Alumni Interview: Ryan Rae

To start off, can you tell a little about yourself? What are you up to these days?

Well, my wife and I got married at the Wesley this May. Then, we packed up and moved to Nashville so my wife could pursue her dream of going to school to become a physical therapist. I’ve started a new job working at an insurance company and also begun taking classical guitar lessons. My wife and I are reading together again – she’s got The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams and I’ve got Crossing into Safety by Wallace Stegner. We've found a great Christian community with a local church called Hamilton UMC.

How long have you been a Christian? What is the sort of abbreviated story of your life with Christ so far?

I guess I started becoming a Christian when I first started college. I was seeking a sense of belonging and community, so I began going to the Wesley on and off for a few years. At first, I was very defiant and independent. This is probably the worst way you could be because you end up running yourself in circles and relying on your own strength. It leads to the humbling truth that you can't solve all your problems and you can't be utterly alone. I learned that I needed to be around people who would be willing to help me even when I didn't want them to. There came a moment after I graduated when I was looking for a place to live that I reached out to McCall Heckel (now my wife), and she offered me a place at one of her friend’s houses. These friends – who were also part of the Wesley – opened up their home during a pandemic to let me live with them for free. The folks starting their Wesley internships at the time were already my friends, so that was when I began regularly going to the Wesley. I saw it to be a community where everybody was helping everybody – you don't find that very often. Eventually, I stumbled into being a Christian and being an intern in large part because I wanted to be a part of nurturing the community that had taken such good care of me.

Do you remember who was your first Wesley hangout?

I think it was an intern my freshman year named Garett Warren. If I remember, I think we went to the park and he just let me ramble for a solid two hours. I remember him being a little “bro-ey” but as soon as I started talking to him, I realized that he was so earnest and nice. I couldn’t help but like him. He was also wearing a shirt made by his grandma, so I knew he couldn’t be evil.

Tell me about your time as an intern. How did your time during the internship shape your faith?

When I think about the internship, I come back to the line in our communion liturgy that talks about Christians being stewards of His mysteries. As an intern, I came to know how infinite God was and how I couldn't possibly know everything about Him. It’s a laughable notion to think you could. I learned about how specific and individual God’s care was for His people, and I gained an appreciation for it. It gives me a lot of hope knowing that God will preserve me because I really can't do it on my own. 

What advice from your own experience of being in college and being a Christian would you give to other students?

Just keep trying. Everyone thinks that you have to make a big splash, but you don't. You have to stop and listen to God. Go to a place where He speaks. I encourage students to come to Wesley and hear what the Holy Spirit is saying and see how He is moving through the people. As a college student, you’re presented with a great opportunity. School only lasts 4 or 6 years, but you have God for the rest of your life, so know about Him.

Ryan Rae was an Intern in the 21-22 school year. A hilarious presence and amazing friend, Ryan brought a unique and needed spirit to The Wesley. He and his wife McCall (also a former Intern) continue to be the amazing people they are, just in a different place.