we don't expect to give," gave over $16,000 this school year! On a micro level, I believe our students were blessed by being a blessing to others, but on a macro level, I'm excited that these young people are learning the discipline and joy of giving now so that they might continue this practice for the next 60+ years of their lives when they are living in the "real world."

Staying Connected to

the Local Church 

One of the many joys of campus ministry is the privilege of being connected to so many wonderful churches. Of course on a selfish level this is important because these places support us financially and also give us a special offering above and beyond their apportionment when we visit. But just as important as that is keeping our students connected to the local church and giving them the opportunity to share their gifts with local congregations.  

Between me preaching, our praise band leading worship, our choir singing, and or our students preaching or giving testimonies we had a presence at 16 different local churches or conference events over the past four months.  

A special thanks to the following churches for allowing us to come share our gifts and tell the story of campus ministry this semester: East Cross UMC, Mcfarlin UMC, Mustang UMC, Lindale UMC, St. Andrews UMC, Newcastle UMC, Albright UMC, Blanchard UMC, Moore UMC, Lynwood UMC, Will Rogers UMC, Boston Avenue UMC, Broadway UMC.  

If you would like to book the Wesley praise band, choir, and or myself or a student to come and preach in the summer or Fall, please contact me ASAP.

Golf Tournament  

The 10^th annual Wesley golf tournament is quickly approaching on Monday, June 13. This is our single biggest fundraiser that we do each year. The money from this event supports our student outreach and evangelism program.  

This program enables us to reach out to the 4,000+ new students that will attend OU next Fall. It gives us the opportunity to take them out to lunch and coffee and begin building relationships and getting them plugged into the ministry.  

This year's tournament is a 9:00 shotgun start at the Moore Golf & Athletic Club. If you are interested in playing and or being a sponsor, please check out our golf tournament brochure here.