Pictured here: Corbin District Superintendent, Terry Faris,
along with the Pierce family and Board Vice-President, Jay Nolan

Prior to the February Board meeting of The Bennett Center of London, the Board, along with staff and others on campus welcomed the newest member of the Bennett Center family, Clare Elizabeth Pierce, during a dinner and shower. Clare Elizabeth, daughter of Executive Director, Russ, and his wife, Kathy, was born on February 10th. Both ordained United Methodist clergy, Russ and Kathy came to the Bennett Center from the Dakota Wesleyan University in South Dakota in October. Clare Elizabeth is not the only change recently at the Bennett Center!

Many of us remember the Bennett Center as Sue Bennett College which over the past several years has transitioned into an exciting mixture of ministries and programs in the London Laurel County area. On the campus you will find the London/Laurel YMCA, the Kentucky River Foothills Head Start area office, the Laurel County Adult Education and Literacy Council, the children and Family Branch of the Laurel County Public Library, Christ Presbyterian Church, Union College's Adult Degree Completion Program, Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children's Youth Support Center, Faith in Action Volunteers, the Little Rock Cottage Craft Store, the Library of Appalachia and Theology, SHARE, SCORE, Laurel County United Way, Tri-Co Family Mentoring, Network of Volunteer Professionals, the London Community Orchestra! It almost makes one exhausted to just read this list!

But this isn't all that is going on…or that is PLANNED to go on at the campus! The Dining Hall offers support to the Older Persons Activity Center including 144 meals served four days a week to elderly members of the community. They provide supper on school days and lunch on summer days for the Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children's Youth Support Center. They are planning to begin hosting weekly community meals in the fall as well as a potato drop in cooperation with the Society of St Andrew. This summer will see seven work groups from South Carolina, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Kentucky and Indiana! Over the next months The Bennett Center hopes to explore new opportunities such as retreats, continuing education for Licensed Local and Lay Supply pastors, and spiritual formation programs. Of the eight apartments on campus, one has been made available to the London/Laurel Area Ministerial Association for use as emergency housing; others are used to house volunteers, a few are available for rental.

For many years now, God HAS been doing a new thing on the campus of The Bennett Center of London. Now YOU are being invited to visit the campus any time…Come, be transformed-for life, for faith, for service!

For more information, contact Rev. Russ Pierce at director@bennettcenter.org or phone him at (606) 877-1964. Even better, contact Russ about either visiting the campus OR inviting him to share about what is happening with your congregation!!