What is Wesley?

Wesley is a college ministry of the United Methodist Church. Think about it like a church that’s all college students, with some elements specifically geared toward college life! We have our own United Methodist pastor (Katy), worship services, bible studies, service projects, retreats, music ministry, and more - all intentionally designed to help college students grow closer to Christ and each other. We are passionate about student leadership, so you will find many opportunities to grow in faith through leading your peers. We are also passionate about community, so you will find many opportunities to make friends with people who are also seeking to deepen their faith.

Tell me about the building

Wesley’s building (the Methodist Student Center) is located at 201 Tauber St. in Northgate. A church is more than a building, but our building is a wonderful resource and tool for enabling and enhancing our ministry. This building is open basically all day every day, and is designed to be a “home away from home” for students throughout their time in college. Inside, you’ll find students studying in one of our lounges (free wifi), socializing with friends in the entryway, meeting for group projects in the study room, enjoying free snacks from the “snack bar”, bringing their lunch to one of the inside or outside tables, playing pool upstairs, chilling in the hammock garden outside, chatting with the staff in the office, and more! There doesn’t have to be an event on the calendar for you to come make your home at Wesley. It’s a great home base between classes!

What do I wear?

Wesley is very casual! Wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. For services, you’ll see people in athletic shorts and t-shirts and people in jeans and a nice shirt. During the day, people stop by between classes wearing whatever they went to class in.

Do you have to be methodist to be a member?

No! Wesley welcomes everyone, regardless of their denomination, religion, or stage in their faith journey. Many of our students are life-long United Methodists, but at any given time, probably one-third of our students come from non-Methodist backgrounds, and we love that! Wesley is a United Methodist ministry that preaches and lives by the Bible and United Methodist doctrine, founded by John Wesley. For more information about Methodism, visit https://www.umc.org/

How early do people arrive for worship services?

On Sunday nights, we serve dinner at 6pm, before worship. People will often arrive about 5:55 for this, but we’re typically still going through the serving line until about 6:15, so no worries if you’re a little late! Worship starts at 7pm, and people coming for that often come about 5-10 minutes before it starts.

What is the style of music at worship services?

Wesley worship services typically offer a blend of musical styles. Student praise bands will lead the congregation in contemporary worship songs and traditional hymns out of the hymnal as well.

How often do you take communion?

We celebrate Communion at Wesley once a month, usually on the third Sunday of the month. We may also serve Communion at special events, retreats, etc. Communion is served with bread and grape juice; we have gluten-free wafers available as well.

How big is Wesley?

Wesley has over 100 active student members, supported by hundreds of former students. Sunday night services range from around 40-60 people, depending on the night. Small groups and bible studies typically have about 10-15 attendees. I like to say that Wesley is big enough to get to know lots of people but small enough to actually get to know them!

Can I park at Wesley?

Yes! We have a parking lot on the Church Ave. side of our building. As long as you are in the Wesley building or at a Wesley-sponsored activity, you are welcome to park here for free!

IMPORTANT: Wesley has a towing service, so ANY vehicle in the parking lot after 10pm MUST have some kind of Wesley parking pass, or it may be towed! They don’t check with us before they tow a vehicle, so even if you are at Wesley after 10pm, you need a pass! We have temporary free passes we will distribute whenever we have a late event, so just be sure and get one.

Note that the above parking is for people who are in the Wesley building or at a Wesley event. Wesley does not offer open parking to students wishing to go on campus. We do have daytime parking passes available for active students that enables you to do this, but you have to apply, and there are some requirements that must be met. If this interests you reach out to a staff person!

Is Wesley part of A&M United Methodist Church?

Technically, no. A&M UMC and Wesley have been neighbors for over 100 years, and have a long history of partnering in ministry and supporting one another. Wesley, however, is technically a ministry of ALL the United Methodist churches in our conference (roughly the eastern half of Texas). All of these 700 or so churches support Wesley Foundations at many colleges as places that can focus solely on college ministry in a way that a local church cannot.

Wesley and A&M UMC each have ministry offerings for college students. Wesley’s ministries are focused exclusively on college students and student leadership. A&M UMC’s ministries especially value the blessings of intergenerational ministry, linking college students with ministry areas for all ages. More info about the ministries of A&M United Methodist can be found at www.am-umc.org.

How do I get involved in a small group?

Small groups are always growing! Find the small group sign up form on our linktree!

Additional questions

Please reach out to a leadership member, staff member, through our contact box, or give us a call! You can also find our social media and other resources on our linktree.