Energizing Youth Groups

VWU Campus Ministries heard the concerns of youth leaders struggling to reconnect and engage youth back into church life post-COVID. The group responded with a student-led monthly event called Wesleyan Worship Youth Sundays: As One. This pilot program invited youth groups to the VWU campus to worship, play games and eat dinner together in the campus dining hall. Many of the smaller youth groups were grateful that this event gave their students an opportunity to meet and interact with other students in the Coastal Virginia District. “This event has infused energy and excitement back into our group after COVID,” explained Kim Pool, a youth leader with New Creation UMC. “The youth love coming to VWU and having college students share their faith with them.” VWU students, in turn, love the energy the youth groups bring and the connections that are made. We look forward to continuing the program next fall.

Sweet Treats

Seventeen students visited the senior residents at The Gardens of Virginia Beach. In the fall, students and residents decorated Halloween cookies together at the Halloween Bash and made tie-dye T-shirts. In the spring, they decorated Valentine’s Day cookies and made tie-dye bags for the residents to attach to their walkers and wheelchairs.

Plastic Payout

VWU was awarded a composite bench from NexTrex for donating 500 lbs. of plastic over the course of six months. The bench is located on the Wesleyan Trails between Villages 3 & 4. Wesleyan Engaged continues to collect plastic—in fact, we already have another 105 lbs. collected. NexTrex boxes are located in Clarke Hall, Batten Student Center, Hofheimer Library, and Greer Environmental Sciences Center.