'Respite' is the name of a retreat some of our ARUMC campus ministries started doing together in January at Mount Eagle Retreat Center to help students rejuvenate between the fall and spring semesters. What follows is a reflection a student wrote following their experience there. This student asked to remain anonymous. 

Hello, my name is ____ and this is the story of giving my life to God.

So, I’ll start during Christmas break. A lot in my life was taken from me over Christmas break. My girlfriend who I was getting ready to marry left me on a whim, my old friends abandoned me, and I was already struggling in my walk with God because the God I grew up knowing was spiteful and hateful.

Then I started school again and not a lot was looking up. The stress of the new semester was already piling up. I had decided that if this is how God was rewarding me for starting to follow him again then I wanted no part of it. Then Dennis [the Campus Minister] reached out to me and scheduled a meeting. I was like “ok I’ll go and just fake my way through this meeting.”

So, I meet with Dennis, and he just asks how my break was, and I tell him the truth. He was there for me and listened to every word. I left out the part that I was turning away from God. He then brought up Respite at Mount Eagle. I had previously told him I didn’t want to go but he brought it up anyway. 'Whatever' I thought. I decided that I could use the time away anyway. So, I told him OK I’ll go.

This was the best choice I could’ve made. When we got to Mount Eagle, it was so peaceful. I immediately met someone who I’ve become really close with and she helped me realize that not everyone believes in the same spiteful God I had come to know. I met a new God at Respite. I was forced to think of all the peace that God brings to everything. I was able to observe the beauty that he has made in the world. I went and watched the sunrise with others from different Wesley groups around Arkansas. I was able to connect with them and hear their stories. I realized that God loves me for who I am and that he is an amazing God who made me for a reason. I went on a prayer walk and I felt his presence wash over me and put me at peace. I realized that God isn’t hateful and that he is ever-loving. I saw the things that he is doing through the Ozark Mission Project and Project Transformation and all of the help that these people are doing. But most of all I felt his peace and realized he has a plan for me.

He put different people in my life for a reason and he took them out for a reason too. I feel like I’m a completely different person since Respite. At the end of Respite, I decided to give my life back to God and let his will be done. So I chose to participate in communion and I felt that it meant something different to me and God than it might have meant to anyone else. It signified my accepting him back into my life and giving my life back to him.

The retreat has jumpstarted a lot in my life. I’ve gotten closer to friends I haven’t talked to in a long time. I am ever grateful that Dennis asked me to go and continued to be there for me. I may still be in the wilderness in my life right now and my walk with God, but I do believe that as long as I trust in him and continue to follow his path then I will make it through this wilderness.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”  (Psalm 23:1-6)

In August of 2021, at the launch of a new academic year, when the hustle and bustle on campus was underway, there were still looming challenges of a global pandemic that impacted ministry and limited opportunities. Uncertainty and despair were nagging sparring partners. Though, at just the right time, a recent alum of the Wesley A-State campus ministry made a donation that helped change the outlook to hope and enthusiasm. Her name, Adara Williford Newsome. What follows are answers to some questions Dennis Ellzey, Director/Campus Minister at the time, sent her to get some background on her Wesley A-State experience. 

How did you first hear about our organization/ministry?

Adara:  I had a high school friend who was older who went to Wesley and told me about it.

What made you decide to get involved? Or what made you decide to give toward this?

Adara: My friend roped me into going and would meet at a spot in the union to walk over to it together.

Why do you think others should get involved? Or why do you think others should give toward this?

​Adara: Wesley provides a sense of family and home away from home.

How has our organization/ministry impacted you already, or for the role you have in life right now?

Adara: Wesley allowed me to take a leadership role which helped me grow which has been instrumental in the leadership roles that I have taken in my career.

What do you hope you will gain from being involved? Or what do you hope your investment in our ministry will accomplish?

Adara: I hope Wesley will continue to be a place for college students to find a community of love and acceptance.

If you were talking to someone else about being involved, or about giving to our organization/ministry, what would you tell them? 

Adara: I would share all that Wesley has done for me and how important it is in my own life.

What do you wish everyone knew about our organization/ministry?

Adara: That Wesley is a place where you do not have to feel alone.

If you had a million dollars to give to our ministry, what would you hope it would be spent on to maximize our impact?

Adara: I would say a good portion on outreach to increase Wesley awareness on campus. I would spend some money to get a new ceiling in the worship building as it is hideous looking. I would also increase the living areas so more students could stay at Wesley as I feel having people there all the time allows Wesley to be more open and a place to relax outside of worship. Lastly, I would want to spend it on connecting Wesley to Jonesboro through mission and outreach efforts. Wesley is a great community, but I think it needs to do more things to assist its community.

     - A conversation on Facebook Messenger between Dennis Ellzey, Campus Minister, & Adara Williford Newsome