Wesley Students Podcast

We wrapped up What Grows Here by discovering that gentleness isn't weakness—it's strength under control, choosing love in the moments that matter most. Because what grows in you shows up through you, and following Jesus means becoming people whose strength looks like love.

Faithfulness & Self-Control (Who You Are When No One's Watching)    Proverbs 25:16-28   Faithfulness and self-control aren't about being perfect—they're about being led by the Spirit, even in the small, unseen moments. 

James 1:19-27 This week, Makayla talks about three fruits of the spirit- patience, kindness, and goodness. This boils down to the way we treat others. By living a spirit-filled life, we should seek to be slow to speak, quick to listen, and slow to anger. By doin so, we can reflect Jesus in all that we do. 

In Week 2 of What Grows Here, we explore the inner life of joy and peace. Jesus talks about joy and peace on the night before the cross — proving they aren't rooted in easy circumstances, but in abiding connection. When we live by the Spirit, joy becomes steady and peace becomes strong — not because life is calm, but because we're anchored to Him.

Week one of What Grows Here begins at the root: love. Love isn't just one fruit among many — it's the soil everything else grows out of, shaping who you are becoming. When the Spirit is at work, we are becoming people rooted in love — and that root changes everything.

As we begin a new year, the question isn't whether we'll make choices—it's whether we'll make wise ones. This sermon explores how biblical wisdom helps us see life clearly and navigate everyday decisions with purpose and clarity. Rooted in Proverbs, we're challenged to filter our choices through God's Word by asking one simple question: Is it the wise thing to do? When we do, our relationships, time, and words begin to reflect the life God intends.

In a season when our lives feel packed with school, sports, pressure, and expectations, we often forget to make room for the One Christmas is actually about. In Luke 1, Mary shows us that Christmas doesn't begin with excitement — it begins with surrender. This message invites us to put the most important things first and trust God with the rest.

In this message from Baptism Night, we explore God's promise in Ezekiel to remove our hearts of stone and give us hearts of flesh—a heart-transplant grace that baptism points us toward. As we celebrate new baptisms and remember our own, we're invited to let God soften, renew, and reshape us into responsive clay in His hands.

Have you ever tried your best & it still does not work out? During this message, Aaron talks about disappointment through the story of Jeremiah. Disappointment does not win because God never leaves us. 

In a world obsessed with fear—from horror movies and haunted houses to the quiet anxieties we carry inside—what do we do when the storm is real and the waves are crashing?  This message looks at Matthew 14, where the disciples are terrified on the water until Jesus shows up in the middle of the storm.  We unpack how to remember that Jesus is with us, remain focused on Him instead of our fear, and recognize Him as the One who calms every storm.

In this message, Pastor Aaron teaches that "fruit tells the truth." From Jesus' picture in John 15 of the vine and branches to Paul's description in Galatians 5 of the fruit of the Spirit, we see that real life-change isn't about trying harder but about staying connected to Jesus. When we remain in Him, the evidence shows up in love, joy, peace, and the kind of fruit that points people straight to Christ.

This week's message focuses on Paul's reminder in 1 Corinthians 13 that without love, even the most impressive gifts or sacrifices mean nothing. Love isn't just a feeling or a caption—it's action: patience, kindness, forgiveness, protecting, and persevering. In a heavy week when words aren't enough, we're called to let the world see the proof of our faith through the way we love people.

How do people know you've been with Jesus? In this message from Acts 4, Pastor Aaron shares a hilarious Publix story, connects it to Peter and John's boldness before the Sanhedrin, and reminds us that real discipleship isn't about information—it's about transformation. When we spend time with Jesus, it gives us courage, makes our faith noticeable, and moves us to action in ways people can't help but see.

  God doesn't promise that we won't go through deep waters, He promises His presence in them. In your storms, the One who commands the seas is in the boat with you. Jesus calls ordinary fishermen to follow Him and fish for people. The call to mission doesn't pause when life gets hard - Jesus' "follow me" still applies in the deep waters. Fishing for people doesn't mean having a perfect life; it means following Jesus while you're still figuring things out.   

Our final day of work was one for the books. What we expected to be a washout turned into our most beautiful day yet. Each team finished strong, wrapping up projects and saying heartfelt goodbyes to the neighbors we've come to know and love. Tune in as students reflect on what they accomplished, what they learned, and why they're going home changed.

