WOLFLIFE group receives funding for new building

An ASU campus ministry that has been in Jonesboro since the 1960s is finally getting an on-campus building to spread its mission and reach out to students.

The WOLFLIFE campus ministry has recently acquired the necessary funding to construct a new building on the north side of campus, next to the Northpark Quads. The current location of the WOLFLIFE ministry is on Johnson Avenue, next to Subway.

The WOLFLIFE ministry's website, wolflife.org, states that its mission is to help students grow closer to God and become followers of Jesus Christ by "encouraging students to serve others, by loving them unconditionally, by teaching grace and truth from the Bible, through one-on-one and group mentoring, and sometimes just by having a great time together."

Chris Buxton, director of WOLFLIFE, said that the new building will be a great benefit to the ministry.

"We currently don't own the building that we are using now, it's actually rented out to us," Buxton said.

The old building on Johnson Avenue is about 1,400 square feet, which is barely enough room to hold the average turnout of students, which is about 50-60 students. The new building will be about 4,400 square feet and also will include a 1,200 square foot porch area.

"The new building is also going to allow us to be closer to students. We'll be on-campus so our parking will be better and we'll also be more accessible to students," Buxton said.

WOLFLIFE is part of the Southwest Church of Christ ministry, but Buxton wants people to know that they are open to anyone, no matter what their religious affiliation. He stresses the fact that WOLFLIFE is a non-denominational ministry.

Ashley Kemp, a sophomore communication disorders major, hopes the new building will be a place where people will always feel welcome.

"I know when I came to ASU last year as a freshman it was nice to find a place where I felt accepted and loved by everyone there. WOLFLIFE campus ministry is where I met some of my best friends," Kemp said.

Samantha Glisson, a junior nutritional science major, has attended WOLFLIFE ministries since she was a freshman. She also thinks that the new building is a necessity because of the dwindling space available at their current location.

"Right now we barely fit in the building we are in. We have grown so much in just the short time I have been at ASU," Glisson said.

WOLFLIFE does a free lunch every Tuesday called WOLFeed, and Glisson says there is barely enough sitting room right now for the number of students that they feed.

"The new building will have a spacious fellowship hall and huge kitchen, which I know will be such a blessing," Glisson said.

The new building is estimated to cost around $500,000 and is being funded by the Southwest Church of Christ through its Capitol Campaign fund raising event that was held last fall. WOLFLIFE is also asking any surrounding churches from Arkansas and Missouri for donations to help pay for the new buildings furnishings and landscaping.

"The new building is expected to be completed by fall semester next year, in August. We hope to be ready to open the first day of classes," Buxton said.