"The Centurions" come to rescue of the Wesley Foundation

(left to right) On hand to support and launch "The Centurions" are Bill Taylor, district superintendent for the North District, Kay McKinley, president, Wesley Foundation at Kilgore College, and Rick Goodrich, assistant to the Bishop, Texas Annual Conference After the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church decided to reduce funding many campus ministries, directors of the local Wesley Foundation began looking for alternative sources of revenue. The solution here , Foundation directors hope, will be The Centurions.

January 2008 brought a 25 percent reduction in conference funding for Kilgore's campus ministry from the previous year. "A quick response for funding is needed to continue ministry on the Kilgore College campus," reported Rev. Dudley J. Plaisance, Jr., director and campus minister. "Most possibilities for potential funding will take time. Whether it is seeking district wide help through the North District Committee on Missions or soliciting help through individual local United Methodist Churches, such alternatives require a process that is time consuming and cumbersome, Plaisance added.

Enter "The Centurions." A new level of support is being announced this week that can completely replace the Conference funding and allow the campus ministry to not only continue, but to thrive and grow. This new program is called "The Centurions."

In the early days of the Christian church, many obstacles oppressed the new converts and suppress the growth of the church. But even under Roman rule, the church saw soldiers, even Centurions converted and committed to Christ.

Especially under the Emperor Constantine, when Christianity became the legal religion of the Roman Empire, the Roman military, led by Centurions, protected the faith and the church.

Roman Centurions got their name from the 100 men they oversaw in their legion. Many Roman soldiers were Christians. When Emperor Constantine ended the persecutions of Christians, restored Church property, and made Christianity a legal religion; there was a special oath for Christian soldiers in which they pledged allegiance first to the Trinity. The centurions mentioned in the New Testament are uniformly spoken of in terms of praise, whether in the Gospels or in the Acts. Centurions were men of special talents, courage, skills and abilities.

Directors of the local Wesley Foundation are looking for individual church members, Sunday School classes, large and small churches, Wesley Foundation Alumni and others who believe in the young people of today and see them as the church leaders of the future, Plaisance said. They will initially number about one hundred. "These will be one hundred guardians and protectors of the ministry," said Plaisance. "This special group of supporters will be the leaders of the Legions, who will eventually come to support and maintain the campus ministry."

The announcement of this new support program comes at the fiftieth anniversary of the Wesley Foundation at Kilgore College. Charter members of "The Centurions" will initiate the beginning of the next 50 years of campus ministry. To become a Centurion, one must make the following pledge. As a member of the Centurions, I am one of One Hundred and I pledge to support the Wesley Foundation at Kilgore College campus ministry by; A financial contribution of at least $100 monthly annually, A promise to pray at least monthly for the ministry of Wesley Foundation, Being an advocate to college students and potential college students concerning the campus ministry, and Promoting the campus ministry in my own local church.

The Wesley Foundation at Kilgore College seeks such "Centurions." One hundred guardians who will pledge support to the campus ministry, "The Centurions" will stand guard, protecting the ministry to college students as the centurions of Constantine's army protected the faith in his empire.

For more information or to enroll as one of the one hundred, contact the Wesley Foundation office at (903) 984- 6922, write to 1009 Broadway, Kilgore, 75662 or visit the Wesley website at www.kcwesley.org.