FLORIDA CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND CAMPUS MINISTRY Name of Ministry: FSU Wesley Foundation FSU WESLEY PROFILE 2013 2014 Academic Year Section 1: Campus Ministry Profile Campuses Served: Florida State University and Tallahassee Community College Total Number of Student Actively Involved in the Campus Ministry: We had 377 in worship on Labor Day weekend. Over 900 came to our BBQ. I anticipate we will regularly see around 500, with an average of over 400 in worship. Campus Minister/Director: Rev. Dr. Vance Rains Physical Address of Ministry: 705 W. Jefferson St, Tallahassee, FL 32304 Ministry Website: fsuwesley.com Facebook Group and/or Page: Wesley Foundation at FSU & TCC Ministry Twitter: @fsuwesley Ministry Email: info@fsuwesley.com Office Phone: 850.222.0251 Fax: 850.224.1630 1
Section 2a: Campus Profile Please complete the information below for each campus served Name of College or University: Florida State University List the estimated numbers for the following categories for the college/university: a. Total Enrollment: 40,838 b. Living on campus: 6,111 c. Undergrads: 31,005 d Grad Students: 8,511 e. International Students: 1,250 Name of College or University: Tallahassee Community College List the estimated numbers for the following categories for the college/university: a. Total Enrollment: 17,699 b. Living on campus: 0 c. Undergrads: 17,699 d Grad Students: 0 e. International Students: 0 How are you officially connected to the campus? Describe connections you have with Student Affairs, Student Governments/Organizations, Counseling Centers, or other campus offices, departments, services, or organizations. Wesley is officially recognized as a student organization of FSU, under the title Student Led Ministries. We are also actively members of the Interfaith Council. Wesley is well known and well represented by students, throughout the campus and we enjoy a very positive reputation. We are no longer officially recognized as a student organization at Tallahassee Community College though we continue to attract a large number of TCC students. What unique mission opportunities exist on campus? FSU Wesley s Campus is surrounded by ten residence halls, multiple sororities, and many other housing facilities that are occupied with young adults that need to be reached for the Kingdom, and need to be reached for the renewal of The United Methodist Church. We reach and minister to students who are participants, who are active with and lead different student groups of the following areas all across FSU s campus: Intramural sports, philanthropies, Conversation Partners and Transportation 2
for International students, Challenger Swim (teaching swimming to disable children), Frenchtown Involvement, Invisible Children, greek life, and the list goes on. TCC is primarily commuter students that we connect with when possible, however many students on that campus see a clear cultural barrier between themselves and the students who are currently active at FSU Wesley. What significant roadblocks have you encountered on campus? Not many at FSU. The Wesley Foundation is well known and seen as a positive resource for students. TCC is a commuter campus that students leave when they are not in class. The ones who do stay on campus experience a cultural barrier with our ministry. Section 3: Staff Profiles Campus Minister: Name: Vance Rains Clergy or Lay: Clergy Home Address: 248 Timberlane Rd. Tallahassee, FL 32312 Preferred Email: vancerains@fsuwesley.com Facebook Profile: http://www.facebook.com/vancerains Personal Twitter: https://twitter.com/vancerains Personal Blog: www.vancerains.com Mobile Phone: 850 251 9091 Education (undergraduate/graduate degrees): BA: Communications, UCF MDiv: Duke Divinity School DMin: Asbury Theological Seminary Years served in present ministry: this is my 11 th year Years served in collegiate ministry: same Years served in any professional ministry position: 23+ Any additional information you feel is important to share (e.g. spouse, children, pets, favorite color, pet peeves, recently read books, any other personal information)? Spouse Kelly (Youth Director, Trinity UMC Tallahassee); Children Malinda (Sophomore, FSC) and John (Sophomore, FSU); Pets only my children; Favorite color I always say purple, but I also like red, orange and black; 3
Director: Name: Will Newton Preferred Email: Will@fsuwesley.com Facebook Profile: kenneth.w.newton Personal Twitter: @kwillnewton Mobile Phone: 941 323 4221 Brief Description of Area(s) of Responsibility: Will acts the COO of Wesley, handling the bulk of the administrative details including calendar, facilities, and over sight of programming. Assistant Directors: Name: Area(s) of Responsibility: Logan Miles Assistant Director of Missions Brooke Taddonio Assistant Director of Finance Sarah Mitchell Assistant Director of Communications Rachel Corbin Assistant Director of Ministries Interns: All of our interns have graduated and are full time Joe LaBelle (working and living in Chontala, Guatemala) Zac Burke Kelly Burton Morgan Applegate Kylie Foley Jimmy McKinnell Kyle Zornes Hillary Tully Administrative Staff: Name: Pam Webb Position: Secretary Full or Part Time: Part Time Section 4: Facilities Profile List all facilities owned including how each is used in the ministry: Residence House used for residential program and small group meetings. Fellowship Hall and residential apartment for large group functions, housing, small groups, meetings, dinners, events, and countless other ways. Chapel of the Upper Room used for large group functions and events primarily, but not limited to, Sunday morning worship. List all spaces used at local churches and how each is used in the ministry: Occasionally use the fellowship hall at Trinity UMC for a fundraising event. 4
