Seeing the Unseen: ORU's Treston Jones Perspective On a Life of Servant Leadership

The author Harper Lee wrote:

You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.

By this, Lee not only meant a person's literal viewpoint (how we see with our eyes), she also meant their worldview (how we see with our hearts). To understand ORU's Treston Jones, there's not a better place to start than with his heart and how it guides his point of view.

"I'm studying ministry and Christian caregiving," Treston said, "and after I graduate, I plan to work with teen mothers. Teen pregnancy can be really difficult for a family. Young mothers often struggle to meet the needs of their children, and the foster care system doesn't solve every problem. I want to be part of the solution."

The World Health Organization describes adolescent pregnancy as a "global phenomenon with … serious health, social and economic consequences." This is how Treston sees the problem, not as a mere statistic but as a worldwide issue that desperately needs his help. It might not be the typical point of view for a college sophomore, but Treston-and what he wants to do with his life-is far from typical.

"The work I plan to do with teen pregnancy," Treston said, "will be incorporated into my ministry. In the past, I've also worked with the homeless, and I've seen their struggles with simple things like personal hygiene. Another part of my ministry will be to provide showers for the homeless, and from there, I can further help by providing counseling, daycare, and job resources."

The Power of Surrender

How someone views the world is often a product of their experiences, and an important part of any person's life experience is college. At ORU, Treston says the college experience has changed him personally by helping him grow through humility. In his work with teen pregnancy and the homeless, Treston plans to be a humble leader, a leader who's not afraid to surrender himself.

"What I've learned," Treston said, "is that one of the greatest aspects of leadership is servant leadership. This requires surrender, and when I came to ORU, I had a lot to surrender. To be honest, I think surrender is really important. For me, it's become a daily exercise with daily steps. These acts of surrender and humility have helped me reach people who might otherwise be overlooked."

"Reaching people" is part of Treston's "now" point of view. It's part of understanding him as a person and a leader; he's not one to wait for a ministry because there's always a ministry in front of him. Right now, Treston says he feels a calling to help the unseen feel seen, to be a positive influence on other students in the ORU community.

"Sometimes, a student can feel overlooked and weary," Treston said, "but ORU is a community of love, and on this campus, you're always surrounded by your brothers and sisters. Look around, and you can find a cure for the weariness. Part of this is reminding others that God's words will never leave them. The other part is to walk faithfully so the weary can see your faith on fire."

A photo collage highlighting moments from Treston's journey at ORU

Nationally Ranked, Globally Recognized

ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 17 years of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor's level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. In 2024, the Carnegie Foundation recognized ORU with a "Leadership for Public Purpose" award, a distinction earned by only 25 universities nationwide. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 176 nations in the last 7 years to be whole leaders for the whole world.