Alumni | UTA Wesley

Laureen Kuizon

Associate Pastor

I discovered the United Methodist witness when I entered the Wesley in 2020. I had not known there was a tradition that so stubbornly held on to grace-first theology while placing such a deep emphasis on personal and social holiness.

I dove in headfirst as a student and then served in other roles as they popped up (as all ministry people eventually do), becoming an Intern and later an Associate Director. By the grace of God, I realized my call to ministry in 2024, and after graduating, enrolled at Perkins School of Theology and began my journey toward ordination as an Elder.

I met some of my favorite people here, including my best friends, mentors, and partner (Cesar.) In between all the late night convos and movie franchise marathons, the Wesley is a beautiful space that meets students where they are and challenges them to be transformed and perfected in God's love.

Where I am now: Arlington Heights UMC (Fort Worth, TX)

Derek Goodrich

Seminary Student

I was first a student and then an intern at the UTA Wesley Foundation. I am forever grateful for this super formative time in my life. I served for two years at the Wesley under two different directors (2024-2026). The Wesley was where I made my best friends and spent a lot of my free time while in undergrad.

Because of the Wesley, I grew as a leader and got to try a lot of new things outside of my comfort zone. Here, I got to preach, lead worship, and teach Bible studies. I will miss the deep chats, late-night study sessions, and impulsive fellowship that came about because of this community.

I hope the Wesley remains a place where all students can lean into what it means to be a follower of Christ.

Where I am now: Princeton Theological Seminary (Princeton, NJ)

Logan de Groot

Pastor of College Students and Young Adults

My name is Logan de Groot, and I was a student, and later an intern for a year, at UTA Wesley from 2017-2022. My time at Wesley was the most transformative season of my life. It is where I made my closest friends, began a covenant group where we shared our struggles and joys, confessed sin, and grew together in honesty and grace. It is also where I fell deeply in love with worship and learning Scripture.

Through Wesley, I grew as a leader, a Christian, and a friend. The relationships I formed there continue to shape my life, and I am still sharing life with many of those same people today. I am forever grateful for my time at Wesley and for the ways God used that community to form me as a follower of Christ.

My prayer is that many more students will experience the same love, fellowship, and encouragement that so profoundly shaped my faith walk.

Where I am now: White's Chapel Methodist Church (Southlake, TX)

Cesar Augusto Vélez Gámez

Youth Director

My name is Cesar, and I was born and raised in Honduras; I moved to the US to pursue better opportunities when he was 15. I found the UTA Wesley foundation upon moving to Arlington for college.

At the time, I was wrestling with my own faith, but thanks to the welcoming and intentional community of the Wesley, I was able to see God’s grace in full display and reconnect with my faith. That community was instrumental for my growth as a college student, inspiring me to serve in camp ministry, ministry leadership, and eventually, answer my call to ministry.

After graduating, I served as a ministry intern for the Wesley, and that was the beginning of the journey that led me to becoming the youth director at FUMC Colleyville. I will be forever grateful to the Wesley foundation for being the place where I could wrestle, ask questions, and freely discover who God was calling me to be.

Where I am now: FUMC Colleyville (Colleyville, TX)