List all on campus space utilized and how each is used in the ministry: Free speech areas are utilized for outreach and events. In reviewing the above, are the facilities you utilize adequate or inadequate for your ministry needs? What opportunities and/or roadblocks do these spaces present to your ministry? Currently we have outgrown the meeting spaces and event spaces that we own. Several of our spaces have issues concerning safety and a number of other growing concerns (see master plan). Most of our spaces are not multipurpose or cannot be used in multipurpose way. For campus ministry owned properties: Describe any facility issues or significant maintenance/repairs needed: See Master Plan. Section 5: Programs and Ministries Profile Mission Statement: To reach as many students at FSU and TCC as we can Vision Statement: To be an authentic Christian Community, committed to spiritual maturity, impacting the campuses, community, and the world Core Values: Community Maturity Impact We are also pretty passionate about hospitality, worship, the sacred worth of all people! How are you intentionally reaching new people for Jesus Christ through your ministry? We have an active ministry of outreach including very strong efforts to reach new students when they arrive in the fall, weekly outreach activities, advertising, and numerous social events designed to be easy events to invite friends to. 5
How are you helping new people grow and mature as disciples of Jesus Christ through your ministry? Everything we do is designed to lead students into deeper places of maturity. This includes Weekly small groups (family groups) Mentoring (Dust) New Student Group Leadership Weekly Bible Studies and Book Studies Worship Retreats Service projects and mission trips Pastoral care and counseling What does your campus ministry do very well? Big events Worship Hospitality Community What are one or two priorities for your campus ministry that would most contribute to the strengthening of the ministry over the next three years? Fundraising Local service Plan for facilities What was your average worship attendance this spring? Probably around 450 What was your peak worship attendance this spring? 750+ What is the average attendance of your largest weekly gathering (if it is not worship)? 100 for dinner How many different students are active in discipleship/small groups this semester? We estimate about 200 How many different students have been involved in mission/service? Around 100 on mission trips, and we collectively completed 5400 hours during Lent How many students have been active in leadership this semester? Probably about 75 6
Please about share the following: professions of faith: we don t have a way of measuring this baptisms: 1 candidates for ordained ministry: officially, 4 this semester MINISTRY OUTLINE Under each heading, please provide an outline of ministries offered in each area (short bullets points are sufficient) WORSHIP Sundays at 11 am First Wednesday night of each month Occasional Special services Retreats Frequent, spontaneous worship gatherings DISCIPLESHIP/SMALL GROUPS Weekly Family Groups Weekly Bible Studies (Wednesday and Thursday) Weekly Book studies (intern, and Celebration of Discipline) Weekly Staff meetings Weekly Prayer ministry FELLOWSHIP/COMMUNITY BUILDING Weekly Wednesday Night Dinner Numerous Fellowship events throughout the year (Costume Ball, Superbowl Party, etc.) Retreats Fall and Spring Weekly New Student Group Intramurals Service projects Residential Staff Daily interactions of students hanging out between classes Weekly Yoga class HOSPITALITY We are very intentional about welcoming guests at everything we do. We make sure no one can enter worship without being spoken to 4 xs. We train our leaders annually. 7
ON CAMPUS OUTREACH/EVANGELISM Weekly activities on campus MISSION (Local, National, International) 4 annual Guatemala trips 1 annual Nicaragua trip 1 annual Haiti trip 2 annual trips to Tuscaloosa semi annual trips to New Orleans Weekly work in a local Housing project Weekly projects ranging from tutoring to nursing home visitation Occasional collections of food and clothes Intern focus on environmental issues and green Christianity Significant mission emphasis annually at Easterfest LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT (Including vocational discernment): We have applied to the Lilly Foundation for a grant to develop a stronger vocational discernment ministry. Currently, it is pretty informal. But, this fall we 18 grads in seminary. It is less programmatic at this point, but a clear emphasis, nonetheless. We have an active leadership structure, which includes a strenuous application, interview and selection process. Leaders attend to annual retreats, and biweekly meetings for information, training, and to participate in decision making. LOCAL BOARD INFO Local Board Chairperson: Keith Tishcler Contact Info: kctish@hotmail.com 8