Hospitality is the act of giving our time, resources, and regard to embrace friends and strangers, and we see many examples of this in Scripture: when Jesus fed the five thousand, invited Martha to break from her work and spend time with Him, and shared a final meal with His followers. Throughout Jesus’ life, He saw people as they were and welcomed them into His kingdom. Through Scripture, He teaches us that we can extend hospitality through something as simple as a seat in our home or the time to listen to someone’s story, inviting a stranger into belonging.
When we welcome guests to Geneva, we give them a glimpse into who we are and what it would mean to belong here as a student and future alumni. Parents wonder, “Will my child be accepted here, prepared for life here, safe here?” Students ask, “Will I be successful here? Am I made for this?” Alumni reminisce about their time here, “How did this place shape me? Am I still welcome here?”
Everyone asks, “Does my story matter here?”
As the director of events at Geneva, I work closely with a team who strives to welcome people with joy and intentionality to campus. The events team partners with those who work to answer those questions — the admissions office, financial aid, alumni engagement, student development, and faculty, among others.
One of Geneva’s core values is to inspire vibrant hospitality. Hospitality is the offering of regard, the keeping of company, and the creation of places of rest. When we offer people regard by turning our attention and concern to them, we can see their needs and hear their story. When we keep them company on their journey — whether into college or out of college and into the next phase of life — we become witnesses to what the Lord is doing in their lives, witnesses who can say, “God is good, and He goes before you.” When we create places of rest for people, we give them a place to come out of the storm — the demands of life or the college search process — to be heard and tended to. We provide a way to connect with others in a meaningful way.
There is a campus-wide network of people who think about practical elements like campus signage, shoveled sidewalks, and table centerpieces — such as physical plant, the events team, and marketing, to name a few. We refer to this as “the ministry of tables,” acknowledging that these practical elements pave the way for conversation and relationship. This is all part of hospitality — the listening and offering regard — and the creating of a physical place of rest.
The Dwight E. Wagner Welcome Center will facilitate this through a physical location for hospitality. The building creates a designated place for campus events allowing less disruption to the student experience, for community events that engage our neighbors, and a permanent home for recruiting events. Visiting families who haven’t found their place yet and alumni who have moved on will no longer have to wonder where they belong when they pass under the Geneva arch.
At Geneva, hospitality means your story matters. You have a place to belong, you can rest here — you were made for this.
By Rebecca Bryant, MAHE ‘18, Director of Public Events & Visits
To learn more about Geneva's Advancing Faith and Learning campaign and join the mission, visit genevacollegefoundation.org/forthis.
Originally published in the Geneva Magazine Winter 2025
Request Information
Learn more about Geneva College.
Have questions? Call us at 724-847-6505.
Online Course Login
myGeneva Student Portal
© Geneva College | All rights reserved