Wesley will be having its annual homecoming open house on Saturday, October 18th. Join us from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM for lunch. Anyone is welcome to stop by! We look forward to seeing all of our alumni, family and friends!

With a NEW family open house and tour on top, our kick-off events were a great pairing as we welcomed new and returning students back to Wesley. We saw many new faces from all class years at the start of the semester, and it gives me hope that students are exploring Wesley as they discern how they might connect and discover a sense of belonging during their time at William & Mary.

Our weekly Sunday night dinners and programs continue to draw a wonderful and diverse crowd. Our local church, board, and alums support provide excellent meals, and we have hosted speakers on topics ranging from belonging, faith and science, to unpacking spirituality and different interpretations of the Book of Revelation. Additionally, we had the joy of hosting the Reverend Brandan Robertson as part of his "Queer and Christian" book tour. This event reached Wesley students, students from other campus ministries, and the greater W&M community.

Our student leadership team is stellar, maximizing their impact in ways beyond my millennial brain, with an effective social media presence, along with the week-to-week mentoring relationships they provide to other students involved in Wesley. They lead small groups, play music for worship, plan fellowship events, coordinate local outreach, and several are organic leaders in our residential community; they embody Wesley’s vision of radical hospitality to all.

The residential community is in a new and exciting place as it leans into its identity as an intentional living opportunity. With seven residents in the spring and eight this fall (including graduate students!), the welcoming atmosphere of Wesley is on full display. Residents participate in weekly Wesley events, tend to the care of the house, and plan resident activities to foster a sense of community.

The energy around our generosity campaign excites me for Wesley’s future. We have witnessed incredible support from alums and friends of the Foundation, along with the addition of three new local churches committed to our mission and ministry. I, along with the Reverend Dr. David Hindman, former campus minister, hosted a gathering of alums in Roanoke, Virginia, to share the news of our campaign and highlight where Wesley is headed in the near future. Our Development Team has done incredible and faithful work in reconnecting with alums and sharing Wesley’s ongoing story and legacy. The building underwent significant renovations this summer to provide office space for me and our office manager, as well as an upgrade to one of our residential bathrooms, and ongoing upgrades to help the house inch closer to its goal of self-sustainability.

I look forward to meeting you next time you are in Williamsburg and on campus! Stop by the house and let’s grab coffee or lunch! I am grateful for your prayers, and on behalf of our Board and students, we appreciate your ongoing belief in the story Wesley continues to tell.

Grace and peace,
The Rev. Dr. Ryan LaRock