Representatives from Tyler Junior College, Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce and Wesley House held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 11, to dedicate a Peace Garden in the heart of the TJC campus.
Wesley House is a residential community operated by the United Methodist Church at TJC, located on Lake Street.
The Peace Garden will be located between the two Wesley House dormitories and will serve as a beautiful place for students to gather for fellowship and relaxation. The garden will include benches, flowers and picnic tables. It will also feature a peace pole that proclaims: “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in eight languages.
The Peace Garden will honor members of the campus and Tyler community who promote peace and good will. Former TJC student Brad Stenberg and former Wesley Foundation director and longtime campus minister Rev. Harvey Beckendorf will be memorialized in the garden. Both men had a tremendous positive impact serving the students on the TJC campus.
“In an era of divisiveness, we hope this garden will bring people together,” said Rev. Dr. Sunny Farley, director at Wesley House and campus minister for the United Methodist Church. “We are excited to provide such a beautiful place for students to enjoy.”
The dedication was intentionally scheduled for Sept. 11 as reminder that we all must do our part to bring about peace in the world.
Wesley House is home to 80 college students and reflects a partnership between TJC and the Wesley Foundation, which is a United Methodist student organization.