THE RECORD Online

Fall 2002 News Briefs

GC Expands Into Metro St. Louis

During the past few years, Greenville Student Outreach (GSO) programs such as Urban Plunge and Greenville Student Outreach’s Lighthouse Ministry have given students such opportunities. However, many school officials felt this was not enough.

For years, GC has dreamed of establishing an urban study center in St. Louis. Now, it seems that that dream has become a reality. Through creative partnerships with the Gateway Conference, Adams School, Lighthouse FM Church and Lighthouse Community Outreach Center, students will be able to work and study in an urban environment. Greenville’s goal is to have 20-25 students living near the Lighthouse Church and Community Center in the Forest Park Southeast neighborhood each semester. These students will do internships in their majors and take classes one night each week.

One of the main obstacles to the program was finding a residence for participating students. However, thanks in part to a grant of $35,000 from the Crowell Trust of Colorado Springs, the college has purchased a four flat apartment building directly across from the Lighthouse FMC building.
Another challenge was finding the right person to lead the program. Greenville College and the Gateway Conference have brought Craig Scandrett-Leatherman and his wife Beth to St. Louis. Craig, who previously directed the Wesleyan Urban Coalition where he brought a number of students into Chicago to study, will pastor the Lighthouse FM Church and spend one-quarter time as a program and curriculum consultant while he completes his doctorate. Also, Rick Russell ’02 has been appointed to the pastoral staff at Lighthouse Church where he worked during his senior year at GC.

Lastly, Greenville’s Education Department has established a relationship with Adams School, which is located across the street from the Lighthouse Church. This agreement will place student teachers in the school each semester. This racially diverse school was closed during the winter of 1993-1994 but finally reopened for fall 2002 and now serves over 400 students.

Plans call for the first group of students to move into the new apartment building and study in this unique cross-cultural program during Interterm 2003.

Last updated: January 17, 2003