“When I first came to the Wesley, I was not in a great place. I didn’t have a lot of friends and I was kind of lost. Honestly, I was pretty sad. I tried out Wesley and the very next week I played in the worship band! And just like that, it stuck.” Malley is from right down the road in Bentonville, and from the beginning of her time with us she has been very involved.
You can tell from her own words that she is a genuine, down to earth, sweetheart. That honesty and willingness to be open comes out as she leads us in worship and co-leads a discipleship group, as well as in all her relationships here. I’ve had more than one student say to me, “Malley is my person,” which is college lingo for “when I have something I’m wrestling with, I talk to Malley about it!”
Jesus was someone people felt like they could talk to. After some of Jesus’s more confusing sermons Peter would ask, “What did you mean there?!” When he was troubled, Nicodemus pulled Christ aside to chat. Even Pilate, though a bit sarcastic, asked Him, “What is truth?” That is a question you only pose to someone you trust. Students at Wesley trust Malley because she’s a lot like her Savior. She’s someone you can talk to and when you do, she really will light up your day.
“My experience at the Wesley - getting so involved so quickly and the friends I’ve made - really brought light back to my life after things were so dark during Covid. And really, there are always dark things going on in life. I have dark things right now. But, the Wesley is a place where I can come worship alongside people I care about, and that brings light into my life.”
Throughout November, we have been sharing stories of Wesley students like Malley as we raise support to continue the ministry at Wesley into the coming year. Everything we do at Wesley, from our Tuesday night dinner & worship, small discipleship groups, and our Wesley House on campus where students can come during the week to study, hang out, and do life together, is made possible through your gifts! Thank you for helping us provide a place of light for students like Malley!
In Christ,
Daniel Rupp
Wesley College Pastor
