Wesley Foundation Aims to Make a Difference

John Horn
Staff Writer

The Wesley Foundation is a religious group that enjoys teaching the word of God and helping the community while enjoying life.

The Methodist Church erected the Wesley Foundation building in 1957. In 1968, it turned into the United Methodist Student Center for the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

Kavan Dodson, the director of the Foundation since 2002, said there is a lot going on everyday and anyone can join.

"In the Methodist Church, our number one priority is to make a Disciple of Christ. The very word of Disciple of Christ implies 'to do'," Dodson said. "And we don't just say it, we do it."

Every semester, Dodson helps the students start up missions to help people in need. They built ramps for the elderly, helped clean a house given to a Katrina victim and cleaned up graveyards. This year the Foundation helped a retired pastor from Hot Springs paint his house. The Wesley Foundation also holds an annual Haunted House every Halloween to raise food for donation to the hungry.

“It feels good to help someone in need,” said Adam Stapleton, student and member of the Wesley. Stapleton added it’s great to be part of a Christian organization, and the Wesley is a great place to make friends.

Activities around the Wesley include serving soul-food meals for free every Monday at noon made from people from faith in the surrounding communities, teaching martial arts lessons in Aikido, worshiping and studying the bible. All-day long every day, there are video game, TV, use of the kitchen and a chapel that the students can use.

"Wesley has a great facility and they are a great organization," said Jennifer Neubauer, student and member of the Wesley. Neubauer also said she enjoys Aikido lessons every Tuesday and Thursday night.

Overall, Dodson wants students to leave The Wesley Foundation with ownership, a mission in life and to make a difference.