2. Students
Over 50 students regularly participated in Valley Wesley programs and activities during
the 2010-2011 school year.
3. Worship
Students gathered every Wednesday night for a free dinner and worship service. Rev. Rob
Rynders preached and presided over communion. Worship leader Aaron Prillaman and
the student band led students in singing.
4. Leadership
Student leaders planned, organized, and lead various Wesley programs and activities
throughout the year. Two students will attended the 2011 United Methodist Student
Forum and one will represent the East District young adults at the 2011 Desert Southwest
Annual Conference.
5. Relevance X
Author Tony Jones was the keynote speaker for the Relevance X young adult conference
in Las Vegas February 18-20, 2011 . Ten Wesley students attended this Christian leadership
formation opportunity.
6. Small Groups
Students participated in various small group opportunities including our graduate
student group, student led groups, and a study of Rob Bell’s Love Wins, in partnership
with Lutheran Campus Ministry
7. Shane Claiborne
The author and peace and justice advocate, spoke to a crowd of over 200 at Wesley on
October 9, 2010 on the topic of “Faith and Politics.”
8. Mexico
Six students spent Veteran’s Day weekend in Rocky Point, Mexico, building a house for a
family in need.
9. Washington D.C.
Eleven students spent their spring break, in March 2011, attending a seminar on human
trafficking lead by the UM board of Church and Society. Students also met with legislators
to advocate for legislation that battles human trafficking around the world.
10. Open Table
Open Table ASU is an initiative aimed to bring an ASU student out of poverty to help
them achieve their educational, career, and life goals. An ecumenical group of people
made up of ASU students, including two Wesley students (pictured left) and Rev. Rob
Rynders, have been working with Casey Squires (pictured center) since November 2010,
to help her achieve her dreams and goals. The Table has helped Casey with medical care,
financial and educational planning, and was instrumental in helping her gain full-time
employment. We hope this will be the first of many Open Table projects at ASU!
11. Fellowship
Students participated in numerous fellowship opportunities throughout the year.
Including our Labor Day retreat, Wednesday drop-in lunches, and holiday parties and
Thursday fellowship nights.
12. Baseball
Over 230 people attended the Diamondbacks vs. Cubs at Chase Field to support Valley
Wesley, raising over $1,000. During the spring of 2011, Valley Wesley also fielded it’s first
ASU intramural softball team.
13. Easter
Students joined pastor Rob on top of “A” Mountain for worship on Easter morning at
sunrise. The service is a decades long Wesley tradition.
14. Residence Hall
We continue to work on the possibility of a new Wesley Foundation building and student
residence hall. We hope to share some exciting news during the summer of 2011!
15. Staff
Rev. Rob Rynders- Campus Minister/Executive Director
Aaron Prillaman- Music and Worship Coordinator
Originally from North Carolina, Aaron is a doctoral student in guitar performance at ASU. In 2009, Aaron was hired to be the music and worship
leader at Valley Wesley. Aaron works with volunteer student musicians to lead worship music for Wesley’s Wednesday night service. Email:
Cara Coleman- Student Assistant
Cara is a sophomore at Arizona State University double majoring in Political Science and Global Studies with the intention of also obtaining a minor
in Non-Profit Leadership Management. Originally from East Mesa and Red Mountain UMC where she is still an active member, Cara started her
involvement with the Wesley Foundation the Spring semester of her freshman year. After graduation Cara hopes to join the Peace Corps, attend
seminary and further explore her call to ministry.
Bryanell Rop- Small Groups, Freshmen Ministries and Youth Group Outreach
Bryanell is a senior at Arizona State University majoring in Computer Information System and has a certificate in International Business. Originally
from Orlando, FL and Lifesong UMC, Bryanell started her involvement in the Wesley Foundation the summer before her freshman year. After
graduating Bryanell hopes to attend grad school at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland.
