Dear Team Members,
As Christmas approaches, I want to pause to thank you for the care, dedication, and heart you bring to our mission. The work you do every day matters to the people we serve, to their families, and to one another. I have never taken that for granted, and I am deeply grateful.
Christmas invites reflection on the values that shape WesleyLife. In Luke 2:11, we hear: Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. As a Christian-based organization, the birth of Jesus is foundational to our mission, and the humility, compassion, and service reflected in that story are values shared across our organization.
This Christmas is especially meaningful for me; it is my 29th Christmas with WesleyLife, and it will be my last Christmas greeting to you as president and CEO as I prepare to retire in June. When I visit the Wesley on Grand campus and pass the Chamberlain Mansion, once home to our corporate offices, I am taken back to those early years. The long days, the hard work, and the deep joy and fulfillment that came from building something meaningful together are still very present for me.
Many of you have heard this story before — and I know you’re probably thinking, “Here comes the servant’s-door story again,” but it bears repeating. The Chamberlain Mansion includes a service door — the entrance once used by those who served the wealthy family who lived there. A resident of Wesley on Grand, then called Wesley Acres, would often ask me to walk with her to that door, reminding me that leadership is service.
That simple lesson stayed with me, and it’s one I think about every day, especially at Christmas. The Christmas story itself reflects that same idea: not power or status, but humility and service.
On a more personal note, I’ll be spending the holiday with my wife, our three grown children, and our six grandchildren. The day will be loud, chaotic, joyful, and wonderfully full, and I’m grateful for every bit of it. I hope each of you will find moments of rest, connection, and joy in whatever this season looks like for you.
Thank you for the privilege of serving alongside you for nearly three decades. It has been one of the great honors of my life. I wish you and your loved ones a meaningful and peaceful Christmas.
With gratitude,
Rob
