Today I heard a compelling vision about Wesley KU and Project Transformation – Kansas City at the Kansas City District clergy gathering.
Wesley KU is a mission of the United Methodist Church at the University of Kansas with a vision “to build a community where college students are discovering their identity in Christ(BEAUTY), developing as Christian leaders(PURPOSE), and transforming the world(JUSTICE).”
Project Transformation – Kansas City would be modeled after Project Transformation – Dallas. Project Transformation – Dallas “is a nonprofit, Christian organization that provides ministry exploration and leadership development opportunities to college-aged young adults, and community oriented programs for children and youth living in low-income neighborhoods of North Texas.”
Creighton and Nikki Alexander are the pastors at Wesley KU. Creighton presented a vision of Project Transformation as an 8 week summer internship for college age students to make a difference in the urban center of Kansas City in both Kansas and Missouri. Another benefit of the program is that it is an environment in which students can experience and explore a call to full time ministry or seminary.
I think that this is a great program and made me think about what else is being done to cultivate the call to ministry. This is part of the concern of the Study of Ministry Commission, but it is also an important part of life in the local church.
How is a call to ministry nurtured? How was your call to ministry nurtured? How can attentiveness to God’s call and ways to respond be made available in local congregations?
Rev. Andrew Conard 