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TAC Members Called to Match $42,000 Gift

Seventeen thousand people in 113 Zip codes.

These are more than numbers to the Wesley Community Center, where these figures translate into transformed lives.

From after-school programs to emergency assistance with food, clothing, utilities and transportation, the reach of the Wesley Community Center has been felt far and wide in the Houston area for more than 100 years.

It is for that reason, that Bishop Janice Riggle Huie has challenged the Texas Annual Conference to give as generously to Wesley as the center has given to the community.

“Because of the extravagant generosity and excellent stewardship of the Texas Methodist Foundation, they are this year able to share a gift of $20,000 with each of the Texas bishops for them to use in a way they feel will be transformative in the lives of the people they serve,” said Rev. Cynthia Harvey, director of the TAC Center for Missional Excellence, at the November 5 Spirit of Helping luncheon. “Bishop Huie has chosen to share the $20,000 given to her to enhance the capital campaign of the Wesley Community Center – believing that what you do does not only transform people’s lives but you reshape the future of an entire community on a daily basis.” 

In response to this $20,000 gift, faithful supporters of the Wesley Community Center immediately donated an additional $22,000 – bringing the total capital campaign contribution to $42,000.

“Our challenge is to leverage that gift yet again,” Harvey said. “We know that many of you have already made generous gifts to the Wesley capital campaign and for that we thank you.  But there is still work to be done.”

Bishop Huie is inviting members of the Texas Annual Conference to contribute a “Challenge Gift” for the Wesley Community Center $3 million capital campaign. 

“We know that every gift – however large or small will make a difference,” Harvey said. “In addition, she also hopes that many of our churches will choose the Wesley Community Center capital campaign as a beneficiary of their Christmas offering this year.” 

As donations are made, please indicate that your gift is part of the Bishop’s Challenge Gift. This enables the conference to report back to the Texas Methodist Foundation that its $20,000 gift was exponentially increased and will impact the community in even greater ways than first imagined. 

Over the past 100 years, the Wesley Community Center has been a beacon of hope for many families, such as Zeora Jackson’s. Jackson, who spoke at the luncheon, recalled a time when, as young parents, she and her husband could not afford after-school care for their children.

“I am a product of Wesley Community Center,” she said, noting that her two daughters – both U.S. veterans – had a solid foundation through Wesley’s programs. “It came to us at a bad time, but it helped us get ahead…We are mighty grateful.

“People don’t have to be kind. But if they are, always tell them thank you. That’s what I’m here for today.”

In addition to Jackson, special guests included Jim McIngvale, co-owner of Gallery Furniture with his wife, Linda McIngvale. The McIngvales were awarded the Spirit of Helping Award. After sharing a moving, family testimony on commitment and serving others, McIngvale donated $25,000 to the Wesley Community Center. 

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