| by Nathan Hoobler Organizers Connie Kendall and Tom Riley announced yesterday that the recent Timothy Center fund-raiser was a huge success. "We collected more money than I ever thought we could," Kendall said. "I’ve been praying for something like this." The event was planned to help the Timothy Center through some difficult financial times. The fund-raiser consisted of two nights of singing, entertainment and speaking. Ben Shepard led the worship. "The Timothy Center really touches the lives of kids and adults," Shepard said. "I should know. . . . I live here." Speakers included Jack Allen, John Avery Whittaker and Whittaker’s son Jason, a missionary who recently returned from Africa. Shepard’s daughter Bethany spent much of her time each evening insisting the attendees reuse their plastic silverware, plates and cups. "We have to save money any way we can," she said. "In fact, I’ve decided not to turn on my nightlight just to save on electricity." The fund-raiser hasn’t been the only source of financial help for the Timothy Center. Novacom, a broadcasting and media company, is renting a piece of property from Tom Riley, the owner of the Timothy Center. "The offer couldn’t have come at a better time," Riley said. Arthur Dent, a representative of Novacom, expressed great interest in investing in Odyssey. "We’re very excited about our work in this town," Dent said. "We want to do everything we can to make it a better place, including helping great sites like the Timothy Center." |