Sarah Potts- Student President
Sarah is a life-long United Methodist from Ahwatukee, AZ, member of Dayspring UMC, and a student at ASU. Sarah was appointed as the volunteer
student president of Valley Wesley in 2010 and provides leadership and direction to the Wesley student leadership team.
16. Board of Directors
Kay Faris (Chair), Grace UMC, Mesa
Sarah Potts (Student President), Valley Wesley, Dayspring UMC
Mike Fisher (Secretary), Paradise Valley UMC
Carl Chasse (Finance), St. Matthew UMC, Mesa
Kathy Schock (Dinner Coordinator), First UMC Tempe
Rev. Bob Burns, Central East District Superintendent
Katherine Coleman, Red Mountain UMC, Mesa
Rev. Julius Keller, Living Water UMF, Gilbert
Jennifer Lazbin, First UMC Gilbert
Sherry Moore, North Scottsdale UMC
Carol Muggeridge , Dayspring UMC, Tempe
Rev. Buzz Stevens, Retired
Rev. Dave Summers, First UMC Tempe
17. Dinners
We are extremely thankful for the following individuals and groups for feeding our
students on Wednesday nights:
Kathy and Charlie Schock Carl and Michelle Chasse
Chandler UMC Kim and Dave Summers
Steve Gregory Tempe First UMM
Melissa Rynders Tempe First UMW
Dayspring UMC Moms Susan Tennyson and Loraine Wearne
Chuck and Anne Riekena Tempe First UMC Choir
Dayspring UMW Tempe First UMC Bell Choir
Dayspring UMM Mary Sue Ingraham and Family
Barb and Denny Cogan The Espinoza Family
18. Individual Supporters
In total, individual donors gave over $10,000 to support our ministry for the 2010-2011
school year.
$5,000 Gift
Sherry and Clyde Moore
Other gifts from:
Ruth C. Butts Danielle and Kristine Reilly
N.R. and J.L Copeland David Yoder and Christina Robertson
Sharon Cohen Rev. Rob and Rev. Melissa Rynders
Kay Faris Larry and Cassie Sampson
Brian Indrelunas Charles and Kathy Schock
Charla and Joel Howard Barbetta Shedden
Jennifer and Igor Lazbin Martha and Marion Smith
Aileen Cuevas Manlacop Rev. David and Kim Summers
Edward Mechelay Jeffery Thornburg
Helen Neuharth Mechelle and Aaron Wendt
Lynn and Richard Potts Martha Wing
Cynthia Pratt
19. Organizational Support
The following organizations made generous donations to support United Methodist
Campus Ministry:
Desert Southwest Annual Conference: $33,000
First UMC Phoenix Foundation: $5,000
First UMC Tempe Foundation: $5,000
North Scottsdale UMC: $4,000
Dayspring UMC: $3,000
Grace UMC: $2,000
St. Matthew UMC (Special Offering): $1,200
First UMC Mesa: $1,000
Shepherd of the Hills UMC Foundation: $1,000
Aldersgate UMC, Phoenix: $200
Gilbert First UMC: $200
The following UMW units also made donations, totaling over $2,000:
Central East District, Desert Chapel, Friendship Village, Shepherd of the Hills, Paradise
Valley, Epworth, First Tempe, Trinity Phoenix, Creighton, Shepherd of the Valley, North
Scottsdale.
20. Budget
Valley Wesley maintains a budget to support full-time United Methodist campus ministry
in the Phoenix area. This includes:
$62,500 for a full-time Executive Director (amount includes salary, benefits, and housing)
$13,500 for administration, programming, and staffing
Students also raise most of their own money to participate in mission trip opportunities
throughout the year.
As our ministry grows and expands our board of directors continues to look at strategies to
increase funding to provide for leadership development of young adults and the making of
disciples of Jesus Christ on college campuses in the Phoenix area.
If you would like to make a financial contribution to our ministry please visit
www.valleywesley.donortools.com or e-mail rob@valleywesley.com