Back at the worksites, our teams made serious headway — decking ramps and porches and seeing their projects come to life. The work was real, the sweat was real… and the ice cream stop on the way home was absolutely necessary. Check out today's progress and smiles! Tonight's guests were:  Isabella, Maddie, Mary Cait, Brantley, Katie, Ellison, and Skylar -- with special guest, Intern Holly! 

Our four teams hit the ground running — knocking out demolition, starting ramps, and learning what it really means to serve. It was a strong start to our three-day mission effort. Listen to how students stepped up and stepped out in faith today! Tonight's guests are: Mia, Rylee, Gerald, Kara, Madison, Emerson, Anna, Adain

It's Day 1 of our Middle School Mission Trip! Today wasn't about the worksite — it was about the work before the work. We trained with tools, played some wild games, and spent time building trust with our teams. Hear from students about what they're excited (and maybe nervous) about as we gear up for our first full day of service. Guests:  Kimberly, Quinlan, Ellie, Amelia, Landon, Phoebe, Layne, and Audrey

We have Liza, Andrew, Taylor, Kirby, Samantha, and special guest, Byron, join us to recap our travel day back to Guatemala City yesterday.  

After a hiatus, we are back on track!  Stephanie, Emma, Travis, Luke, and Morgan D share about our last day in Rio Dulce in Las Flores.  

Day 5 - our second day in the villages.  Casey, Campbell, Lucas, and Lexi join Aaron to recap our day in Nacimiento! 

Join Josslyn, Morgan G, and Maddie as we share some memories and moments from our first day in our villages.  

Join Caitlynn, Caroline, Eleanor, and Matt as we recap our day three - our church day at CCCG, and our ride to Rio Dulce where we will begin our work! 

Day 2 recap with Madison, Andrew, Fraser, and Stephanie.  We share moments from our visit to a small family coffee plantation, macadamia nut farm, and some tourist time in Antigua.  

Tonight's podcast features Connor, Lauren Kate, Anna, and Mandy.  They recap our travel day, arrival and trip to Antigua where we will stay for one night.  

We all have a next step, right?  One of the things about faith and walking with Jesus is the ability to care for our own self and make sure that we are eating at the right table.  I remember as a young kid at Thanksgiving, I would sit at the "Kids table."  Being at the kids table is good for a season, but I remember the desire to move up to the adult table.  In our walk with Jesus, we should always be growing, always be asking, and always be searching.   How do we mature in our faith?  How to we grow? 

Prayer is the fundamental communication for us to know the character and the nature of God.  When we arrive at the moment of prayer, it can be like knocking on God's door.  Will we knock?  What if He answers?  What if he doesn't?  What will he do?

As we approach Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season, it's time to take some self-inventory.  Where in my faith am I strong?  Where am I week?  Am I compassionate?  Do I care?  Am I humble?  Do I seek peace or do I seek to stir the pot?  Our text tonight is about being Salt and Light.  Jesus lays out commands for how we are to differential ourselves from everyone else – not so we can be exclusive, but so that we might bring this Upside-Down Kingdom to those around us.   

The extra mile reflects the character of Jesus. It isn't always easy to go the extra mile. To do something for someone else requires time, energy, care, concern, effort. However, the second mile is where we see Jesus in ourselves and other people. The extra mile is where we see Jesus at work in and through us. It's where we reflect His love in a way that makes people ask why. 

As we approach Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season, it's time to take some self-inventory.  Where in my faith am I strong?  Where am I week?  Am I compassionate?  Do I care?  Am I humble?  Do I seek peace or do I seek to stir the pot?        Matthew 5 begins Jesus first public teaching.  In it, Jesus lays out the plan for this new movement he's about to start.  The words of Jesus seem upside down in today's world, but if we care to ponder and apply them to our own life, might we find what we are so often looking for…. Peace, love, joy, and hope.

Tune in to hear some of our students recount the last couple days of our Tybee Mission Retreat! 

Tune in to hear some of our students recount the last two days of our Tybee Mission Retreat! 

Throughout life, there's always something coming up next. While we naturally look ahead in so many areas of life, we have to ask ourselves: Do we have the same mindset when it comes to our relationship with Jesus? This week, Makayla closes our series by reminding us of the next that Jesus invites us all to. 

