OUR FAMILY OF GOD & TOUR DE FMC 2026 MEMORIES
A View of GU – JULY 2026
“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” – Hebrews 10:24–25
“For I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk face to face.” – 3 John 1:14
In the June issue of “A View of GU,” we had a little fun with the baseball metaphor of “team” in promotion of this summer’s Panthers Ballpark Series of alumni gatherings at MLB and Triple A baseball games in Indy, St. Louis and Chicago. (I am fresh-ish from the Cardinals 10th inning defeat of the Cubs at our St. Louis event last night! 😇)
“We win together. We will, with God’s guidance, stay the course. We will, with God’s strength, swing for the fences. And we will, with God’s help, win the games when they most count. Thank you to each of you tending to your unique positions of inspiration, influence and impact on this ivy-linked team.”
As someone who “spends herself” (Isaiah 58:10) on digital engagement with alumni so much of the year—have I mentioned our Facebook (facebook.com/gualumniassociation) and Instagram (instagram.com/greenvilleuniversityalumni channels lately OR suggested checking your spam folder in email inbox to mark emails from alumni@greenville.edu as “Not Junk” 😇—I welcome every in-person opportunity to gather and encourage our alumni community and our Free Methodist connections. This context, as I know it is for many of you, comprises the key relational stories in my “Family of God” storybook.
Most of us engage varying groups of people throughout our lives, our years and our days, but it’s the relationships we build and strengthen with like-minded believers committed to fostering, facilitating and furthering lives of character and service at home, at church, at work and at play, that most deeply forms us into the body of Christ. Stories shape us, the revelation of the story of God in scripture as well as the way our stories reveal God to others in the world. My life was shaped by you all this summer … by a lively 92-year-old Black women who proudly attended GU in the 60’s, by “old” GC friends inviting me into new stories and new seasons of life around a fire, by “Next Gen” Legacy League alumni with their energy for promoting GU at work and church, by FMC leaders thankful to see GU showing up for the FMC, and by the multitude of young people visiting our orange-themed booth for water bottles and coloring books. It was a rich tour. Grateful for each of you.
For some, this transformational journey of becoming more like Christ and belonging to Christian community, founded on the love of a Father and by the power of the Holy Spirit is fortified at GU. For others this journey forms at GU. But for all of us, this interconnected ivy of a community continues to offer flourishing opportunities to grow in community. I hope you will continue to lean in, show up and show off the many ways in which God has positioned each of you to engage and serve our people.
Every mile I travel, every location I set up and tear down my RV, every swag item given, every scoop of ice cream served, and campfire visited is the best way I know to spend myself on face-to-face encounters with our GU-FMC people during these summer months.
I’ll talk more about “faith and leading” by our alumni ,as the natural progression of our investment in the“faith and learning” of our students, in our August issue of “For The RECORD,” but I return to campus encouraged by the GU alumni I witnessed assuming significant roles as clergy and lay leaders equipped and empowered to show up in the world via the Free Methodist denomination to encourage, equip and empower this GU branch of the Family of God. Thank you for your Kingdom service.
TOUR DE FMC 2026 MEMORIES
Our commitment to show up for our alumni and friends across the FMC includes an ongoing presence at regional FMC Annual Conferences and Family Camps frequented by GU pastors and lay leaders, alumni and families. The 2026 Tour de FMC, which concluded last week, included stops at Gateway, Crossroads, North Central and Southeastern Region Annual Conferences, as well as Gateway (Durley and Cowden Camps), North Central (Sky Lodge), Shoreline (Somerset Beach) and Crossroads (Wabash Park) ice cream socials.
Check out our GU Alumni socials for summer highlights of precious GU face-to-face encounters with God and each other on Facebook (facebook.com/gualumniassociation) and Instagram (instagram.com/greenvilleuniversityalumni). 🧡🌿📸
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🗓️ SAVE THE DATE! GU PANTHERS BALLPARK SERIES in CHI
Coming to a ballpark near many of you in Chicago! We continue to bring GU home to you this summer. 🧡🐾🌿
Other Key Dates:
- NSO 2026: Friday, August 21-Sunday, August 23
- 2026–27 Classes Begin: Monday, August 24
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🌿 REMINDER: Mark your calendars for Homecoming & Family Weekend 2026, October 15–18, 2026! Like our “GU Alumni Association” Facebook page and join your class reunion group! Reserve your hotel rooms! Follow "Greenville University Alumni on Instagram! Get your plane tickets! Share Homecoming social posts with classmates! (You get the picture. 😇)
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Until we meet again … keep praying. Keep watching. And keep thanking God with us for the good work He continues to do on campus in the lives of GU students, faculty and staff and in you, our GU alumni and friends. 🧡🐾🌿
