Student Testimony: Maddie Smith

The following was shared as a student testimony at a church outreach on 1/30/2022:

I’m Madeline, and I’m a new student at Louisiana Tech. Like many other incoming freshmen, I was told one of the best things to do at college is get involved. So, during the first few weeks of college, that's what I tried to do. I went to many different events on campus: club meetings, games, shows, and more. But an event that stood out to me significantly was the first time I went to a small group at the Wesley. I had met the leader of my small group, McCall, one day at a table set-up in the quad. She had been very welcoming and repeatedly invited me to the many events at Wesley. I had heard of the Wesley Foundation through family and friends who had good experiences and memories from being a part of it. I knew that I wanted to find a place that would recognize my faith and allow me to strengthen it, so I decided I would give it a chance. 

One of the things McCall asked me when I came for the first time was, “How was your day?” Like most people, I responded with, “Good.” She then said, “That’s good, but do you really mean it? What all happened? Tell me more.” This may have seemed like a small gesture, but it really meant a lot to me that someone truly cared about my day and wanted to hear about it. As I attended more events at the Wesley, I was gladly surprised when I found out that many others asked similar questions. Additionally, anyone would gladly sit down with you to talk - whether it was asking get-to-know-you questions, asking about my biology class, or having long, meaningful conversations about your faith.

Over recent years, I have learned that forming a close community is something very important to me. Going into college, finding these genuine friendships and connections was a priority for me. The Wesley is a community that supports me, is reliable, and pushes me to share God’s word while also deepening my own relationship with him. To know that there is somewhere I can go to do this while celebrating God’s word with others is an amazing feeling. I keep returning to the Wesley Foundation because I value the people there and the time we spend together, growing our faith and community. It has allowed me to realize that the Wesley is not just a place but also a feeling special to me.

Maddie is a freshman this year at LaTech studying Kinesiology. She enjoys reading, hiking, and spending time with friends and family. Maddie is a vibrant member of the Wesley community and we are excited to see her continue to grow!