Join us in supporting the Susan Bennett -Auxiliary Narthex!

Scroll down to make a gift today!

Susan Bennett’s love – her deep unwavering love – for our Auxiliary and the mission of the Indiana United Methodist Children’s Home – defines her professional legacy.

Her 26 years of Auxiliary leadership ends in July, as she retires from the Children’s Home staff. As Auxiliary members, we are grateful for Susan’s commitment. We invite you to join us in honoring her in a special way, while also helping the youths at the Home.

Our Methodist roots are core to the life of the Home. From our founding by Methodist Episcopal Deaconess, Angie Godwin, to our current ministry connection to the United Methodist Conference of Indiana, our Christian faith-based mission endures as it has for more than 108 years. For many of our youths, walking through the front door of Gress Memorial Chapel is their first time inside a church building. Our responsibility is to ensure their worship experience is positive and engaging, so that they will learn about the love of Jesus and hopefully seek a church family when they leave our care.

We are proud of the great momentum in their spiritual life development this year. Several youths are seeking information about baptism from Pastor Perry Montgomery, and others are participating in Pastor Perry’s Wednesday evening worship services by sharing testimonies, singing, or playing musical instruments. At 17-years-old, Amanda timidly agreed to sing a solo last month, and her performance was heartfelt and memorable. Her talent and poise in our chapel enriched the worship service for all our staff and youths, and her confidence noticeably grew. 

However, that wonderful moment of worship for our entire campus also emphasized the need to replace our antiquated chapel video and sound system. We believe our youth, like Amanda, deserve a better sound and audio-visual system, and one that motivates modern worship participation and meaningful engagement. Providing innovative sound and visual equipment also gives youth who are worship leaders an opportunity to work with technology, possibly leading some into technology career paths.

For Susan, her devotion to her Christian faith as a Methodist has been integral to her service to the children and the Auxiliary. We want to recognize her with an honorary gift that will enhance a place at the Home that is very dear to her and to the rest of the Auxiliary: Gress Chapel. We want to name the narthex in our chapel building in honor of Susan and the Auxiliary and buy a new audio-visual system for the sanctuary.

Will you help us honor Susan and innovate with the purchase and installation of a new audio visual system, (speakers, microphones, screens) and update our electrical system? Your gift or pledge by May 15 will be matched, up to $5,000 by the Auxiliary. Our goal is $20,000, as a tribute to our friend and our own Auxiliary success. Any amount raised over $20,000 will be placed in a Foundation maintenance fund for future Chapel sound system needs. Meeting our goal will allow us to name the chapel’s narthex the: Susan Bennett – Auxiliary Narthex.

Please join us in saying “Thank You!” to Susan, while at the same time creating a more innovative and engaging worship experience for our youth. We hope our youth will feel the love of Jesus and hope you will join us in creating the best possible space for that meaningful experience.

Blessings,