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President's Memorandum

Wheaton College President Dr. Ryken Headshot
Winter 2025 Edition

Letter From the President

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” — Hebrews 10:23 (ESV)

The writer of Hebrews calls us to “hold fast”—to cling with confidence and perseverance to the hope we possess in Jesus Christ. Thus hope is not wishful thinking; it is steadfast confidence in the character of a God who always keeps his promises. Because he who promised is faithful, we can move forward with courage, conviction, and joy.

This unshakable hope that stands at the heart of Wheaton College’s new comprehensive campaign: Faithfully Forward.

Faithfully — Because God Has Been Faithful

For 165 years, God has proven his faithfulness to Wheaton College. From our founding vision in 1860 to today, he has raised up generations of students equipped to love Jesus, proclaim the gospel, and serve the church and culture in every sphere of society. Through economic depressions, global wars, cultural change, and educational transformation, his hand has never failed us.

We see God's faithfulness in the faces of alumni who serve as pastors, physicians, educators, scientists, artists, and advocates—culture-shaping ambassadors who carry Christ’s light into a world that desperately needs his grace. We see it in the daily life of our campus community, where students from many nations worship together, study deeply, grow spiritually, and prepare to lead lives of gospel impact. And we see it in you, our faithful friends whose prayers, generosity, and partnership sustain Wheaton’s mission and extend its reach. Because God has been faithful, we are called to be faithful and to hold fast to the confession of our hope and to continue the work he has entrusted to us.

Forward — Because the World Still Needs Christ

The call to faithfulness does not mean standing still. It means pressing forward with renewed vision and bold obedience into the opportunities God is opening before us.

Our world is changing at breathtaking speed. The challenges facing the church in an age of information and polarization are complex and urgent. Yet the mission of Wheaton College remains as clear and compelling as ever: to serve Jesus Christ and advance His Kingdom through excellence in liberal arts and graduate programs that educate the whole person to build the church and benefit society worldwide.

Faithfully Forward is our response to this moment. Through strategic initiatives in three vital areas—Equipping students through scholarships and financial aid, Elevating the campus experience with transformational facilities and resources, and Expanding Wheaton’s missional leadership across the globe—we will prepare the next generation of Christ-centered leaders for gospel-centered impact.

Each initiative reflects our deep trust in God’s promises and our determination to steward this institution for his glory and the good of the world.

Together — Because the Mission Is Shared

The mission of Wheaton College has never belonged to one generation alone. It is a sacred trust, passed from those who built this institution to those who sustain it today and, by God’s grace, to those who will carry it forward tomorrow.

As we launch Faithfully Forward, we do so with deep gratitude for the faithful partners whose support has shaped Wheaton’s witness in the world and with renewed resolve to steward that legacy wisely. Your generosity will make possible the scholarships that bring gifted students to campus, the facilities that enrich their learning, and the opportunities that prepare them for service around the globe.

Our calling is clear: to continue building the church and benefiting society through Christ-centered education. And our confidence well-placed: He who promised is faithful. With that assurance, we press ahead—not for our own sake, but for the sake of the gospel and the generations to come.

Philip Ryken
President

Wheaton Associates Commitments

  • PRAY regularly for the College, its students, faculty, and staff.
  • PROMOTE the mission of Wheaton College in one’s community.
  • GIVE to the Wheaton Fund annually.
Give to the Wheaton Fund
Esther Baird and her family smiling at the camera on vacation.
Esther Baird ’96

A Letter to Wheaton Associates

I’m writing this on Wheaton’s beautiful campus on a crisp fall day. Meetings as a member of the Board of Visitors and trips to see our two daughters bring me here from Boston a few times a year. I always arrive slightly tired and drained. Life spent serving as a Christian anywhere right now can be a challenge. But my time at Wheaton is a battery recharge for my soul. When I’m here, I am surrounded by beauty, knowledge, and excellence—whether in meetings with professors, friendly words from students, or hearing Chaplain Wilson’s booming call to worship in chapel. It’s clear that I am in a place that loves Jesus and is leading thousands of students to love and serve Him around the world. It’s refreshing and invigorating simply to be here, surrounded by this community of faith.

And so, my husband and I are Wheaton Associates. We prefer giving to the Wheaton Fund because we don’t know if a boiler needs replacing, a professor needs a new computer, or the athletic trainers need an extra contrast bath. (Actually, at the rate our senior daughter visits the trainers for contrast, I’m pretty sure they do need new ones.) We want Wheaton to excel, and the Wheaton Fund ensures the money goes where it’s needed most.

While we love supporting the Wheaton Fund because it meets needs we can’t always see, we’re also excited about the specific priorities highlighted in the recently launched Faithfully Forward campaign. These initiatives reflect Wheaton’s commitment to providing an outstanding liberal arts education and strengthening its leadership in Christian higher education. Personally, I can’t wait to see the new library and upgraded, fresh, athletic facilities take shape.

As the mom of two student-athletes, I know how essential both facilities are—spaces where minds are stretched and bodies are trained. I even joked with my daughters about claiming a “Mom cubby” in the new library to read and write, though they weren’t as enthusiastic. And after touring the current football locker room, “fresh” wasn’t the first word that came to mind—so new facilities will be a welcome change there, too. More than anything, I’m excited for Wheaton students to have the vital resources they need to learn and compete, and glorify God—in study spaces, on fields, and everywhere in between.

So, we continue to pray for Wheaton, and we give. In an increasingly divisive, chaotic, and unsettled world, Wheaton remains steady because its foundation is Jesus and its work is always in service of His Kingdom. We are grateful to be part of it and even more when we consider your generosity, fellow Wheaton Associates. Your giving to the Wheaton Fund is the quiet, steady force that ensures the new library and athletic spaces don’t just get built—they thrive. Our hope is that our support, joined with yours, helps fuel a generation of Christ-centered leaders who will carry Wheaton’s mission into the world.

Sincerely, 

Esther Baird ’96
Member of the Faithfully Forward Campaign Steering Committee

Homecoming Address From Lisa Brosious Beamer ’91

Praise & Prayer Requests

  • Praise for the beautiful weather during Homecoming weekend to celebrate our reunion classes.
  • Praise for the strong start to the Faithfully Forward capital campaign and the many alumni, family, and friends, like you, who have helped thus far.
  • Pray for our students, faculty, and staff as finals quickly approach and the fall semester comes to a close.
  • Pray for our students over the Christmas break as they leave campus and return to family or friends.
  • Pray for the Lord’s blessing as the Faithfully Forward campaign continues, and that his faithfulness and glory would be most evident at every stage.

Director’s Note

I’m delighted to invite you to join us in 2026 as Wheaton comes to a city near you! These special gatherings of music, mission, and celebration are designed to bring our community together to rejoice in God’s faithfulness and look ahead to all he has in store through the Faithfully Forward campaign.

You’ll enjoy live performances by inspiring Christian artists, stories of impact from across the globe, and wonderful opportunities for food, fellowship, and connection with fellow friends of Wheaton.

Here’s where we’ll be:

  • March 7, 2026 – Minneapolis, MN – Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot
  • March 14, 2026 – Denver, CO – Mile High Stadium
  • April 18, 2026 – Atlanta, GA – Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
  • April 22, 2026 – WheatonGives (Virtual Event)
  • September 26, 2026 – Los Angeles, CA – Skirball Cultural Center
  • October 24, 2026 – Washington, D.C. – Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium

I hope you’ll make plans to join us—we can’t wait to celebrate with you!

With heartfelt gratitude,

Charles V. Audino
Director of Annual & Reunion Giving

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Blanchard Hall Photo