Spark

Invitations are powerful. They open doors we never expected and draw us deeper into community, shaping who we become and how we engage with the world. As I begin serving as the new director of alumni and family engagement, I find myself reflecting on the invitations that have led me to this moment.

My connection to Calvin began with an invitation to “check out this local school”—one I had perhaps overlooked due to its proximity to my upbringing. That visit revealed that while Calvin was close to home, it was rich in a community that would prepare me to expand into God’s global kingdom.

My years at Calvin were marked by many unexpected invitations, each opening doors for learning, service, and growth. Yet one stands out, and it involves pizza!

As a member of the Calvin swim team, I was invited each year to a retired professor’s home for a pizza and pop dinner. After grueling hours in the pool with my teammates, the walk to Doc Wilson’s home was always welcome.

Around the table, Doc shared stories of his travels, asked thoughtful questions, and reminded us that our stories mattered. He concluded with the same challenge each year: “When you graduate from Calvin, invite a college student into your home for pizza.” 

Doc Wilson understood the power of invitations. He was not simply asking us to buy a meal for a college student someday; he was inviting us to sit, listen, and notice God at work in others’ lives. He challenged us to move beyond our own plans and schedules and to serve others by giving what we ourselves had received. His vision shaped my understanding that generosity is, at its heart, an invitation into relationship and gratitude.

When meeting with my predecessor, Jeff Haverdink, he affirmed that serving in this role is a tremendous gift. It offers the privilege of gathering with alumni around the world to listen, learn, and celebrate what God has done through their lives and vocations.

Jeff has accepted God’s invitation to serve as head of schools at Holland Christian Schools in Holland, Michigan. While he will be deeply missed, I am grateful for his leadership and legacy.

And I am equally grateful that God has invited me into this role. I look forward to doing what Doc modeled so well: inviting you to the table, hearing your stories, and learning how you have extended invitations within your “square inch” as you live lives of impact and generosity.

So, consider this your invitation to read on, to enter the stories of fellow alumni who are using business, the arts, medicine, community outreach, and scientific research to create change and build connection. 

May these stories inspire you to open your table, extend your welcome, and discover the ways God is already working through the invitations you offer others.

Blessings,

Becky Weima Bagnall ’07 | Executive Director of Alumni and Family Engagement