Why Community

This week’s blog post is written by the wonderful Jennifer Bouquet! Jennifer is a senior movement science major and student leader for the TCU Wesley Foundation. We’re excited to share her words on what community means to her and the home she’s found with this particular community here at TCU!

 
In college we strive for close relationships and a place where we belong.  Not just a place we belong, but a place we can call ours that includes deep, meaningful friendships.
After my first semester of college, I had made just a few friends whose relationships broke the surface enough to be considered a deep relationship.  Sure I had other ‘friends’, but I only had those few close, meaningful relationships and certainly not the sort of community of friends I believe is essential for life.
Upon returning from Christmas break, after hearing all the stories from my friends at home that were loving college and their new friends, I realized that I was going to have to make an effort to seek out the sort of setting I longed for.  In February of 2012, I visited the TCU Wesley for the first time and knew that this place, this group of people, this ministry was exactly what I had hoped for.

The TCU Wesley is the United Methodist campus ministry, but is open to all students regardless of their faith background.  A unique aspect of the Wesley is that we have our own building (2750 W. Lowden St. – directly behind Smith Hall), where we hold the majority of our events.  The Wesley’s main gathering is on Wednesday evenings from 7:00-9:00pm and includes a free meal and a worship service.  However, the Wesley never seems to experience a dull moment throughout the week, whether it is students watching Netflix, drinking a soda and eating fruit snacks, playing Super Smash Bros, or even studying.
From the first time to visiting the Wesley through today, the Wesley has been and continues to be a place full of community.  Whether it is a Thursday afternoon, Monday morning, or Friday night, you are almost guaranteed to walk into the Wesley house and be surrounded by friends who support you and encourage you in your school work, the stresses of life, but most importantly in your walk with Christ.
The Wesley believes in the vitality of a community for faith and spiritual development.  We were not intended to traverse life alone.  As Psalm 133:1 proclaims, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.” This has been proven to me time and time again; it has been proven through the strong community of the Wesley – the continual support and lasting friendships that the ministry of the TCU Wesley has not only provided me but also to the other students who have walked through the Wesley’s doors.

 
Do you have a story about your student organization or faith group you want the greater TCU community to know? Email z.a.murzyn@tcu.edu with blog ideas you’d like to share!