Back to School: Teacher Rebecca Gillon Ulrich

The final teacher we are meeting in this back-to-school series is Rebecca Gillon Ulrich, MUW Class of  2004, who is originally from Grenada, Mississippi.   While at MUW Rebecca was a Masker, and participated in Wesley Foundation activities.  She now teaches fifth grade math, science and social studies at Flowood Elementary .  

When asked how her MUW education prepared her for her career, Rebecca told us "All education classes, after the introduction class, required observation hours. From the get-go, we were in classrooms. As our classes progressed, our participation in the classrooms progressed as well. The grade-level varied, so I ended up with experience from Kindergarten, Second Grade, Pre-K, Third Grade, and Sixth-Eighth grade History.  I also was expected to create standards-based lesson plans and use appropriate classroom management which thoroughly prepared me for teaching."

As a teacher her greatest joy is "Seeing the 'light bulb' moments!  Getting students interested in the concepts and seeing them truly self-motivated to learn is outstanding."  Like most teachers, she finds it disheartening to see "a struggling student who, despite your striving them to excellence and helping them along the way, is not succeeding. That breaks your heart." 

Rebecca gives a lot of credit to her bosses "I know that I am a great teacher because of the support and accountability I receive from my superiors. My principals, Kathy Martin and Kevin Vance, are both Christians who live by their beliefs. It is an honor to come to work each day and be under their umbrella of support!"

Rebecca Rose Germany Stevens: Youth Minister

Our "Minister of the Day" today is Rebecca Rose Germany Stevens, MUW Class of 2004, who is Director of Youth Ministries at Starkville First United Methodist Church, and a co-worker of Jane Windham, who we met earlier. Rebecca, who came to Starkville after spending four years as a Director of Youth Ministries in Ocean Springs, MS, was a Herin Leader and a member of the Silhouette Social Club while at Mississippi University for Women. She is currently pursing her Master of Divinity degree via Asbury Theological Seminary's on-line program.

Raised in the Methodist Church, Rebecca served as the Music Intern at Columbus First United Methodist Church while she was at The W. While there she began to explore her call to the ministry, with the assistance of Dr. Sam Morris. "My time at the W was a time to grow closer to the Lord and to meet the best friends of my life. I truly believe that every experience while there in some way served to draw me closer to the Lord" stated Rebecca.

While she finds the service aspect of her ministry to be the most rewarding, part, her main challenge is organization.

When asked what advice she would you have for MUW students considering a ministry like hers, Ms. Stevens replied "Ask questions and be open to exploring every single opportunity"  She advises those trying to find their spiritual path to "Pray - but be sure that your prayers involve a lot of listening!"

Rebecca's hobbies include music, coffee, running, and anything to do with her two year old son, Manny.  She and her husband Jeremy also have a boxer named Franny (and if she sends us a picture of Franny, we'll run it on "Fur Baby Friday").  Mixing ministry and family responsibilities can be "Difficult, overwhelming, stressful, but above all a wonderful blessing" remarked Rebecca, who considers herself fortunate to have a job that allows her serve her Savior; and says "It all balances out in the end!" 

When asked if there was anything else she  wanted to tell us, Rebecca closed by saying "I love being able to say that I am a W girl!"  We love that you love it Rebecca, and thanks for visiting with us today.

MUW Alumnus Don Scrivener

Today we have another alumnus with us. Don Scrivener, MUW class of 2004, is Associate Pastor/ Student Pastor at Vaiden Baptist Church, Vaiden, MS. While at MUW he was active at the Wesley Foundation and in Peer Outreach. He also played intramural sports. 

Reverand Scrivener served on the Wesley Foundation Council from the second semester of his sophomore year at the W, until graduation.  During a summer job at Gulf Shores Baptist Assembly, he felt God's call to ministry. He knew that God had placed him at Wesley to really dig in and get some hands-on experience in serving, and spreading His word. His time at The W "just affirmed what God had already set in motion." After Don felt called to ministry, he felt that God was leading him into camping/recreation ministry, and through positions in that area, God kept shaping him to be what God wanted Don to be, and God still is doing that. Says Don "I feel that God has called me to proclaim the gospel. He has me serving as the Associate Pastor/ Student Pastor at my church, but I feel that He is calling me to Pastor, just trying to be faithful to the calling and see where He wants me to go."

Regarding his days at MUW, Don remarked "My experience at MUW was a great one, and it still is a great experience today. I stay in touch with most of my friends from there, and I have had the opportunity to go back multiple times and speak at the Wesley Foundation, and visit my former classmates, that now work full-time at MUW. MUW was, and is still a part of my life and I wouldn't have changed my choice of where I went to school. I can look back and see how God had ordained it to be."

After graduating from MUW Brother Scrivener attended, and graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, in Fort Worth, TX.

Don enjoys seeing people hunger for God's word, and yearn to develop their relationship with Jesus Christ, more and more on and everyday basis. Regarding what he finds most challenging about his ministry, Don answered "God has given me an incredible desire for the church, and to see Christians grow. The most challenging thing for me is being a sower, and letting God grow the relationship in other people's life. It's all up to Him, and I have to not only remember, but come to a full realization that He is totally in control."

If current MUW students are considering the ministry, Don suggests they "Start now! The W is full of lost and dying people. If you have a personal relationship with Christ you are called to proclaim the gospel. It isn't suggested. I look back and see how God used me at The W, but I also see how He wanted to work through me and because I was un-willing in some areas, He used someone else. There are some great Godly people there at the school and in the community that care about the students. If you can accept that campus as your mission field while you are there, and if you are obediant to God's calling He will allow you to be used while you are there, and the blessings from that are AWESOME!!"

While Don would be thrilled if you chose to worship at his church, he believes those looking for a church should "pray about what church to join not do based on what person you most agreed with but where God wanted you to worship."

When not busy with church work, Don enjoys spending time with his family. He is married to Mary Martha Love, MUW class of 2004.  They have two children: Rani, age 19 months and Andrew, age 4 months. While mixing ministry and family life keeps him busy, Don states that you just have to make it a point to set aside times for things that are important.

Don, it sounds like your church is blessed to have you, and we thank you for spending time with us today.