Elliott Library “Cornerstone” Laid

January 13, 2021
6:58 pm

On Wednesday, January 6, team members of the Christian Church Leadership Foundation met in the Bible & Theology Room of the Christian Church Leadership Center in Florence, Kentucky to place the first books on the library shelves.

All three books were Bibles with historical significance to CCU alumni and friends. Dr. David Fincher, CCLFoundation president, opened the gathering, welcomed those watching in person and online, and introduced Jim Lloyd, director of library services.

Mr. Lloyd explained the significance of each Bible that would be placed on the shelves. One Bible had belonged to longtime Hebrew and Old Testament professor Wilke Winter, given to him by his father on Christmas Day, 1939. Another belonged to esteemed professor Lewis Foster, who taught at CCU for years and served on the first translation team of the New International Version Bible. The third Bible belonged to Professor R.C. Foster, one of the founders of Cincinnati Bible Seminary. When the library was moved on campus from the Administration Building to the new Crouch Building in the fall of 1968, Professor Foster led a parade of students across campus, carrying a stack of books under his left arm and a Bible under his right arm. In a fitting ceremony, Professor Foster placed the Bible as the first book in the library shelves, indicating its significance and foundation to the mission of the college.

Following this explanation, Mr. Lloyd placed all three Bibles on a shelf in the Elliott Library, equating the act to the laying of a building’s cornerstone. The Word of God will be the foundation and cornerstone of both the Elliott Library and the Christian Church Leadership Foundation. A closing prayer was offered by Shawn McMullen, vice president of partner relations for CCLF.

A more formal dedication of the Elliott Library will be held at the CCL Center in Florence near the end of the year, once the library is completely set up and we’re able to gather again safely.

Volunteers Needed to Complete the Library Project

Now that we’ve placed the first books in the Elliott Library, our next task is to place more than 45,000 additional volumes on the shelves. As you can imagine, this will be a monumental task.

That’s why we’re asking friends and ministry partners of CCLF to volunteer some of their valuable time this month and next to help us complete this project. If you would be willing to assist in shelving books in the new library, please contact Jim Lloyd, at [email protected]. Thank you!