We can have a NEW year or we can have ANOTHER year, right?   What do we do when we aren't where we used to be, but aren't where we are supposed to be?   What happens when we feel like we are stuck in the NOW?  We take a look at two accounts in Mark where the disciples are caught in the "meantime," waiting for Jesus to lead them to what is next. 

We had an opportunity to sit down with our friend and student ministry volunteer, Ernestina Annan. What an INCREDIBLE conversation! From Ghana, moving to New York at 15 (by herself), to Asheville, to Evans, we are incredibly fortunate to have had a short window into her life and her family history.

We can have a NEW year or we can have ANOTHER year, right?   As we proceed into 2025, can we reevaluate our answer to a question posed to Jesus' closest relationships?  Jesus pauses before journeying into the heart of Jerusalem and impending death to place this question at the very forefront of importance, for the disciple's response would dictate the future of the church.  It's a question that still begs of us today. 

We can have a NEW year or we can have ANOTHER year, right?   Beyond the resolutions and goal-setting (which are absolutely important), how can we be paying attention to where Jesus is calling us to something new?  What nets do we need to drop in our lives in order to respond to the unique and special call that God has put on our lives?  Whether it's in the classroom, on the field, in the gym, on the stage, or at our place of work, what new thing is happening… and how can we listen closely and respond as "deep-end" disciples of Jesus?   

How do we determine what really matters? This week in Makayla's message, she talks about Paul's writing in Philippians 1:3-11. 

Listen to this week's message by Pastor Aaron as he talks about being thankful and gives helpful tools for us to use as we approach Thanksgiving. 

This episode covers week two of our Parent Initiative - a series of conversations designed to give parents a few extra tools in their tool belt.   Week 2, we host GBI Special Agent Mike Petry who shares with parents about internet safety, cyber crime, and other internet-based conversations to help parents know how to help teens and their families safer online.

We all have internal "playlists"—thoughts we repeat to ourselves over and over. One of the most common lies teenagers tell themselves is, "I'm not enough." Whether it's feeling inadequate, unqualified, or unworthy, this myth plays on repeat in the minds of many. But what if we could change that playlist? In this first message of the "Your Playlist" series, we will explore how even some of the greatest figures in the Bible struggled with feeling like they weren't enough for what God was calling them to do. Moses doubted his ability to lead, Gideon questioned his strength, and Jeremiah believed he was too young. But in each case, God reminded them that He is more than enough.

Our past might be complicated & our families may be dysfunctional, but God places really significant grownups in our lives to help us find a place to belong, guide us on the humble path to God's call, & give us space to build a better identity. In this message, we look at the opening of Moses' story in Exodus & explore the ways important parental figures shaped his life & ministry.

This episode covers week one of our Parent Initiative - a series of conversations designed to give parents a few extra tools in their tool belt.   Week 1, we host Judge Wade Padgett who shares his popular Teenage Years 101 talk with parents.  

The storms of our lives will not overtake us, because He has been given authority over all creation. He is our Savior and our King.  We can be glad and rejoice in the fact that Jesus does not sleep in our storms.  (Mark 4:35-41)

What would change in our lives if we truly believed that no matter what we faced, we didn't face it alone?  In this message, Makayla shares some thoughts from Hebrews and the early church  on how we are not alone because we we have each other. 

What would change in our lives if we truly believed that no matter what we faced, we didn't face it alone?  In this message, Aaron shares some thoughts from Psalm 23 on how we are not alone because we know God and God knows us.

We take a short break from Kickoff Sunday planning to interview Brighton, Caroline, and S.K. about their reflections on their summer internship in student ministry.  What are their most favorite moments?  What was challenging?  What did they learn by being a part of summer student ministry?  Listen and find out! 

Join us as we recap each day of our North Carolina Middle School Mission Trip in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Tonight: Emerson, Alice, Skylar, Curtis and Max and share favorite moments and reflections of our third and final day at our work sites.

Join us as we recap each day of our North Carolina Middle School Mission Trip in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Tonight: Ford, Bobby, Cord, Lina, and Clara, and share favorite moments and reflections of our second day at our work sites.

Join us as we recap each day of our North Carolina Middle School Mission Trip in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Tonight: Miles, Ian, Ryan, Emma, and Fraser share favorite moments and reflections of our first day at our work sites.