07/04/2026
EKU Wesley welcomes new director, Evan Rowe
The Wesley Foundation at EKU has been blessed to have Eliza Love as its director for the last two years. Eliza had been in a full-time role that was split between Richmond FUMC and the Wesley Foundation at EKU. She has now been appointed at Scottsville First UMC in Scottsville, Kentucky. We are sad to see her go but look forward to hearing about her ministry in Scottsville.
The Wesley's board completed a search in the spring to find a new director. With Richmond FUMC no longer able to partner for the full-time position and the Wesley not currently able to fund a full-time position on its own, the board created a part-time position at 25 hours a week. The board does hope to be able to expand the role back to full-time in the future.
The spring search led the board to our new director, Evan Rowe, who was appointed to the position at annual conference in June and officially started July 1.
Evan was born and raised in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and attended First United Methodist Church there. He has a bachelor's degree in religion and philosophy from Kentucky Wesleyan College as well as master's degrees in divinity and marriage and family therapy from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
Evan has served most recently as the senior pastor of St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Panama City, Florida. He has also served at Midway Baptist Church in Midway, Kentucky, as associate pastor and minister of youth and worship, and as senior pastor. He is also currently the disaster case manager and parish relations coordinator for Catholic Charities of Lexington.
Below is a personal note from Evan. We hope you'll join us in welcoming him, praying for him and supporting him as he leads this ministry we all love so much.
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Hi, I’m Evan Rowe, and I’m honored to serve as the Director of the Wesley at EKU.
I believe college is one of the most exciting, challenging, and transformative seasons of life. It’s a time when you are discovering who you are, what you believe, and how you want to make a difference in the world. My hope is that the Wesley will be a place where students can bring their whole selves—questions, doubts, hopes, and dreams—and find a community that welcomes them just as they are.
Throughout my ministry, I’ve been passionate about helping people grow spiritually, build meaningful relationships, and find ways to serve others. Whether we’re sharing a meal, studying scripture, engaging in service projects, worshiping together, or simply having a conversation over coffee, I want the Wesley to be a place where students feel connected, supported, and encouraged.
I’m a Kentucky native, an ordained minister, and someone who deeply values authentic community. My wife, Kelly, and I have been married for twenty-four years, and we have three amazing children. Some of my favorite things are spending time with family, listening to music, enjoying a good cup of chai, and hearing people’s stories.
I look forward to getting to know the students of EKU and building a Wesley community where everyone can grow in faith, discover their purpose, and make lifelong friendships along the way.
