written by Kelli Reep
In 1924, Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville founded a student ministry at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. What began as loading up college students on buses and bringing them to worship quickly expanded into an on-campus ministry with a dedicated director and spaces for meetings, offices, a kitchen, and an apartment.
Today, Wesley at U of A is accessible to more than 27,000 students in an 8,200 sq. ft. facility encompassing a gathering space, small group spaces, a prayer chapel, staff offices, a kitchen, and a dormitory for four students. Rev. Virginia Brown, director, and Grace Jones, student ministry assistant, both joined in August 2023 and are now rebuilding the Wesley membership into a significant following of believers.
“We have a letter from James Workman, who was both a student and pastor in 1924,” Brown said. “He submitted it to the university to establish the Wesley. Then, in 1931, there is another document discussing the formation of the Wesley Players, who, I assume, did some acting and plays and singing. It says it was the first chapter of Wesley Players in the South, and it promoted religious drama.”
The mission of U of A Wesley is based on John 15:1-17, helping students connect, grow, and bear fruit in their life in Christ during their college years. During the past few years, U of A Wesley has been in a period of flux with both staff and students transitioning to other ministerial pursuits. In 2023, U of A Wesley had three students, but since Rev. Brown and Jones have taken over the helm, the ministry now averages 40 students with more showing interest in joining consistently.
“Back in 2016, our building on Lindell St. was complete,” Rev. Brown said. “We now meet every Tuesday at 6 p.m. for a home-cooked dinner with worship at 7 p.m. that is student-led. The band, worship, Bible study, and everything is led by students.”
Rev. Brown says they are working on missions while they are currently serving locally. “We are getting input from the students and determining what is available in the community,” Rev. Brown said.
The student-led Bible study, which meets at different outdoor locations throughout Fayetteville, is directed by Jones and Jake Stanbury. Jones says they are talking about the book of Hosea and how the message of restoration relates to their lives as college students.
“We talk about how when we face struggles in our lives when we lean in our communities and we lean on God, we can get through them,” she explains. “A large portion of our students are United Methodist or grew up in the United Methodist Church, but we do have a few students who have found us on campus who are from other denominations and other faith backgrounds. We uphold those Wesleyan principles, exploring how faith works at a college level and how we can continue our relationship with God during a big, big change in our life.”
“One thing that helped this year is we start in the summer and plan events for the first week of school, which is specifically just for freshmen,” Rev. Brown said. “We had two events: the pizza and pickleball party and the plants party. There are quite a few students I know who attended both of those, especially the plant party.”
Rev. Brown bought succulents and small terracotta pots. The students got to paint a pot and plant a succulent then take it with them to their dorm. Rev. Brown and Jones have things in the works to celebrate Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. Coming up fast is Election Day, and U of A Wesley will be hosting a dance party with Dancing Jamie, who will teach those attending how to line dance.
“It will be fun and a good distraction because election night is so stressful for everyone,” Rev. Brown said. “The Wesley College ministry is so needed. It’s something younger students need when they are deciding where they want to go to college. It gives them a connection, a community where they know they’ll be accepted. The Wesley as a safe space is probably one of the greatest things, and the connections you build in the Wesley last forever.”