By Gerard Flanagan, lead writer and communications specialist, Office of Marketing and Communications
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Campbellsville University will celebrate the grand opening of the Center for Faith and Ministry on Friday, April 12.
The community is invited to attend a Service of Dedication in Ransdell Chapel, located at 401 N. Hoskins Avenue, at 9 a.m. The Service of Dedication will feature a time of prayer, singing of hymns and reading of Scripture. Dr. Robert Smith, noted speaker and Professor of Preaching at Beeson Divinity School, will give a sermon of dedication.
“Having the Center for Faith and Ministry means that Campbellsville University is investing in and seeking to expand its Christian mission,” Dr. Twyla Hernandez, professor of Christian Missions, said. “We are fully committed to providing opportunities for our students, staff, and faculty to grow and deepen their faith while at CU.”
Following the opening ceremony, everyone is invited to the Turner Log Cabin, which will house the Center for Faith and Ministry, for a ribbon cutting hosted by the Campbellsville Taylor County Chamber of Commerce and the groundbreaking for the Dr. James E. and Martha Bell Jones Prayer Garden, which will be located behind the Center for Faith and Ministry. The ribbon cutting and groundbreaking will begin at 11 a.m.
“The Dr. James E. and Martha Bell Jones Prayer Garden will provide a peaceful setting for the university as well as the community to grow closer to God,” Hernandez said. “When completed, it will feature landscaping, benches, and other features that will lead the person to reflect on Scripture and have a quiet place to meditate.”
Following its longstanding commitment to fostering spiritual growth, Campbellsville University has established the Center for Faith and Ministry to serve as a dedicated space for spiritual engagement, learning and outreach. The Center aims to provide a welcoming environment where individuals can come together to explore, nurture, and deepen their spiritual journeys.
The Center for Faith and Ministry at Campbellsville University will mentor faculty, staff, and students to integrate faith into their daily and professional lives.
“We envision a community where faith is integrated seamlessly into every aspect of university life, empowering individuals to live out their Christian calling with purpose and passion,” Hernandez said.
The Center for Faith and Ministry will foster partnerships with local churches and ministry partners to create a network of “support and mutual enrichment.”
Hernandez said, “We will extend beyond traditional academic boundaries and campus borders, encompassing the equipping of local churches through conferences, research, and noncredit ministry certificate programs.”
The Center will also seek to equip the CU community to share the Good News of Jesus Christ both locally and globally, specifically aiming to partner with and equip missions teams going out from the university.
“The Center for Faith and Ministry will be a beacon for spiritual growth and collaboration within Campbellsville University and beyond,” Hernandez said. “Whether you’re a student seeking spiritual growth, a faculty member committed to the Christian mission, or a member of the local church eager to engage in ministry, we extend a warm welcome to you.”
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university that offers over 100 programs including doctoral, master, bachelor, associate and certificate programs. The website for complete information is www.campbellsville.edu.
(Gerard Flanagan, lead writer and communications specialist, Office of Marketing and Communications)