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12.11.06 The prayer garden is located near the Bryson monument on Erskine campus.
Prayer garden constructed on Erskine campus A new prayer garden has been constructed on the Erskine College and Seminary campus. The Rev. Neely Gaston, executive vice president for the seminary, said discussion about the new prayer garden began last May at the suggestion of Richard Schild of Lake Placid, Fla. Schild's own church, Lake Placid First Presbyterian Church (ARP) has a prayer garden on its grounds that displays the Ten Commandments. Schild's pastor, the Rev. Raymond W. Cameron Jr., is a member of the Erskine College and Seminary board of trustees. The garden proposal was similar to the one in Florida, but also included the promises of the New Testament to give people a chance to see the Ten Commandments as well as the promises and allow someone to "come to Christ by reading those Scriptures," Gaston said. The design went through several drawings before a final one was selected and then there was the matter of where to put the garden. Once Dr. Randall T. Ruble was named Erskine president in October, the idea was presented to him and then the board for approval. Ruble, Gaston, Dr. Donald Weatherman, executive vice president and dean of the college, and Greg Haselden, vice president for finance and operations, were involved in decisions about the concept and location before the package was presented to the board, Gaston said. There were several factors that went into deciding on a location, which is next to the McCain Library on the Main Street side. "We wanted the location to be accessible, but somewhat private," Gaston said. "Its location near the Bryson monument gives people the opportunity to sit there and pray, and it also fits within the design of the master plan." Gaston also said the prayer garden reflects the college's mission statement: "Christian Commitment and Excellence in Learning." Also, he said, the garden "really brings to bear the greatest commandment — to love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul and all your strength — which is the heart of the Gospel." Junior McClain and the facilities management team were instrumental in the construction of the garden and a company in Elberton, Ga., made the monuments, Gaston said. Schild paid for all the stonework and the remaining costs were paid by members of the Lake Placid church. Gaston said Schild is hopeful that other churches will want to construct similar gardens on their campuses. "We're very appreciative of the work done by facilities management to make it look so nice," Gaston said. |
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