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The Rev. Sylvester Chase Jr. celebrated his official retirement after 31 years of ministry at Wesley United Methodist Church in Austin in June.
Chase grew up in Columbus and attended Columbus High School. He continued his schooling at Southwest Texas State University, now just Texas State University, in San Marcos and received a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Faye Collins, a distant cousin of Chase, recalled his and his mother’s achievements. “He was outstanding…They were outstanding mentors and educators,” Collins said.
Chase studied theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas then interned with First United Methodist Church in Austin and Liberia, Africa. In June 1994, the former Southwest Texas Conference United Methodist Church, now Rio Texas Conference for the United Methodist Church, appointed Chase to senior pastor of Wesley United Methodist Church in Austin. Collins said that Chase enjoyed music and ministry at the local methodist church growing up.
“We went to camp. We were all part of camp at the Methodist Church, and we were all musicians and worked in the ministries and 4H clubs and stuff,” Collins said.
During his ministry, Chase organized active support for hurricane relief, developed music and arts programs in the church and expanded online services during the pandemic. In 2019, the Austin Area Urban League recognized Chase and Wesley UMC for community service. In February, Chase was selected as a member of the John Wesley Society of the United Methodist Church, a recognition program within the church.
“Anybody that’s known to us that came out of this community then we want to continue to keep them inspired and lifted for the younger folk and then some,” Collins said.
Collins said their family has a long history in Columbus, with many becoming educators and business owners, including Collins Automotive.
“Columbus is a small town, but we are who we are, and we’ve had great backgrounds and teachings,” Collins said. “Life is what you make it, but we got a good start.”
