About The Wesley Foundation in Cincinnati

The Wesley Foundation in Cincinnati, Inc is the Campus Ministry serving the college age students in the 124 churches of the Ohio River Valley District (West Ohio Conference) of the United Methodist Church.  It is our mission to offer God’s radical love to every student in the greater Cincinnati, Ohio area and to form a community of disciples grounded in Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.  It is our vision to see an intentionally diverse population of students boldly committed to following Jesus and characterized by their living out of the Gospel in every aspect of their lives, passionate worship, holiness of heart and life, and courageous witness in the world through evangelism and mission bringing God’s kingdom to earth. Indeed, it is our humble plan to #OCCUPYUC & Beyond!!

The United Methodist Church

“I continue to dream and pray about a revival of holiness in our day that moves forth in mission and creates authentic community in which each person can be unleashed through the empowerment of the Spirit to fulfill God’s creational intentions.”

“Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may. Herein all the children of God may unite, notwithstanding these smaller differences.”

The quotes above are from John Wesley. John and his brother Charles experienced a spiritual transformation in May 1738 and began to lead a renewal in the Church of England. The Methodist movement soon spread to America, and it was led mainly by lay members (unordained congregation members). The first official American Methodist denomination was formed in Baltimore in December 1784, calling itself the Methodist Episcopal Church in America.

John Wesley was not a systematic theologian but rather a practical theologian. Instead of faith being purely an intellectual experience, he was adamant that our understanding of faith must influence our actions in the real world. He remarked that we must keep our head and our heart involved in our faith. He is most known for his writings and sermons on God’s grace. He viewed God’s grace as the work of the Holy Spirit in the everyone’s life from the moment of conception to death, leading us to the understanding that God exists, loves us, and sent Jesus for our salvation. For more on Wesley’s distinctive theological influence, please visit: www.umc.org

A Little of Our History

Since 1952 the Wesley Foundation In Cincinnati, Ohio is the official United Methodist Campus ministry in the Greater Cincinnati, Ohio area of the West Ohio Annual Conference. West Ohio Campus Ministry is the official presence of The United Methodist Church on college and university campuses in West Ohio. We are called to share with our campuses the transformational nature of Christ in a way that raises up a new generation of thoughtful, articulate Christians. While this calling looks and feels very different across our campuses, it is central to our identity and it compels us to provide intentional collegiate ministries that call out to this emerging generation at with 16 campus ministries at various colleges and universities across Ohio.