April 3, 2012
For Immediate Release

Campbellsville University students Joseph McDonald of Louisville, Ky., left sitting on couch, and Joey Bomia of Fredonia, Ky., right sitting on couch, play checkers with Bob Romines at Grandview Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility as part of a partnership between CU and Grandview to build intergenerational relationships. (Photo Submitted)

By Christina L. Kern, office assistant

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky.— A class of Campbellsville University freshmen is making a difference at the Grandview Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility, according to Dr. G. Ted Taylor, professor of Christian studies and director of Leadership/Character Development Institute at Campbellsville University.

Students are partnering with patients each week to “visit and share the love of God,” Taylor said. “This experience in their freshman year prepares School of Theology majors to be Christian servant leaders and world changers for Christ.”

Alexis Allen of Shepherdsville, Ky. said she is inspired by her partner, Flora Foster. “If I've learned one thing from Flora, it's to not get busy and just let life pass me by. She talks again and again about how her life just flew by and that if she could do it all again, she would have just focused on God.

“I don't want to get to that age and think ‘well, if I just would have given it all to God.' She's inspired me to give it all to Him now,” Allen said.

Many of the students connect with their partner through conversations about current events, common interests and learning about each other's lives.

Chris Mills of Magnolia, Ky. said, “God has really shown me through Mr. [Raymond] Burress that we should just be thankful for what we have, thankful for life. He has also blessed me with education; Mr. Burress was in WWII and he loves to tell his story about being a cook in the Army.”

Leslie Harper of Clinton, Ky. said Mary Gaines has been “such a blessing to me in the short time I have known her… The fact that she still finds joy in the small things gives me motivation to face and overcome obstacles.”

The goals of the partnership between Campbellsville University and Grandview Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility are for students to experience the blessing of serving others in the name of Christ, and for students to build
intergenerational relationships that will help them gain perspective on the total adult life cycle.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.