The Marshall University Foundation has announced a $25,000 gift toward the Campus Christian Center (CCC). The donor of the gift wishes to remain anonymous.
The gift will be used to update the facility, specifically focusing on strengthening its campus visibility and inspiring hope, Kay Hensley said. Hensley currently runs the facility and serves as the office administrator. Prior to taking on her current role, she served as a volunteer with the center for over 12 years.
“As much as people know where campus is, it’s surprising how many people don’t know that our building is right there,” Hensley said. “We are trying to emphasize the lighthouse theme. We are hoping to put up a window mural of a lighthouse so people can recognize us on campus.”
The CCC came to Huntington in 1958, officially opening its doors to the public in 1960 during a time of university-wide expansion. Since then, the CCC has cultivated a student-led mission, aiming to be a beacon of light for Marshall University.
“It’s a place where students can get spiritual guidance,” Rev. Rob Ely said. “We use the metaphor of the lighthouse because it gives you direction. Not just when things are bad, either. The light always gives you direction. We see [the CCC] as a place where students can gather and find the spiritual nourishment that they need.”
Ely has served as the pastor for the Baptist Campus Ministry since 2015.
The CCC houses five ministries, including Baptist, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Methodist and Orthodox. Each ministry offers a culture and community of its own making. The ministerial staff offers a weekly service, as well as pastoral counseling to students and community members.
Although the CCC is not a part of Marshall, it is a welcoming safe haven for students seeking community on campus.
Hensley said that the facility is available to students and organizations that need it, and the impact has been incredibly rewarding.
“We have been able to step in and provide a space for students,” Hensley said. “We host the international student graduation, Kente service, Lavender service and the Pan-African Student Association. I’m so glad that we can be there for those organizations that need it. They come in, they get to use the facility, and it’s our privilege to give them the space. We do not charge for that.”
Additionally, each summer, the CCC hosts the Heart of Appalachia Talent Search Program (HATS). Through the HATS program, middle- and high school-aged students are given the tools they need to achieve personal and academic success. The program provides this support by way of a free summer camp, offering resources to 600 students across Mason and Wayne counties. Camp sessions are primarily held throughout the month of July.
During the academic year, several opportunities exist for students through the CCC, including Lunch for a Buck and late-night study sessions.
Lunch for a Buck is offered every second and fourth Tuesday of each month during the semester from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Local churches provide home-cooked meals for students, staff and faculty, combining fellowship with service.
The forefront of the CCC’s mission is rooted in the success and empowerment of students.
“We talk a lot about changing the lives that change the world. It goes back to relationships. You can have an incredible lighthouse, but if there’s no one involved and there are no relationships built, it’s just a beacon,” Ely said.
When asked about what this gift means to the center, Hensley said that without donors the CCC wouldn’t exist.
“The first word that comes to mind to describe this gift is relief. With being your own nonprofit, raising money is difficult sometimes. This gives us the opportunity to push forward and do things we couldn’t do without generous gifts like this. It’s a confirmation that we’re doing something right,” Hensley said.
The CCC will host its first event of the semester during Marshall University’s Week of Welcome (WOW) on Wednesday, August 12, at 9:15 p.m. All students are welcomed and encouraged to learn about what is offered at the center during the 2026-2027 academic year.
To learn more about volunteer opportunities, visit the CCC’s website www.campuschristiancenter.org
To donate to the CCC, visit https://give.marshall.edu/project/26398/donate?des_id=154710.